Alabama: culture shock

[BridgeTooFar]

I was just sent a link to this video. Reminded me of this thread. I guess this is the ad the original poster was talking about (Ag Commissioner).

He needs a lesson in firearm safety (to learn to keep his finger off the trigger until he's ready to shoot).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jU7fhIO7DG0&feature=player_embedded#!

 

[Hunterdad]

In NY it takes close to a year and about $200 to get your permit. Oh, they don't hand out CCW's anymore in my county.

 

[Ala Dan]

WELCOME MONKEYLEG~!

As my friend Walkalong stated, "its not gravy, but it sure beats a lot
of other places". Here in "The Heart Of Old Dixie"Land" we take a stand; and
fight for our rights. In my lifetime, that scenario dates back too the late ex-
governor George C. Wallace. Even tho' I didn't agree with his actions; he
made a point, directed right at the federal gov'n-ment~! I hope you enjoy
your stay-

GO VOL'S~!

 

[LemmyCaution]

OMIGOD!! You must've moved to a right wing NaziFacist state!!!!!

I was just thinking the same thing. But I wasn't joking.

Let me get this straight- you paid money to the government in order to get permission to temporarily exercise a Constitutionally protected right- and you're proud of that? Talk about Stockholm Syndrome!!!

Wow. The south is so amazing.

 

[Monkeyleg]

LemmyCaution, I don't want to get into that debate. Having come from one of the two states where concealed carry is completely prohibited, 15 minutes and $20 is less trouble and money than what it would cost me to get parking for a Rolling Stones concert.

CraigC, if I were pulled over for 120 in a 65, I don't think I'd get a ticket. In WI that would be a felony.

There's stretches here where I could see a cop for a couple of miles, and those are the only places I speed. There's no place on the Tennessee River bridge for a squad to hide, and I didn't see any helicopters nor any Crown Vic's behind me.

It's different in Indiana. The troopers use Camaro's, mini vans, pickup trucks and every other type of vehicle you can imagine as unmarked squads. It must really feel dumb to be pulled over by a mini van.

I'll have to check out the club in Hartselle, as I think that's the closest to where I'm at.

 

[Mike J]

Monkeyleg-Watch yourself about the speed. I don't know too much about Alabama but in Georgia there are certain places that writing tickets is a very important part of raising revenue for local government. There is also a law here that if going over certain speeds fines are doubled & you can be taken to jail. Not like I haven't done it myself. I have slowed down the last few years though. It can get expensive.

 

[gearhead]

Last time I went through Alabama going back to the Gulf Coast to visit relatives, the only Highway Patrol vehicles I saw on the Interstates in Alabama were Tahoes. And I saw four or five of them!

There used to be a stretch of I-20 between Tuscaloosa and Birmingham where every time I went through I felt as if I were on the autobahn. It seemed like I could always get hooked up with a convoy running 95 or so, and if I was running 80 I had better stay in the right lane and watch my mirrors carefully. That was ‘WAY before Daimler-Benz put the plant in along that stretch of road, too. Come to think of it, maybe that’s why they located there. It felt like home!

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Just 2 things about driving in Alabama,(1) State Troopers have new black Dodge Chargers with chrome wheels. The only marking is the Al.St.Trooper decal on the passenger's door. They also do not use Official State license plates. (2) THIS IS IMPORTANT! Little grey haired old ladies ALWAYS have the right-of-way,no matter which way they are going!

 

[Roadkill]

I'm in Morgan county also. Great place to live. Fifteen minutes from the Tenn River, mountains and woods abound, Wheeler Wildlife Refuge great for kayaking and canoeing, deer & coyote hunting, fishing, camping, ect. I OC when going/coming back from outdoor activities, never even had a questioning glance, shooting range less than 15 minutes from home. Guns are definitely a part of the south, tends to keep folks polite.

 

[Deanimator]

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

WTAM-AM in Cleveland has frequently run ads for Sherwin Shooting Sports, the place where I took the Ohio CCW course. The CCW course was a prominent feature of the ads.

Also, the local TV stations used to regularly run ads for gun shows.

 

[esquare]

Monkeyleg - I would caution the speed too. Georgia is definitely tougher than Alabama, but 120mph is going to get you busted in a bad way no matter where you are. It's only a matter of time.

Anyway, congrats on the move - you'll love it in Alabama. Try some shrimp and grits from a good seafood place - it will change your mind! Also, spend some time on the coast - best beaches in the world IMO and I've better to MANY.

As far as gun rights, Alabama is definitely an interesting place. It's technically a MAY issue state - the sheriff can deny a permit for quite a few things. But it seems like most of them know that if they start messing with people's permits, they are going to be tossed in a hurry.

Open carry is another interesting one here. It's legal, but I've heard that it varies wildly between perfectly fine to do and you will be harrassed big time depending on the area and the actual officer.

So, not all glorious, but it's way better than most other states!

BTW, become an Auburn fan - they are just cooler people.

 

[pockets]

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

I see ads on TV for Blackwing and other ranges/stores around central Ohio.
I also see TV ads for the monthly Columbus gun shows and hear the same on the radio.
It's not all that amazing.
.

 

[pacerdude]

Welcome to the South!

I have a fair amount of family in Alabama (my mother's whole family from great-grandparents to cousins), the rest of my family is in Georgia for the most part.

I love Alabama, my Great Aunt has land on the Talapoosa River and Lake Wedowee. Most of my family is from Roanoke (in Randolph county) and Aniston.

I wish the CCW permits here in Georgia were only $20. Our permits went up by $20 last year and are currently going for between $65 and $70.

 

[CraigC]

There's stretches here where I could see a cop for a couple of miles, and those are the only places I speed. There's no place on the Tennessee River bridge for a squad to hide, and I didn't see any helicopters nor any Crown Vic's behind me.

It's different in Indiana. The troopers use Camaro's, mini vans, pickup trucks and every other type of vehicle you can imagine as unmarked squads.

Well, consider yourself forewarned. They don't play around and there is little else in these small towns to keep them occuppied. Plenty of new Dodge Chargers on the road and very few of them are marked. On my way into Mississippi just yesterday I met a 4wd Chevy pickup with lights blazing.

 

[oldbear]

BTW, I don't like grits (at least the ones that we could buy up north), but I love biscuits and gravy.

I moved to the south from San Francisco, California, my God talk about culture shock. It took a few years to settle in but now as much as I like to visit the old home city I would NEVER consider leaving the south.


I don’t like grits either even cheese grits. But I’m with you on the biscuits and sausage gravy. Once a year I order hash browns, covered with two biscuits and gravy topped with two sunny side up eggs.

Now the real test, do you prefer Tabasco or Texas Pete on your food?

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Now the real test, do you prefer Tabasco or Texas Pete on your food?

In this part of Alabama it's Louisianna Hot Sauce!

 

[LEVRLOVR]

Rooooolllllllll Tiiiiiiiiiiiide, heeeeyaaaah.

 

[ArmedBear]

I don’t like grits either even cheese grits.

Hell, I learned to like Rocky Mountain Oysters. I'm sure you can learn to like cheese grits.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

rocky mountain oysters.

aw heck naw!

 

[smallbore]

The initial fee for my NH pistol/revolver license was $10. My recent renewal was $0 and is good for 4 yrs.

 

[Slamfire]

Welcome to Alabama!

Great for guns, dogwoods, azalea bushes, fried catfish and barbeque. Every little town has a barbeque restaurant.

And we have wonderful sunsets:



PS. Hose pipe is Southern for Garden Hose.

 

[Walkalong]

Tabasco or Texas Pete

I gargle with that stuff. If I want to heat something up, I go with Daves Ultimate Insanity.

(2) THIS IS IMPORTANT! Little grey haired old ladies ALWAYS have the right-of-way,no matter which way they are going!

or what side of the road they are on. Just shake yer head and go around em.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Hose pipe is Southern for Garden Hose.

Doesn't everybody know that?

(2) THIS IS IMPORTANT! Little grey haired old ladies ALWAYS have the right-of-way,no matter which way they are going!

or what side of the road they are on. Just shake yer head and go around em.

The only acceptable response is" Bless her heart!" BTW,she has a magnum in her purse just like everybody else here.

 

[wilkersk]

...I love Washington state, but you wouldn't hear anything like that up there on the local stations.

Only because of the Sox-n-Sandles crowd. You know, all those transplanted Kalifornians who resettled in the Emerald City once Jerry Brown bankrupted their homeland.

 

[Monkeyleg]

Guess I'll have to be careful with the speeding. My realtor told me that there's very few places around the area where there's radar traps. I just gun it for a few seconds then brake, but doing it around the wrong car could be a problem.

I've heard a lot of radio ads for gun stores, even in WI. I've just never heard one where someone either shot or scared away an intruder with a gun. That's a new one on me.

I haven't tried Texas Pete before. I've worked down in Birmingham in the past, and in Louisiana. I like hot sauce. I bet a "suit" one time when we were in a Cajun restaurant in northern Lousiana that I could drink a whole eight-ounce glass of hot sauce. He lost.

I still can't get over having that woman hand me my permit after just fifteen minutes. We were fighting for nearly twenty years in WI for CCW, and the state still doesn't have it.