Best State for Guns

[nibb]

Whats the best US continental state for having, owning, using etc, guns. I mean in Laws the most free one.

 

[nwilliams]

I would have to guess that Vermont would be number one.

Vermont is unique in that permits are not required for carry concealed or unconcealed for resident and non-resident alike. Local ordinances vary, though. VT has no statutes concerning concealed carry, nor is there a specific statute that allows it. In the absence of a statute that prohibits it, then it is taken that there is no law against it.

It is lawful to carry a firearm openly or concealed provided the firearm is not carried with the intent or avowed purpose of injuring a fellow man. It is unlawful to carry a firearm within any state institution or upon the grounds or lands owned or leased by such institution.

From packing.org

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Which makes Alaska #2

They recently adopted "Vermont carry" there, and they're pretty open about gunz.

I dunno about other Western states, but Nevada is open carry, "shall issue," and no capacity limits or type restrictions.

We have the usual "victim zones" (schools, courts, etc.) and Las Vegas has a dumb "blue card" handgun registration thing.

Other than that, it's a pro-gun state.

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

This comes up from time to time and usually someone will refer the person asking to the brady site. So, here you go: http://www.stategunlaws.org/ Find ones with low ratings

Utah is pretty good. NFA items, shall issue, open carry (although no loaded chamber on OC without permit), no preemption. With the Utah CFP, you can carry just about anywhere aside from the usually airports, courts, etc. You can, however, carry in schools, bars, sporting events, churches (except Mormon churches or if posted ), public gatherings, and so forth.

Brady gives us a D- since we require unsupervised kids to be 14 to wander around with long guns and 18 to buy.

 

[nibb]

Mormon churches??? Thats an internal law from the Mormons right? Not from the state.

 

[Cosmoline]

You have to look beyond the letter of the law. In that respect, Alaska is far better than Vermont. We don't have large blue states around us, and the gun culture is far more entrenched here than in any Eastern state.

 

[Old Dog]

We seem to see this question, or some variation thereof, fairly regularly around here.

I submit that there is no one "best state for guns."

So many variables come in to play. Does a state require:
- having to get a permit to purchase a firearm (MI, others)
- "firearms owner ID cards" (e.g., IL)
- "safety inspections" of newly acquired firearms (MI, others)
- fees to the state government when buy a firearm (CA, others)
- training for CHL/CCW/CPL
- hefty fees for CHL/CCW/CPL
- outrageous fees for hunting licenses
- fees for accessing trailheads and state land (when hunting)

How entrenched is the gun culture? How entrenched is the hunting tradition? How rural is the state? How easy is it to find public land to shoot on? Is that legal? How many gunshops and retail stores that sell guns in the state? How many public, commercial and private ranges and gun clubs in the state?

State laws regarding defense of self, others and home ...

I simply don't see how one can proclaim one single state the best, or second best, or third best ... There are quite a few states that all have a lot going for them. Having a "Vermont-style" carry law, or allowing Class III firearms doesn't necessarily mean a state is the "best" in the entire country. Lots to consider.

Even ... how does the state's media treat firearms issues and firearms owners? Shootings? Self-defense or home-defense incidents? Hunting?

I still think my home state, Michigan, even with some of the most annoying regulations surrounding the purchase and ownership of firearms one could imagine, is, on balance, a pretty good state for gun-owners -- by virtue of the long-standing hunting tradition and a general respect for gun-ownership (not necessarily evident in the urban areas), but it's there ...

For me, there are a few states I consider to have reasonable laws, a plethora of facilities and accomodations for gun-owners, along with a solid "gun culture" and reasonably conservative state legislatures (and enough gun-owning voters) to make me think I could live out the rest of my life in any one of those states ...

 

[jrfoxx]

Oregon is actually VERY good also, IMHO.No "assault weapons" ban, no capacity limit, full auto ok, suppressors ok, shall issue (includes ability to carry in bars, schools, etc), "no guns/weapons" signs are meaningless, open carry anywhere carry is allowed if you hace a CCW permit, open carry allowed everywhere except a few specific cities without a permit, even switchblades/auto knives are legal, but cant be concealed (home of Benchmadeknife co.).I really cant complain...
only downside is we recognize NO other states permits (doesnt affect me personally, but I think its BS.regardless)

 

[Frog48]

Alaska would be a great place to live, if it wasnt to darn cold.

I love Texas. Its a relatively good place for gun owners.

 

[Liberal Gun Nut]

Here's a related question: Are there any states that are only under Fed. gun laws? Ie, are there any states that have no state-level gun laws at all? Or at least, have very few state-level gun laws?

 

[Ratzinger_p38]

Now that we have preemption, as well as removing the 'plain sight' part of the law for CCW holders in their cars, Ohio is pretty good. It's no Vermont, but still an easy B+ (as a further example of how good it is, the Brady clowns rate Ohio a "D -" which to me equals = B+ )

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

Mormon churches??? Thats an internal law from the Mormons right? Not from the state.

Well, it's a combination. You used to be able to carry in all churches. A few churches from the less prominent denominations made some noise about it but were largely ignored. Then the LDS church issued a statement saying that guns in church weren't appropriate and before you knew it, there was a law saying that if a certain church posted signs or notified members, it would be illegal to carry there. Then the LDS Church lobbied to make it so they only needed to take out a newspaper ad each year instead of posting signs. A church who does this also notifies BCI (the issuing authority) and BCI posts a list of churchs currently prohibiting via methods other than signs on their website. Currently, only the LDS church is listed. That does cover about 1500 meeting houses, however.

 

[Cosmoline]

Here's a related question: Are there any states that are only under Fed. gun laws? Ie, are there any states that have no state-level gun laws at all? Or at least, have very few state-level gun laws?

That's an interesting question. It depends what you mean by "gun laws." Every state has basic firearm-related laws re. where you can't shoot and what you can't carry. If you mean waiting periods, background checks, registration, etc. then many are only under the federal rules.

 

[Ratzinger_p38]

"Here's a related question: Are there any states that are only under Fed. gun laws? Ie, are there any states that have no state-level gun laws at all? Or at least, have very few state-level gun laws?"

I beleive Vermont is the only state with federal laws. only. Alaska might be in there also, but it still has its 'CCW'.

 

[FieroCDSP]

Yes!!!, Ohio got a D-... Muwahahaha Take that California. We have less than 1/3 the population and 1/64th the crime, soon to go down with the increasingly popular carry permits.

 

[Ratzinger_p38]

FieroCDSP - Yup, out here near Dayton things are highly 'gun friendly' and I am sure you guys up there near Canton have it off well too.

Ohio - high population, but still a bastion of Republicanism (despite our recently elected 'D' Sharrod Brown, at least it was a win-win in the governors race - I beleive our current gov is an NRA 'A', and so was his opponent)

 

[Duncan223]

Florida is tops in my book.

MGs - yup
Silencers - yup
AOW - yup
CCW - yup
Build an Ammo Fort - yup

 

[30 cal slob]

everything is relative to your desired quality of life, IMO.

NH is tops in my book for northern new england (okay, VT is alright too). shall-issue CCW with no off-limits victim zones. not a bad place to live if you have to work in anti-2A places like Boston. no other restrictions on EBR or NFA. but the winters are cold and it's largely rural (YOU may be okay with living like a hermit but your spouse might not).

if you're going to work in the metro NYC area (NJ/NY/CT), then CT is your state (quasi-shall-issue CCW with few off-limit provisions, some EBR bans but you can have all NFA stuff).

if you're going to work in the metro D.C. area, then Virginia is a no-brainer for many of the same reasons, etc.

say you had no choice but to work in Chicago. Well, I'd bite the bullet and do the commute from neighboring gun-friendly Indiana.

and so on....

 

[TexasRifleman]

Texas is up there but has a couple of problems.

CCW is pretty restrictive and still no open carry.

There are some peaceable journey things being worked out but for not it's still questionable in some parts of the state whether you can have a handgun in the car without a concealed permit. The law says it's OK but some DAs are fighitng it. I think it will be cleared up soon.

NFA stuff is all OK.

Texas is certainly in the top 5 or 6

 

[Deanimator]

Here in Ohio, we just repealed almost every gun law in the state, from county on down!

 

[Outlaw Man]

I flipped through the book of state gun laws that came with my C&R. Vermont and Alaska had very short sections as did a few other states. Four or five states make up about 75% of that book, though.

 

[The Law]

I recently moved from California to Nevada. It's like night and day.

Nevada is certainly one of the better gun states in the Union.

 

[Ratzinger_p38]

Outlaw Man: Let me guess - Hawaii, Puerto Rico, California, Illinios, New York, New Jersey and Mass. were the states/territories that made up most of the book right?

 

[cbsbyte]

Outlaw Man: Let me guess - Hawaii, Puerto Rico, California, Illinios, New York, New Jersey and Mass. were the states/territories that made up most of the book right?

Actually your mostly right. These states have the longest sections in the 2005 book: NY, CA, CT, Mass, ILL, PR, NJ, Maryland, Ohio, Michigian and Florida.

 

[Ratzinger_p38]

Michigian? I am surprised. I never noticed a big problem there, I have a few friends that live up there and theyve never bitched about it..hmm.

The Ohio part is now null and void. We're probably going to earn the 'HONOR' of a Brady 'F' Rating!