YOUR EXPERIENCE on firearm ownership in Alaska, specifically Anchorage area.

I lived in Bethel, but bought most of my guns in Anchorage.

City seemed very gun receptive, didn't recall seeing many places I couldn't carry (apart from bars but I only went to those to drink and didn't carry). Prices were pretty typical for Alaska, so a bit higher than in the lower 48 but sportsman's was always nice to deal with and living in the bush everything in Anchorage seemed downright cheap.

Statewide guns are plentiful and it's very common for anyone outside to likely be packing something, especially on the rivers and whatnot.

I always carried and had a shotgun in the boat.

daniel craig said:

Wish I had your faith. For every law there are countless loopholes. There are jerks who like to harass you even if you’re not doing anything illegal (it’s super common in NY).

All that is besides the point. I didn’t ask about what the laws are, I can look those up. I’m asking what people’s experiences are. If you haven’t anything to contribute along those lines why bother contributing at all?

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In this country we operate under the assumption that unless it's forbidden it's legal. What you call "loopholes" I call freedom.

Based on my son's experience moving to HI, many business's refuse to ship there or charge exceedingly high rates for shipping. I don't doubt the same would hold true for AK.

Non firearms related, but Amazon Prime may be your friend. They generally do not charge extra for shipping to HI, perhaps the same for AK.

Speedo66 said:

Based on my son's experience moving to HI, many business's refuse to ship there or charge exceedingly high rates for shipping. I don't doubt the same would hold true for AK.

Non firearms related, but Amazon Prime may be your friend. They generally do not charge extra for shipping to HI, perhaps the same for AK.

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In my experience there was some of that in AK, but not terribly much. Especially in Anchorage as it's a pretty big hub for the whole state in terms of shipping.

I will say, however, that if shipping USPS be prepared to wait. I did procurement in a hospital up there and I can't tell you how often parcels would get lost in the USPS center in WA (I can't recall if it was Everett or Ranier off hand) for weeks, sometimes months. But once they scanned out from there they got to me quick.

JR24 said:

In my experience there was some of that in AK, but not terribly much. Especially in Anchorage as it's a pretty big hub for the whole state in terms of shipping.

I will say, however, that if shipping USPS be prepared to wait. I did procurement in a hospital up there and I can't tell you how often parcels would get lost in the USPS center in WA (I can't recall if it was Everett or Ranier off hand) for weeks, sometimes months. But once they scanned out from there they got to me quick.

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That sounds like they were waiting on space to ship. USPS isn't allowed to own any planes to move mail. They have to rely on others for space.

Texas10mm said:

That sounds like they were waiting on space to ship. USPS isn't allowed to own any planes to move mail. They have to rely on others for space.

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Possible. I used the word "lost" because a number of times I called to inquire about shipping they were unable to locate my package for me.

Waiting for space to ship was also very common in the bush going Alaska Air Cargo, had to pay a premium to ensure next flight, especially with big items.

bearcreek said:

Alaska doesn't have "pistol permits" (very few states do).

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In AL our concealed carry permit is officially called a "Pistol Permit". Perhaps the state where the OP lives is the same?

daniel craig said:

That’s definitely something to consider. I wonder if I could take them on a boat to not have to go through Canada. Probably easier to just mail them.

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There is a marine ferry service that runs up the coast from WA state to AK. I've no idea on their policy on firearms, but it may be worth looking into?

mdauben said:

There is a marine ferry service that runs up the coast from WA state to AK. I've no idea on their policy on firearms, but it may be worth looking into?

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An option, using a cargo container works too, but takes longer.

The easiest way I found was simply flying with them as checked luggage. Alaska Airlines used to allow up to 3 50 lb checked with no fee.

Couple big cases between me and my wife and we were able to get stuff back and forth without too much issue.

Same with ammo bought cheaper in the lower 48, though in Anchorage it's a bit easier than places with no roads into them as ammo needs to be shipped ground.

daniel craig said:

Yes. Our ccp is called a pistol permit here in NY mainly because you need one to own a pistol and Concealed carrying is the only way you can carry. They’re synonymous in my state.

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Well, in AK you do not need a permit to own or carry a firearm. I carried daily and never got the permit (they didn't offer training classes in my area, a requirement for the permit, until the year I left). The only disadvantage was I couldn't carry when I visited my family in the lower 48, but the state they lived in (Wisconsin) didn't even have concealed carry for half the time I lived in Alaska.

If you do go up there, be sure to drive to Seward, the highway there is one of the most beautiful stretches of road I've driven, and Seward is a fun little place with good fishing.

We also, when the family visited, really enjoyed taking the train up to Denali, especially Talkeetna (we really liked the Meandering Moose B&B the couple times we stayed there)

From my limited experience: I didn’t spend a lot of time in Anchorage but guns weren’t really an issue that I could see, anywhere I went in Alaska. I assume everyone had them, and you’d see them carried by people out doing outdoorsy things (which a lot of people did), but it wasn’t something people did to make a statement. I’ve seen more guns openly carried around town by people in Kansas than Alaska, and I’ve spent less time in Kansas.

This might give you an idea: As far as I know Alaska was the last place in the world where you could actually buy a handgun from Walmart.

Ed Ames said:

From my limited experience: I didn’t spend a lot of time in Anchorage but guns weren’t really an issue that I could see, anywhere I went in Alaska. I assume everyone had them, and you’d see them carried by people out doing outdoorsy things (which a lot of people did), but it wasn’t something people did to make a statement. I’ve seen more guns openly carried around town by people in Kansas than Alaska, and I’ve spent less time in Kansas.

This might give you an idea: As far as I know Alaska was the last place in the world where you could actually buy a handgun from Walmart.

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Open carried rifles is pretty common in the wintertime on the snowmachine, at least out where I was, just about everyone was out hunting or shooting all the time.

JR24 said:

Open carried rifles is pretty common in the wintertime on the snowmachine, at least out where I was, just about everyone was out hunting or shooting all the time.

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Yeah, I guess what I’m going for is... well, if you go camping pretty much anywhere you will see people with flashlights and think nothing of it because flashlights are handy and commonplace items that basically everyone brings camping. They aren’t a way of signaling tribal/political affiliation, or a political statement. There is no message behind them. Guns in Alaska were, from what I saw, like that. It’s a good idea to have ‘em so people did.

That’s in contrast to a lot of the lower 48 where people openly carrying guns as they do routine activities are usually making a political statement. Not everywhere, and not always, but the guy going into a grocery store in suburban Texas with a pistol on his hip is probably trying to make a point.

The net result was that guns were both more common/normal, and less prominent.

But I can’t read minds and may be totally wrong. That was just my impression.

Ed Ames said:

Yeah, I guess what I’m going for is... well, if you go camping pretty much anywhere you will see people with flashlights and think nothing of it because flashlights are handy and commonplace items that basically everyone brings camping. They aren’t a way of signaling tribal/political affiliation, or a political statement. There is no message behind them. Guns in Alaska were, from what I saw, like that. It’s a good idea to have ‘em so people did.

That’s in contrast to a lot of the lower 48 where people openly carrying guns as they do routine activities are usually making a political statement. Not everywhere, and not always, but the guy going into a grocery store in suburban Texas with a pistol on his hip is probably trying to make a point.

The net result was that guns were both more common/normal, and less prominent.

But I can’t read minds and may be totally wrong. That was just my impression.

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OK, yeah, I agree.

Question, If he drives will he need a passport ?

GAF said:

Question, If he drives will he need a passport ?

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Yes, either card or book.

JR24 said:

If you do go up there, be sure to drive to Seward, the highway there is one of the most beautiful stretches of road I've driven, and Seward is a fun little place with good fishing.

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I heartily agree! I spent three summers in Soldotna when I was younger. The whole Kenai Peninsula is beautiful and I got to visit both Seward and the Kenai Fjords NP on my days off. One time I hiked to the top of Exit Glacier and out onto the Harding Ice Field (probably not the smartest thing I ever did, but it was beautiful!).

We also, when the family visited, really enjoyed taking the train up to Denali, especially Talkeetna (we really liked the Meandering Moose B&B the couple times we stayed there)

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I got to do the train ride twice and its an absolutely breathtaking trip. Each summer I was in AK I would take a week off work, before returning home, and spend the time at Denali NP.