Best State For Gun Rights

[hitbackfirst]

I realize that many factors contribute to deciding where to live, but if guns were the only issue, where would you go? What state do you consider to have the lest restrictive gun laws? Also what states (or counties, cities, etc.) seem to have the best attitudes toward guns, good places to shoot, etc.? Opinions and/or experiences welcome!

 

[Solo Flyer]

If guns were the ONLY issue it would be either Alaska or Vermont,the 2 states that come the closest.IMO,to the original meaning of the 2nd Amendment.
I have visited both states and find them very gun friendly.OC is generally accepted and the people are firearms knowledgeable.
I won't bring up the weather as per the OP's request that would be OT.

 

[Dave P]

how many times do you want this question answered?


use the search tool.

 

[El Tejon]

10,000 times!

I also want a thread on the answer to which small milsurp handgun, which I can shoot and everyone will look at me, that I can best use against bears which the decision in Heller will decide is NFA and is best for "conceal and carry."

 

[rugerman07]

Missouri

 

[hitbackfirst]

how many times do you want this question answered?


use the search tool.

 

[DigitalWarrior]

DC?

 

[uneasy_rider]

Not Georgia. Our CCW law sucks.

 

[JRG]

I would think Indiana ranks up there pretty well...

 

[Zoogster]

Clearly the two states that essentialy allow anything the feds have not restricted, and allow open and concealed carry with no state or government permission or taxes necessary.

Even the best "concealed carry" state cannot compete with not requiring a license or permission to excercise bearing arms.

Alaska does have a restriction pertaining to possession in places that serve alcohol though.

So I would say Vermont is the absolute best state. The state where the person not the object is held responsible for thier actions.
You can purchase, carry, and own inanimate objects anywhere you want unless the feds have decided to say you cannot.

 

[RobTzu]

Every forum is the same. People that have been around for a long time think that every question has been answered already, and to ask it again is some how rude. Any thread can be answered with "try using search". Essentially, new people should just read the archives and not post so that the forum just dies. It is a cycle I have seen a few times before. Once people get a thousand posts they transform into an old man on a rocking chair.

The concept of if you have nothing nice to say, do not say anything at all applies here. If the thread seems dumb, do not lower yourself to post in it.

 

[lanternlad1]

+1 Rob

 

[.cheese.]

good question. I've come to the conclusion that it depends on what you want.

Florida is awesome. No open-carry though. If that doesn't matter, you can't do much better than here.

Despite that, I'm getting out of here. Going to probably end up in Colorado or Pennsylvania.

 

[Erinyes]

Not Georgia. Our CCW law sucks.

Uh, you do know that our CCW law is getting a major revamp July 1st, right? Restaurants that serve alcohol, state parks, and public transit are being dropped from the list of off limits places, car carry w/o a permit is being expanded to anywhere in a car, and the time limits are being changed and clarified to make the permitting process faster. This is on top of the fact that permits are relatively cheap and have no training requirement. We also get any NFA goody we want, and buying a firearm is about as hassle free as federal law will allow.

Comparatively speaking, Georgia ain't bad at all.

 

[uneasy_rider]

Uh, you do know that our CCW law is getting a major revamp July 1st, right?

Yes I do. I also know I can carry in more places in Florida with my Georgia licence than I can carry in Georgia.

What is a public gathering? When someone figures that out, they really need to let GA permit holders know.

Georgia is not the worst place for gun, but it is probably the worst (or at least in the top two) Southern state for guns.

 

[UnTainted]

Idaho is pretty sweet, though CCW does require a permit on a must issue basis, persuant to FBI background check alongside fingerprinting.

 

[Valkman]

I love how all these states are "awesome" - oops except for open carry or can't carry where alcohol is served. Doesn't sound awesome to me, nor does living in snow with AK and VT. Outside of Vegas NV is pretty good. CCW is shall issue, open carry is not illegal and carrying in bars casinos is A-OK. And we love full auto here!

 

[hitbackfirst]

I currently live in Idaho and consider it one of the better states for gun rights. Good points include the following:

"Shall issue" CC permits with no physical training or qualifying required.
Open Carry is legal w/o a permit.
Concealed Carry w/o a permit is legal outside city limits.
Cities and counties may not make laws regulating firearms.
Carry in places that serve alcohol is legal provided you are not drinking.
Shotguns and rifles may be carried concealed or openly without a permit.
Carry on college campuses is not prohibited by the state (just the colleges, themselves.)
Attitudes toward guns are generally favorable and LEOs are decently educated on the subject.
Full Auto weapons are subject only to Federal regulations.
CC permits are 'weapons permits' and allow concealed carry of knives and other weapons too.


Of course I wish that no permits were ever required, and that colleges were not allowed to prohibit firearms (and expel students for carrying on campus) but, for the most part, I give Idaho a thumbs up.

 

[71Commander]

how many times do you want this question answered?


use the search tool.

Ahem!!! Laws change. As an example. I rate Tennessee right below Michigan because of their no carry in a restaurant that sells booze. Michigan has a 51% law. If Tennessee eliminated that restriction, it would leap frog Michigan.

So as to the OP. It's an important question every month.

 

[Dave P]

"Once people get a thousand posts they transform into an old man on a rocking chair"

I don't even own a rocking chair --- and I was born in a Lazy Boy recliner!

 

[sinistr]

florida.own handguns/g armed guard 18.ccw no bs restrictions 21.private sale everything non NFA.stand your ground law .10 20 life law.oh,wait no flechettes!

 

[pyle]

Oklahoma isn't too bad - things are getting better. We don't have OC though......

 

[Defensory]

Just off the top of my head, I'd say Vermont, Alaska, New Hampshire and Florida are all pretty darn good overall.

 

[Shortdog22]

My dream is Alaska. KY is great. We OC ad CCW is easy to get. I hear the best is Alabama. All you do is sign a registry at the station and your certified CCW.

 

[bobernet]

The people who keep saying Florida surprise me. One of only 6 states in the country with NO open carry right? And that's a "best state for gun rights?"

Look at the Brady Bunch's state repotr card and any state with a D- or F is going to be pretty good. Off the top of my head...

Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada, rank near the top. Colorado would be OK if not for Denver and the fact that it seems to be getting worse there, not better. Arizona would make my top list other than the no alcohol issue. That's huge as it excludes not just bars, but nearly every restaurant. The midwest pretty much sucks, as does most of New England. The West Coast is totally out. The Great Lakes states vary from mediocre to horrendous.

Nevada is almost perfect save the need to get a CCW and the bogus "handgun registration" in Vegas. Washington would be pretty good if not for the Class III ban.

Every state is going to be a compromise, but I think the Mountain West states are about the best of the bunch.