Any Albuquerque, New Mexico THR Memebers?

[Ohio Gun Guy]

I'm adding Albuquerque, NM to a possible relocation place. I read the NRA-ILA review of NM laws, and it looks good from that stand point!

I also googled shooting ranges, etc. Looks good there too.

1. Is there anyone here from New Mexico?
2. Will there be any suprises (Gun Laws, Etc)?
3. How is crime in General?
4. Any really good gun shops in Albuquerque?
5. What do you hunt?

Thanks!

 

[muddywatters]

Hey Ohio Gun Guy,

I was born in New Mexico and raised in Albuquerque but I'm up north now. Still visit once a year. Did a lot of outdoor shooting but no hunting -- still working on acquiring those skills now. Don't think you'll find any surprises -- it's a pretty gun friendly state. Crime is one on the main reasons I split. Lots of drug traffic along I-25/I-40 and they both meet in 'bourque. Not to overstate the problem but you can find plenty of trouble by just looking in the wrong direction -- "what are you looking at?" being a common preface to many a fight. Ron Peterson Guns is a great shop -- spent a paycheck or two there.

It's a good place, all in all, with some good folks and great food but you need to keep your wits about you. My opinion anyhow.

Best,
mud

 

[Luckydollar]

Ugly place

I'm also from Ohio and I'll tell you that Albuquerque is an ugly city.

I live in Durango CO but travel to NM on business regularly. The crime rate in ABQ exceeds LA (where I relocated from).
Hot and dry. The only thing it has going for it is the SASS range about 30 minutes out of the city.

If your relocating, take a look at Southern Colorado. Better big game hunting and a beautiful place to live.
JM2CW

 

[Kind of Blued]

My girlfriend lives there, and I'm in Colorado.

Things I don't like about New Mexico:

Felony to carry in restaurants that serve alcohol.
Can't carry a BUG (seriously!?!).
They don't have ANY TREES!
OR WATER!?
Or good beer.
Or good jazz.

The mountains are kind of "weak" too.

 

[Prince Yamato]

I did my masters at UNM, so I lived in Albuquerque for roughly 2 1/2 years (2004-2006). It's where I first got into guns. In terms of places to shoot, they have Shooting Range Park, which was $6 to shoot for a full day. It's a rifle/pistol/skeet range. All outdoors... and since it rarely rains in NM, you can shoot there most of the year. There's also Calibers which is a very nice indoor pistol and small-caliber (.223 and under) rifle range. If you like full-autos, you can buy and rent from August Arms in Rio Rancho. Precision Arms and Ron Peterson Guns were two of my favorite hangouts as well.

I didn't own pistols or have a CCW when I was there (I still had a NY Driver's license). From what I have read, CCW kind of stinks as far as where you can carry (in comparison to where I live now, in Texas), but they do have open-carry.

In spite of that, that area of NM (Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Taos) is one of the nicest places I ever lived/visited/been... and I've been all around the world. There's tons of high-art and culture in Albuquerque and Sante Fe. Santa Fe boasts a Tier 1 opera company (The Santa Fe Opera) which is on par budget-wise with the Met. So you can see Met singers during the summer at an outdoor ampitheatre. Albuquerque has an outstanding zoo and believe it or not... Aquarium. You can ski on Sandia peak in Albuquerque, or head up to Taos, which I swear feels like an Alpine village (if the Alps had stray Navajos).

Food in NM is absolutely outstanding. I was never a chile fan until I moved there. Now I miss green chile. Fine dining (like of the $250+/person variety) is rather limited in Albuquerque, but can be found in Santa Fe. Santa Fe also hosts luxury spas if you or your wife like to pamper yourselves.

Albuquerque has good healthcare systems as well. The Sandia Health system is a regular and good client of Johnson and Johnson, UNM has a reknowned plastic surgery school, and there are many general practitioners around town... so you don't have to worry about inferior medicine.

And don't forget about the balloon festival in October...

I don't hunt, but I'm sure hunting is on par with most predominantly rural states.

Crime really isn't too bad. If you stay away from Central Ave. and the University after dark, you'll be fine. I never really felt threatened when I lived there. The people are generally very nice.

People who've never lived in New Mexico generally look at you funny when you talk up how nice it is. Some people (like the idiots at the Julliard Bookstore who usually charged me international shipping rates) don't even know that it's a state. I swear to you though, it's one of the nicest states you can live in.

 

[Rubber_Duck]

I'm in the Albuquerque area, and I like it here. I'm originally from Texas, but I've lived most of my life here.

I think it's funny that most people I meet that are from somewhere else say New Mexico sucks, but it really doesn't.

There is some beautiful scenery here (both desert and mountainous), rolling hills, and some good, honest mountains. Nothing extreme. The southern half of the state is mostly flat, unexciting desert. There is a lot to see and do, a lot of tourism (Carlsbad Caverns, the world-famous Ballon Fiesta, etc.), interesting culture, art galleries, museums, etc.

The gun scene is friendly. Yes to hi-caps, yes to "assault weapons", yes to full-autos and suppressors, and yes to open and concealed carry. NM state law considers your car an extension of your home, so you can legally keep any handgun or long gun loaded and concealed anywhere in your car.

Theres plenty of areas to shoot, as long as you stay out of Albuquerque (city ordinance prohibiting propulsion of projecticles within city limits).

As mentioned, Calibers indoor shooting range (a bit expensive to go there often) and Shooting Range Park (my favorite). There are also many "informal/unofficial" shooting ranges. Also as mentioned, weather is consistently nice. My only complaint is extreme temperature swings during certain seasons (freezing cold in the mornings but hot in the same afternoon).

There are several good gun stores. Ron Peterson's is an excellent store, so is Los Ranchos Gun Shop and Shooter's Den. There are also a few more in Albuquerque as well as Rio Rancho.

Our local Class III dealer (August Arms) closed down (due to some issues with the owner's wife). I believe there is somebody in the Las Cruces area dealing in NFA items.

Crime is like any other big city, you have your bad areas and your good areas. There is a lot of gang activity in the western and southern part of Albuquerque, as well as drugs/prostitution along Central Ave (the drugs are everywhere though). The police are very active and seem to stay on top of things.

Overall, I think this is a great place to live. Lots of sites to see and I've met great people.

 

[Prince Yamato]

Our local Class III dealer (August Arms) closed down (due to some issues with the owner's wife).

Nooooo! That was one of my favorite stores! Dang, he had a HUGE selection too!

 

[Texpatriate]

My wife was born and raised in Albuquerque, so we're down there at least a couple times a year to visit her family. I can conquer with most of what has been said, both the good and the bad. Parts of the state are absolutely beautiful, other parts are a bit more of "an acquired taste". The northern half is more beautiful in my opinion, north of Albuquerque into Santa Fe, Taos, clear up to the Colorado border.

Good fishing if you like trout, especially on the San Jaun up northwest around Farmington, but it can be crowded. Some of the best elk hunting in the world is in NM. The elk herd is not as plentiful as some other states, but I'm told that there are some world class bulls on certain units. Also, pronghorn antelope, black bear, mule and white tailed dear, mountain lions, and lots and lots of public land. Good skiing/snow boarding if you're into that, especially Taos & Anglefire (some CO snob is bound to chime in now about how inferior the powder in NM is or some such nonsense).

There are a lot day trips that you can take within a couple hours of Albuquerque and Santa Fe to some interesting places. Lots of interesting culture and friendly people, and really good food. There are places in Albuquerque that you will swear you were in Mexico and you will be the only one speaking English (but not necessarily the only one that CAN speak English), which I enjoy. You can also experience some interesting Native culture at both Pueblo and Navajo reservations throughout the state.

Unfortunately I can also confirm the thug culture that also exists there. Sitting at a red light, you will occasionally get "mad dogged" by the choloe/gang banger wannabe in the low rider next to you at the light. Thankfully, the firearms laws are pretty loose, so you can always have the opportunity defend yourself if you ever actually get into trouble.

 

[sailortoo]

Why the interest in Albuquerque, when there are a plethora of smaller towns with "local flavor", quiet, unique and interesting. You can always drive to "the big city" for the opera, superior art and jewelry shops. Most of what I have read here, I agree with - just can't imagine living in "the city"! Mostly very good roads and highways, high speed and open. And, as stated before, the northern part of the state has most of the interesting country. My next door neighbor just got his Oryx, down on the White Sands - gorgeous animals. As to carry in restaurants, the legislature is pondering a change to that as I write - doesn't mean that it will pass, though. My area has lots of water, three rivers (Totah - Navajo for where the waters meet) and a large impounded lake, plus smaller lakes. Like anything else, you have to experience it for yourself, as everyone has their own definition of beauty.
sailortoo

 

[Harve Curry]

Not in Albq, but N.M. I've lived in several states, New Mexico for the last 15+ years. For freedom and country life it is the best place I have ever lived. We have record elk, mule deer, oryx, pronghorn antelope, Merriams and Rio Grande turkey, Quail, big horns, ibex, the list goes on. We have are problems but what state don't. Currently we are in trouble with the gray wolf reintroduction. Wolves are ruining the last stronghold of making sustainable rural living by killing off the huntable numbers of elk, deer, and also cattle ranching. If you do't get off the interstate highway you haven't seen New Mexico.
I wouldn't live anywhere else but the mountains of southwest New Mexico.

 

[Ohio Gun Guy]

Thanks for the replies. I checked the FBI stats and Albuquerque is very similar to most other U.S. cities. Unlike some other areas of the country that come with a higher crime rate, the laws in New Mexico seem to make it possible to defend yourself. Los Angeles actually has a lower crime rate than the national average, surprisingly. However, Watts, Compton, etc. are listed seperately / not included in Los Angeles stats.

Nothing is for sure, but if I relocate there, I'll try to live on the out-skirts, that is more my speed anyway. I have been using the google street view and the views there are impressive.

Thanks again, I'll keep checking if anyone else wants to let me know about Albuquerque / New Mexico.