Most Gun Friendly State?

[DPB]

I think the $5 per gun thing in PA is a state tax, not a background check cost.

Prior to signing on with Uncle Sam, I grew up in south central PA. The only things I would say negative is that non-hunting firearms tend to be more expensive and available in less variety than in some other places I've lived, specifically North Carolina, and the kind of competitive shooting I do (USPSA/3 Gun) is pretty uncommon. Also, those posessing Evil Black Rifles and such will occasionally get the "What do you need that for?" line of questioning.

A lot of non hunting guns go for MSRP, which all of you know tends to be well above the usual rack price.

The no fuss $20 CCW is nice. Every time I renew mine, though, I have to ask for the phone book to find some references who might know me.

The non-gun related downside to PA is that they have a lot of potential to become the next welfare state. That and they have this wonderful program of putting halfway houses from major cities in the vicinity of where I grew up, which has cause the drug related crime to go through the roof in the last ten years.

 

[Cosmoline]

I went to the Brady campaign web site (see what I do for you all?) and got a list of all of their D- and F states (figuring what they think is bad we would think was good). The 12 BEST states are as follows (remember, an F is very good stands for FINE).

NM F
TX D-
LA F
MS F
AL F
KY F
OH D-
OK D-
WY F
MT F
ID F
UT D-

Alaska is an F+, why didn't you include it?

 

[grimjaw]

If you don't count King County, Washington state is very nice, but I don't know about the best. It's on par or better than where I grew up (Arkansas).

jmm

 

[sofltodd]

http://www.bradycampaign.org/legislation/state/viewstate.php?st=fl

Florida is a F+ as well. Florida has sexy women in bikinis, machine guns, suppressors, competitive shooting in all areas of shooting sports and palm trees. What isn't to love?

 

[RioShooter]

No votes for Texas?

I'll put in a vote for Texas. Plentiful indoor and outdoor ranges, trap and skeet clubs, wide open spaces (West Texas), CCW for 10 years, legal carry of loaded long guns, white wing dove hunting, Academy Sports Stores, no snow south of San Antonio! Also Southwest Airlines is gun friendly, and will fly you all over the country.

 

[quazi]

Florida is a F+ as well. Florida has sexy women in bikinis, machine guns, suppressors, competitive shooting in all areas of shooting sports and palm trees. What isn't to love?

The hot weather, hurricanes, and men in speedos.

Just joking with you, well except the part about speedos.

Edit: You have snakes too.

 

[Tried'nTrue]

NM isn't a bad place for firearms owners. For those wanting a good-paying, reliable job, however...

 

[Beachmaster]

Another nod to Arizona! Nice attitude about weapons here. The only thing I can say bad about the place is that it gets a bit hot in the summer months in a few areas!

 

[IrvJr]

NH is good

NH is very good. Open carry without any permit is allowed (although probably not recommended). It's a shall-issue state. My concealed handgun permit was approved in one day (although in other towns it may take longer)! Class 3 stuff (including silencers and full auto) are allowed.

Also, no income tax, etc..

 

[Dr. Dickie]

Go to the Brady babies web page for state rankings: http://www.stategunlaws.org/

Any state with an F, is an acceptable state to live in.
Florida F+ (but we are trying for an F-).

 

[alex_trebek]

Indiana hasnt been given a fair representation here. I dont know why we got a D+ on the brady grades, but the laws are pretty relaxed. With the exception of South Bend, the leniency is restricted by the Feds. No magazine cap requirement at all. Its legal to saw off a shotgun and conceal it (check the laws for length). Class 3 autos, and suppressors are legal. CCW is 25 dollars for the 4 year, and i think 100 for the lifetime. Recently I heard rumors of the ATF getting on Indiana's case about our background checks, saying that too many felons were being given CCW's (I am not saying that is good, just pointing out how easy it is to get one). Because of that starting next month even if you have a CCW you have to go through two background checks, before only had to go through the fed. Only have to go through the fed background for long guns. No registering of any firearms required, and I dont even know if you can with the state or not. The Indy 1500 is every three months or so, and claims to be the biggest gun and knive show this side of the Mississippi. there is no law requiring one to conceal per se, but it is highly encouraged by law enforcement. Only bad thing is its hard to find a decent job, depending on your field of employment.

 

[Gun_nut]

dang oregon has a C- least its not a c+ but the ccw part oregon has a D-
And the have the triangle of Death! It has the NRa/Congress/corrupt gun dealers...

 

[exar]

Only bad thing is its hard to find a decent job, depending on your field of employment.

Really? You need to come down here to Evansville then. This city is blowin' up. We got mines owned by Peabody, ALCOA is here, Vectren runs all the power, Deaconess just opened a brand new state-of-the-art hospital. I'm a technician with Celergy Networks so I know there are IT based companies around. Engineers are in demand as well and I heard a new Honda plant is opening SE of Indy and will be hiring 2000 new workers.

 

[alex_trebek]

Yeah everyone here is so pro union they have ran out any buisness interested in building here. Indy, northern indiana, and evansville all seem to be doing well. I probably should of made that distinction.

 

[jamz]

Dude, as much as New England is polluted by the likes of MA, RI, CT and NY, we also have VT, NH and ME, all extremely gun friendly states. A CCW in NH is ten bucks for a resident. In Maine here it's a whopping $35. All shall issue, no waiting, no nothing- only law I don't like is that you can't carry in schools.

 

[Sinsaba]

... Alaska is an F+, why didn't you include it? ...

Sorry for the oversight Cosmoline, no slight intended. Since this thread started I have started looking a bit more into this. I found that even though Alaska has an F there is one thing I don't really care for. It appears (according to the Brady gang) that the Attorney General can regulate guns as opposed to the normal process that determine the laws in that state. To me that is a BAD thing.

I have a short list of 3 states Kentucky, Arizonia*, and my favorite,
Utah. Florida didn't make the cut because of hurricains and such. Of the 3, Kentucky has the lowest average per capita income so that sort of puts it at the bottom of my list.


* Arizonia has a limited form of preemption in that localities can prohibit carry in parks.

 

[stevelyn]

The biggest problem is the separation from the Lower 48.

It's not a problem. Most of us prefer it that way. It tends to keep all but the most highly motivated riff-raff out.

As for our Brady Trash Grade it's plummeting like a thermometer in Fairbanks in January. With two new gun bills signed into law SB 400 (Stand Your Ground........mostly) and HB 200(?) Prohibiting Confiscation During Emergencies (only one in US that provides penalties against persons doing so) it's likely Alaska will lose the + and drop lower during the next Brady Trash grading period.

 

[Cosmoline]

that the Attorney General can regulate guns as opposed to the normal process that determine the laws in that state. To me that is a BAD thing

That's bunk. I have no idea where they're getting that. The Alaska AG heads the Department of Law and advises state government. The department's regulations are limited to those roles.

http://touchngo.com/lglcntr/akstats/Statutes/Title44/Chapter23/Section020.htm

 

[Valkman]

Well NV rated a D and that ain't bad.

I would think there's other considerations, like living in snow 6 months of the year or 90% humidity or like here, hellish heat. I was stunned to learn NV is ranked 50th in education - yet 7k people come here to live every month. Guess they don't care about their kids much or don't bother to find out.

Florida has sexy women in bikinis, machine guns, suppressors, competitive shooting in all areas of shooting sports and palm trees. What isn't to love?

We have all that too except the women are naked!

 

[Outlaws]

Here in AZ we have little standing in the way of fun with guns. I wouldn't move to the center the the phoenix metro area because its really starting to get to be a LONG drive out to open desert, but there are 2 outdoor ranges and a few about 5 indoor ranges taht I know of. But Northern AZ would be where you could still buy some land that you could shoot on without having a city block pop up on you in 5 years.

Seriously.....I think the city is about at least a good 60 miles across in any direction.

 

[Matthew748]

I have gotta go with Indiana. CCW permits are relatively painless to get and the service is prompt. No waiting periods either. You may need a CCW permit to negate the waiting period, I am not sure.

The only problem is that we (on the border anyway) get inundated with folks from Illinois who cross the border to take advantage of our free public ranges and to buy cheaper cigarettes, gasoline, and fireworks. It is like a mob scene on the weekend with folks heading east, it really screws up traffic.

 

[mrmeval]

Indiana does not allow short shotguns

IC 35-47-1-10
"Sawed-off shotgun"
Sec. 10. "Sawed-off shotgun" means:
(1) a shotgun having one (1) or more barrels less than eighteen (18) inches in length; and
(2) any weapon made from a shotgun (whether by alteration, modification, or otherwise) if the weapon as modified has an overall length of less than twenty-six (26) inches.
As added by P.L.311-1983, SEC.32.

IC 35-47-5-4.1
Sawed-off shotgun
Sec. 4.1. (a) A person who:
(1) manufactures;
(2) causes to be manufactured;
(3) imports into Indiana;
(4) keeps for sale;
(5) offers or exposes for sale; or
(6) gives, lends, or possesses;
any sawed-off shotgun commits dealing in a sawed-off shotgun, a Class D felony.
(b) The presence of a weapon referred to in subsection (a) in a motor vehicle (as defined under IC 9-13-2-105(a)) except for school buses and a vehicle operated in the transportation of passengers by a common carrier (as defined in IC 8-2.1-17-4) creates an inference that the weapon is in the possession of the persons occupying the motor vehicle. However, the inference does not apply to all the persons occupying the motor vehicle if the weapon is found upon, or under the control of, one (1) of the occupants. In addition, the inference does not apply to a duly licensed driver of a motor vehicle for hire who finds the weapon in the licensed driver's motor vehicle in the proper pursuit of the licensed driver's trade.
(c) This section does not apply to a law enforcement officer who is acting in the course of the officer's official duties or to a person who manufactures or imports for sale or sells a sawed-off shotgun to a law enforcement agency.
As added by P.L.1-1990, SEC.351. Amended by P.L.2-1991, SEC.107.

 

[quazi]

Sorry for the oversight Cosmoline, no slight intended. Since this thread started I have started looking a bit more into this. I found that even though Alaska has an F there is one thing I don't really care for. It appears (according to the Brady gang) that the Attorney General can regulate guns as opposed to the normal process that determine the laws in that state. To me that is a BAD thing.

I'll have to research that, I've never heard of it. I'm not sure how much I trust the Brady Campaign's information, the last time I checked their site they had incorrect information regarding Alaska CCW. I think it was probably that they just hadn't bothered to update, not that it was wrong at the time they posted it.

 

[mrmeval]

Indiana stun and taser needs CCW

http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title35/ar47/ch8.html

Per this
IC 35-47-8-4
Applicability of handgun provisions
Sec. 4. IC 35-47-2 applies to an electronic stun weapon or taser.
As added by P.L.318-1985, SEC.3.

So all of the handgun laws apply to Tasers.