Alabama: culture shock

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Monkeyleg

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Two weeks ago my wife and I moved from Wisconsin to Alabama. It's been quite a change.

On the drive down, coming through Louisville, I heard a radio ad that went something like this:

[sound of police sirens fading off]

Woman's voice: "Janet, are you okay?"

2nd woman's voice: "Yes. I was going to call 911, but he was already in the house. Thank goodness for Shooters Supply."

Announcer: "At Shooters Supply, we have..."

That ad would never run in any northern city I know of. Amazing.

Another thing is the political ads. Every candidate running for everything from dog catcher to governor is touting being pro-gun. One TV ad for a candidate for agriculture commissioner has him holding his lever-action Winchester while he talks.

Today my wife and I went to the courthouse to get our AL drivers licenses and register our cars. I then went to the sheriff's department to apply for a CCW permit. I filled out a short form, had my picture taken, gave them $20, and she handed me a permit. No waiting! It took me less time to get a permit than it did to register my car.

I'm going to like this state. :)
 
You filled out paperwork and gave em $20 and they gave you a permit.....wow. That's a good wow, not a bad one.
 
Southerners have a different approach for sure.....I was visiting a client (Professor) at a major southern University (to be un-named) that took me one of their research facilities in his University supplied pickup. Laying behind the front seats were three shotguns in cases. Do that further North and you'd be fired and on the National evening news for violating gun free policy.
 
I remember moving back to Arkansas from Washington state. Crossing the Oklahoma/Arkansas border I picked up a radio station morning program and the subject (apparently every week) was guns (for enthusiasts, not the Brady bunch).

I love Washington state, but you wouldn't hear anything like that up there on the local stations.
 
On the drive down to Pensacola, I saw a billboard for a range with MP5 rentals, and one reading "Who is John Galt?" Not bad. :D
 
Welcome to the Heart of Dixie, Monkeyleg. With a $20 CCW fee with photo sounds like you're in Morgan County, 'cause that's what I pay .... but there could be other counties that do the same.
Hope you like chicken, pork and grits!;)
 
Here in Marshall County, AL it's $10 per year. All you have to do is go online, fill out the application, then wait a few days for the background check to come back.

Once it comes back clean, go down to the Courthouse, and pick it up.
 
Nice Morgan County shout-out... 'tis where I got my CCW meself. Fine photography. I couldn't imagine the gauntlet that people in NJ go through just to get a concealed permit.
 
Monkeyleg - I moved to Alabama from Washington DC - culture shock indeed. It took about seven years to sink in and I've stayed in the South ever since.

Yeehaw and welcome.
 
Yep, it's Morgan county.

I was expecting to be told that it would take X number of days to run the background check and for my permit to be sent. I didn't expect to spend 15 minutes in the office and walk out with a permit!

BTW, I don't like grits (at least the ones that we could buy up north), but I love biscuits and gravy. ;)
 
I loved living in the south for that and other reasons. Now I live in Arizona and we just passed a law which allows anyone who can legally own a handgun to carry concealed without a permit. I'm proud of our state representatives.
 
Welcome to the south...

Monkeyleg, welcome to the south... I have family where you just moved to. They couldn't believe that it was only $20 for the permit, even though you have to renew annually. I think you could've had that permit for $10, without the photo...but who would want that...? Good luck on the transition. If you like hunting and fishing, you're in a good area, too! :)
 
I'm going to like this state.
Click to expand...
It's not all gravy, but it sure is better than a lot of places.

I moved off the Air Base here in 1967. (10 years old) Yep, culture shock for sure. ;)

It took me a while to figure out where "down yonder" was, cause it kept changing. :confused:

I figured it out though. :cool:

Welcome to Bama....Alabama or Auburn?....You gotta choose sides.... :uhoh:

I'm not kidding......:scrutiny:
 
Welcome to Alabama. Choose Auburn. Being from Wisconsin you will appreciate the agriculture college. I'm an alum from there (one of the best Engineering Schools in the South, too). We say "War Eagle!"
 
Welcome to Alabama. Choose Auburn. Being from Wisconsin you will appreciate the agriculture college. I'm an alum from there (one of the best Engineering Schools in the South, too). We say "War Eagle!
Click to expand...

And those of us from Georgia Tech used to call you Turkey Buzzards...... :D
 
if you're anywhere near birmingham, check out my favorite match

http://www.scssa.org/new_page_3.htm

it's too late to sign up, but it will be great to watch for a while

you can also go to the rogers school, tiger mcgee's school, and one of the best precision/sniper matches too, down near aniston.

about the only screwball thing down there is that they don't have a suitable high power range, so the alabama state high power championship is held up here in tullahoma TN


also, you can get radio off the satellite or internet, so you don't have to subject yourself to country music anymore
and it's nice and warm in the summer, so you clothing is minimal
and you'll get used to roads that don't suck pretty quick. people in the South are occasionally referred to as slack-jawed by people who think they're ignorant, but really, it's just that yankees have to keep their mouths clenched all the time to keep from breaking a tooth traversing potholes.
 
Jim Watson, when I've been able to go shooting (which hasn't been very often the last few years) I just go to punch paper.

I still haven't had time to find out where the ranges are around here. A friend in Arkansas has a gravel pit where he can go and shoot pretty much anything he brings. It would be great if there was something like that around here.
 
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