Let’s try this for a thread

[Tried'nTrue]

Not too bad, here in New Mexico. Since I'm new to firearms and am just learning my way around, I've been reading up on state laws, too. Here in NM, we do have open carry, but I don't believe we can carry in Nat'l. Parks or Forest; perhaps that's the case across the nation. I'm not sure about State Parks.

Our CCW license is shall issue, but it costs some $$ to get it (that's the way of most everything in this state).
-required training class by a state licensed CC trainer, usually $150-$200
-$200 non-refundable application fee
-Re-certification is every 4 years, for $75

CC is banned in any place that serves or sells alcohol, including grocery stores, Wal-marts, normal restaurants, etc. I think that's a total crock.

Incidentally (an axe I've been grinding...) last summer we had a CC shooting, in which a 72-year-old man legally shot and killed a younger man who was in the process of repeatedly stabbing his ex-girlfriend, a Wal-mart employee, while she was working behind the deli counter. Many of y'all read about it here on THR. This occurred in the only Wal-mart in Abq that doesn't sell alcohol. About 5 months after that, every Wal-mart put up signs on its front doors expressly forbidding the carrying of firearms on the premises. *A Wal-mart employee was saved from being murdered while on the job and Wal-mart Corp. follows up with a ban on all firearms?!?! That's gratitude for ya I know who I DON'T want to have my back! Simply sickening. (rant now off)

- the general attitude towards firearms seems to be about the same as anywhere else: in the country, there's more recognition and use, in the city (namely, Albuquerque), there's a higher incidence of communists-in-training (those who would impose their will on all society for the "greater good").
- we can carry loaded firearms, I believe in whatever manner we wish, in our vehicles.
- we do not have a "shall declare" law for CCW holders at traffic stops
- reciprocity ain't too bad; currently 20 states are on our list, including all of the neighbors: Texas, Colorado, and Arizona.
- there are a fair amount of gun shops and dealers in Abq. Prices, from what I've seen, aren't terribly expensive.
- we have a large ranching community in NM, which helps.
- there's not much more to do here than hunt and camp which keeps firearms usage more wide-spread
In general, it's a decent place for firearms owners.

 

[MikeH]

Not that I'm claiming Maryland is gun-friendly, but I'd like to clarify on a few minor points:

You can buy one gun a month, whoopie.

One handgun or "regulated firearm" per month. You can buy as many non-regulated long guns as you can afford. Also, you can get a waiver from this by applying for designated collector status from the MDSP.

The gun you buy in Maryland must meet a strict approved list by the state.

There is an approved handgun roster. Also, there is a list of "assault pistols" banned in MD. However, there is no list for rifles/shotguns.

 

[Tried'nTrue]

Boomstick,

that's simply rotten. I don't know how long it'll be as free as it is here in the States, either...

 

[jrou111]

Can anyone top this?

Japan?

 

[Joe7cri]

Not great but not horrible here in NY. If you live north of Westchester County you get an unrestricted CCW and can carry anywhere except NY city. If you live in Westchester County you get a restricted (hunting/Target) permit, but there are plenty of 24 hr pistol ranges

As far as our AWB, you can't have a flash suppressor, bayonet lug, or high capacity magazines (post ban), but I have my bushmaster and plenty of 30 rd. clips. The local gun store has a huge stock of Brand New "pre ban" English 30 rd. Military Magazines.

So all in all not horrible yet, but definitely not Florida.

 

[Lou629]

It's not all that gun-friendly here in Corzineistan. ( AKA: New Jersey )
This states' laws on guns go to some trouble to make YOU go to some trouble in order to buy and own firearms.

There is no possibility of John Q citizen getting a carry permit.
In order to do that you have to be an FBI agent, local LEO, politician, or rich celebrity.

You need a state-issued firearms ID card just to purchase a long gun or ammo. You need to show this ID in some of the local stores before they'll even let you HANDLE a long gun that you may be considering a purchase on, or buy ammo for it.

You need a seperately issued, one-at-a-time permit to purchase a handgun. This is in addition to having the state FID card. The first one takes about 90 days to get, hopefully the cost of the gun you want doesn't go up 15% while you wait. Additional permits can take up to that long, although a follow-up may only take a week or so. There's even talk of requiring a permit for a pellet gun!!

There are magazine capacity limits (15). There is a state mandated 'verboten' list of guns that are not allowed to be sold in this state. It is a LONG list.

These measures are designed to make things difficult for both the shooters & the sellers, and are partly to blame for being treated like a criminal when you go to some of the local gunshops / ranges until you can prove otherwise to them.

There are a lot more but those were some of the 'lowlights'.

When i consider how easy things are across the river in my native state of Pa., and how easy things COULD be over here if the locals weren't so paranoid, it makes me shake my head. It also makes me sure i'll be re-locating back to good old Pennsylvania just as soon as possible.

 

[Gordon Fink]

A Wal-mart employee was saved from being murdered while on the job and Wal-mart Corp. follows up with a ban on all firearms?!?!

Yet another reason to not shop at Wal-Mart.

~G. Fink

 

[Black Majik]

I live in CA

Pretty crappy in terms of gun ownership. Approved handgun list, 10 day waiting period, 1 new gun per 30 days.

HSC required for handgun

Longgun no shorter than 18" barrel

Handguns now require loaded chamber indicators and mag disconnect

Banned .50 BMG

Banned AR15, AK class and any other guns too dangerous to own but every other state can

Almost tried to ban handguns in SF

No NFA firearms

Dianne Fienstein

No firearms sold at Walmart

Mostly non CCW state. "May" issue.

10 round magazines only after 2000


At least my Sheriff was good to me and approved my CCW application

 

[America_without_liberals]

I will agree with the others that PA is good but there is still one quirk that I just don't agree with. If you do not have a CCW, when transporting any firearm it must be clearly in the open with the action open with the ammunition in another compartment of the vehicle. I think this was mainly put into place to stop poachers but this means that when I go to the range I have my rifle out of the case laying on the back seat with the action open and the ammunition on the front passenger seat floor. Not really concerned about the ammo separation but damage to the gun or zero on my scope.

Another issue that really heated me was that I watched a female wearing a burqa buy a pistol. She never showed her face. I'm not trying to say that all Muslims are terrorists but if I have to show my picture ID so they can run instacheck against it and have visual reference of who I say I am she should too.

 

[Yakko]

Oregon is good!

DoubleTapDrew is correct on everything. I'd like to add that our CCW rules don't have any special circumstances for carrying in a car. We also have a state law/or it is in the state constitution that no city or county can make their gun laws more restrictive than the state's. It kills the confusion factor.

 

[Mr_Dictionary]

ND is great. Guns are still seen a tool by most of the people and no attempts to demonize them has been successful. It's really nice to hear the authorities blame the criminals for their crimes not inaminimate objects. Especially with all the stupidity that I see in the national media.

Positives:
Open carry is legal during daylight hours.
Shall issue CCW and cheap (<$100)
Recognition of the inherent right to possess firearms regardless of reason.
Recognition of the right to self defense and immunity from civil prosecution for all self defense shootings.
Huge open areas for lots of practice.
All unloaded longarms are incapable of being considered concealed during vehicle transport.
Excellent hunting for the hunters.
Firearms rarely get a double look. (Unless you're doing something stupid.)


Negatives:
Must "notify" the state of all machine guns.
Some of the restricted areas for CCW need clarification.
No reciprocity on CCW with surrounding states. (need a Utah CCW)
There is one more minor murky issue that I can't remember.

 

[Cato the Younger]

Life as a Illinois gun owner

As Gator said, life in NE Illinois is not too great. Illinois has a great deal of restrictions
1. No CCW
2. Guns must be cased and unloaded in a trunk (if you are in a vehicle w/o a trunk- i.e. a van, they must be as far in the back as possible)
3. Need a FOID card just to posess firearms and ammunition (The conventional wisdom is posession of so much as 1 round of ammo w/o a FOID=instant felon)
4. 24 hr waiting period on long guns
5. 3 day waiting period on handguns
6. Some municipalities have banned handguns/ put freezes in place (i.e. Chicago)
7. Luckily, we don't have any "approved weapons list" or AWB here...yet

All in all, going to college in Indiana was an eye-opening experience- It showed me that not every state is as restrictive as IL

 

[the pistolero]

Well, from where I sit...

...Texas is pretty good, from my limited experience, that is. No firearm owner ID card, no registration, no waiting period. I go in the gun store, my gun dealer runs the NICS check and I am out the door ten minutes later with my gun...really, though, I am never out the door only ten minutes later because I usually sit there and chew the fat with him for a good 30 minutes every time I go see him. I believe we can also have Class III weapons here.
I do wish the CHL fees were a little lower, though ($140 plus whatever the instructor charges), but on second thought, if I hadn't bought so many guns this year alone, maybe I'd have the money! LOL.
There are, of course, the normal restrictions on where you can carry, from the DPS....

Handguns and other weapons cannot be carried at schools or on school buses, at polling places, in courts and court offices, at racetracks, at secured airport areas or within 1,000 feet of the premises of an execution on the day of the execution. License holders are also specifically prohibited from carrying their handguns in businesses where alcohol is sold if more than half of their revenue is from the sale of alcohol for on-premises consumption, in locations where high school, college or professional sporting events are occurring, or on the premises of a correctional facility. A license holder may not carry a handgun in hospitals or nursing homes, amusement parks, places of worship or at government meetings if proper notice is given prohibiting such activity.

We can carry them in the car loaded and concealed, with the traveling caveat, though there's at least one district attorney in Texas (Chuck Rosenthal from Harris County) who will prosecute you if you're pulled over in his county and have a loaded firearm in your vehicle without a permit.

God bless Texas. I'd sure hate to ever have to leave.

 

[leadcounsel]

Colorado is good, but could be better.

CCW is shall issue. About $100-200 in fees, class requirement and wait to get the license. It took about 4 months total.

Only been stopped once while carrying. I informed the officer and he was indifferent; didn't even want to see the firearm (in my glove box, actually).

Can carry handguns concealed in car with no license. Can carry longguns in car (I believe with no round in the chamber).

Denver has an inane assault weapon ban. I'm hoping that will change.

Open carry allowed by law, but I wouldn't recommend it. I think it's an invitation to get harrassed.

Decent number of places to shoot in the metro area, and wide open country elsewhere to shoot.

 

[Live Free Or Die]

Not that I'm claiming Maryland is gun-friendly...

But to pull that thread just a bit more, I believe the original poster left out the following MD restriction:

7 day waiting period on handgun purchases

 

[S&WIowegan]

Iowa

No one has chimed in yet on Iowa so I'll try to summarize:

1. Not a "shall issue" state. Each county sheriff "may" issue CCW at discretion. This leads to wildly varying practice. Most country sheriffs are pro-CCW and issue with some proof of "training". The city/urban counties tend to be anti-gun with the exception of Polk county where Des Moines (state capital) is located. Polk County's current sheriff will issue to anyone who passes an approved training class and passes the NCIS check. CCW permit is good for one year and is renewable for modest fee. Every two years, CCW holders must "requalify" by attending an approved shooting class. CCW also permits unlimited handgun purchases while valid. This can change in any county due to election of a new sheriff or a tragic shooting event that brings the antis out in droves.

2. All residents who do not have CCW must obtain an annual "Permit to Acquire" handguns from the local sheriff. Such permits are good for unlimited purchases while valid. Sheriff runs NCIS check and imposes a 3-day wait by mailing the permit out so you don't get it for 3 days.

3. Shotguns are pretty much universally accepted because of pheasant hunting and deer slug hunting. Pretty ironic since a shotgun blast to a human at close quarters is probably the most lethal.

4. Centerfire rifles are more suspect since we ban them for deer and turkey hunting. This is apparently due to the the idea a bullet may travel incredible distances and kill someone. A little weird in a state with wide open spaces.

5. The country counties are very relaxed about firearms in general and are mostly concerned about poachers.

6. This is NOT a stand-your-ground state.....we have a duty to flee if possible. In reality this means you're at the discretion/mercy of local LEOs and DAs.

7. Outdoor shooting ranges are plentiful. Most counties have a public range managed by the "sportsmens club". Membership fees help cover maintenance and rehab. costs. My local Izaak Walton chapter has a brand new range with club house, skeet and trap, 100 yd rifle and pistol range with covered firing positions. Indoor ranges in Des Moines do not survive.....I dislike them enormously for health and safety reasons.

Bob.

 

[MikeH]

But to pull that thread just a bit more, I believe the original poster left out the following MD restriction:

7 day waiting period on handgun purchases

Certainly true for handguns and regulated firearms. I had to wait 7 working days to get a STRIPPED AR RECEIVER. Simply ridiculous.

 

[ebd10]

Kansas just got WAY better!

As of 1 January, "shall issue" goes into effect. We just passed the "stand your ground" law. No Class III (yet ) but we're hopeful.

 

[MD_Willington]

For the most part, being a gun-owner -- and a gun-carrier -- in Washington State is a good thing. When I moved up here from California in 1994, of course my first order of business was to phone my local police department to inquire as to the procedure for registering my firearms in my new state. At this point, I was still remembering the horrible experience (and three visits to the main station of the Honolulu PD) when I was forced to register my guns upon moving to Hawaii prior to relocating again to California ...

Me: "Hi, I just moved to this state; what do I need to do to register my personal firearms which I brought with me?"

Woman answering phone at PD: "Uh, nothing. You must have moved up here from California, right? But if you come down here tomorrow and pay the $60 fee, we'll issue you a Concealed Pistol License."

No training requirement for CPLs. You'll get your first one within about 10 days. Renewal is $35 bucks (or was last time I renewed). Only thing is the lack of a training requirement is apparently what stops most states from granting reciprocity to those with WA CPLs. Currently, we've got reciprocity with only about six other states, although about a total of 10 recognize our CPLs.

One will find, especially once one leaves King County, that the local PDs, SOs and the WSP regard those who carry concealed pistols about the same as they do any citizen they would encounter -- it's just not a big deal for them. Of course -- WA was the first shall-issue state, way back when.

We can carry pretty much anywhere (except bars, courthouses, mental health facilities and stadiums) and hunting is not considered with horror by most of the citizenry hereabouts ... Gunshops are easily found, gun prices are on balance pretty good, gun clubs abound and range facilities are available most everywhere.

Except for the lack of support for open carry and ownership of Class III weapons here, gun-ownership and gun-packing is generally regarded as normal (except, as noted, in and around Seattle, Mercer Island, Bainbridge Island or any of the other liberal enclaves around here where the inhabitants are totally out of touch with what everyone else in the state considers normal).

I'm in a different boat, while those are all good, I have to acquire an "Alien Firearms License", a hassle but I do have one, no renewal at all, new one every 5 years, not allowed to do anything without it, can't even buy ammo...

Trust me with a Green Card... but have to get extra bits of paper for various other things They do trust me with a 4-wheeled assualt device though..

 

[anotherinkling]

Here in north eastern Illinois (where Chicago casts its shadow) we are looked at as potential mass murderers....

I live in Chicago where gunowners are considered mass murderers...they just haven't found the bodies yet.

OK, it's not quite that bad, but consider this--I'm not even going to address the gun restrictions, which have been covered well elsewhere--I can't walk into a Home Depot and buy a can of spray paint here. And forget about discharging a BB gun in your backyard. It's forbidden. The government in Chicago does not trust its citizens with guns or anything else.

 

[Rexrider]

Looks like I will have to represent AZ.

In a nut shell......

We have all the good stuff with none of the bad.

-No type of AWB (no restrictions on rifles, handguns, or magazine capacity)

-Open carry if you care to.

-Shall issue concealed carry but does require an 8 hr course (down from 16 hrs)

-No restrictions on purchasing (beyond federal laws of course) and you can do face-to-face transactions.

-No type of handgun/rifle registration.

-We have still have land (BLM) where we are free to shoot firearms to your heart's content.

-We have frequent guns shows that are still worth paying to get into (but with plenty of beef jerky, china, toys, etc)

-AZ just passed a "no duty to retreat" law.

AZ is about as good as it gets (for now at least). I really do feel for you guys behind the wire (so to speak)

 

[Freddymac]

Rhode Island is O.K.

To buy a rifle all you need is to be 18 and a valid state ID & 7 day wait.
To get your purchase permit for a pistol you need to take a 50-question safety test & 7day wait.
For carry permit they are odd. Just because you want to exercise your right to- almost never. Show a “need”- not hard at all. To show a need you write a letter to the licensing department. Basically, if you handle cash or valuables, you have a need.

 

[pete f]

MINNESOTA not a bad place at all.

worst restrictions,

No full auto unless on C&R list, NO suppressors at all. Verboten.

Otherwise, shall issue carry permits. Good for 5 years, then need to retest and pay your money.

Permit to purchase cards. only for handguns.

More than 25 % of the state population gets hunting licenses. Supposedly one of the highest percentages in nation.

We have a nasty anti gun MSM in the twin cities metro, although this seems to be slightly changing as a couple of station managers have now understood that may be pissing off half the state or more everytime they blame an object not the person for crime might hurt ratings.

This was a majorly liberal state, still is in many ways, but the mood has started to change a good bit. Republican control of state government for much of the past two decades has really eroded the mindset that Democrats have that they have a right to control the population.

Gun sports are very big here. pretty much all outdoor activities are big.

No limit on number of guns bought at a time or in a time period.

Allowed transport of firearms pretty much anywhere.

Really liberal(in the good sense) carry law. can carry in places serving, can carry pretty much everywhere except school, courthouses, and the prohitibitive sign is really just a warning, you have to be seen carrying, asked to leave and then refuse, this gets you a $25 trespass ticket, and not a blem on your record. Open carry is permitted, not really used, but permitted, best part about the open carry law, is if you "print" it is no big deal. Yes concealed means concealed, but if your shirt rides up or someone sees it when you are loading the trunk, no penalty.

 

[308win]

Ohio has:

Shall issue CCW with some inconveniences regarding carry in a vehicle. Reciprocity with some bordering states and Fla and others.

No prohibition against open carry but if you do you are going to get highly individualized attention from LEs and may get an inducing panic citation.

No statewide lists or bans but rapidly developing a hodge podge of local ordinances; the good news is that the General Assembly is considering legislation to amend some of the inconveniences in CCW, prohibit local ordinances that are more restrictive than state, and other issues.

No duty to retreat in own home.

No 'good Samaritan' protections.

 

[Xigris]

WV

I started collecting guns when I got out of school and started making some money. I now have quite a large collection. Over those 25 plus years, the
most restrictive laws have been the the federal laws (the Clinton years).
I have carried a firearm on my person and/or in my vehicle since I was 18
years old (as my father, and his father did). WV is a "shall issue" state.
I have not had a single problem as a result of being armed. I have been very lucky, but I give myself credit for a lot of that good luck. I possess plenty of common sense and I don't have a short temper. Things are relatively good
here in "The Mountian State".