Portland OR vs Boulder CO

[TacticalHubs]

I have the opportunity to move out of the Bay Area, CA due to work to either Portland OR or Boulder Colorado. I know these choices are not as good as say Arizona or Texas, but hey...at least it's not California anymore.

So where would you move given these two choices: Portland OR area or Boulder CO area? What specific surrounding or neighboring counties/cities are gun friendly and would you recommend putting up your homestead given these two choices?

 

[Robert]

As long as you don't have to live in Boulder then CO is the easy choice. The laws that were passed are not enforced and no one really seems to care. The only real difference is that you can't buy a mag over 15 rounds in state now. But show me a mag with a born on date or a cop who actually cares about this stupid law.

 

[hso]

at least it's not California anymore.

You could have said that a while ago, but not so much in the future.

 

[gbran]

I second the CO over OR vote. OR adding gun laws but I think CO politicians got ahead of themselves and over reached. Law enforcement and the public rebelled. Some pols paid the price.

And............ for me, it rains way to much in OR.

 

[MErl]

Some pols lost thier jobs but most did not and they will be back. OR still has no outright bans on anything (right?). You are not getting standard mags in CO. What is the CC situation in OR? Classes are common here and aren't really onerous. The Boulder Sheriff will sign NFA papers.

 

[jamesjames]

Oregun environment

Oregon is a shall-issue state for concealed carry. a lot of forest and public land outside of metro Portland allows shooters many improvised range options. Ther are no mag limits or gun bans (currently). There is a large and friendly gun community.

On the down side, some municipalities in Multnomah County (Portland metro area) don't allow open carry.

The legislature just passed and sent to the governor for signature a bill requiring background checks on private firearm sales.

There is another bill making its way through the legislature allowing a judge to order confiscation of firearms from those convicted of domestic abuse including misdemeanor offenses with any family members.

There is another bill moving through the legislature to outlaw the use of mammoth ivory in the state. This would included the sale of hand gun grips.

The wild western frontier becomes the nanny state bill by bill.

 

[Frank Ettin]

I'd choose Portland, OR, but for reasons unrelated to the gun laws. I just prefer the coast to the mountains. Both States have gun laws I could live with and good, pro-RKBA sentiment outside the urban areas.

 

[leadcounsel]

I've worked in Boulder, and lived in Denver. I've visited Portland and live in WA state.

IMO - Boulder and Portland are about equal for gun rights. Not great, but not terrible.

Boulder:
Liberal town in a Purple state. No high cap magazines over I think 15 rounds now (new law). Some AWB may be in effect in scattered areas (can't recall exactly and the laws have changed). Landlocked. Epic snow skiing, mountain biking, hiking and camping. Surrounded by conservative states with a lot of outdoors stuff (Utah, Arizona, Wyoming, etc.). Epic hunting for big game, open distances. Carry permits are reciprocal in most states and shall issue. Excellent beers and breweries nearby. Colorado is attempting to repeal recent gun laws.

Portland: Bigger than Boulder. Liberal town on perhaps the most scenic coast in the nation. Gorgeous hiking, water sports on the ocean and rivers, rafting, kayaking, etc. Proprietary carry permit only good in Oregon, a PITA to get. Excellent beers and breweries. Portland is trying to pass more gun laws for registration so that may change the equation.

Of the two, the guns issues are probably a dead heat. And it can change overnight since they are both quite liberal or purple states... My advice would be not to get too settled in either place if guns are your thing.

 

[stoky]

Boulder is a fun town. There's a great club just outside the North city limit; the Boulder Rifle Club. The waiting list for membership is long, but they have a lot of public range days and matches and most members are amicable to the accommodation of guests.
Paladin Press is in Boulder. A sign in the foyer proclaims "WARNING! The occupants of this building are totally unarmed and unprepared to defend themselves."

 

[MErl]

JamesJames brought up a good point I forgot about Boulder. Places to shoot are limited even with the huge national forest right there. You have to drive well away form the metro area or use an established range.

 

[russianbear]

That wondering state is (1) Anti-Firearm (2) Drug Friendly (3) Convicted sex offender freindly. Now what could be a better place not to live?:banghead:

 

[oneounceload]

If you like damp, cloudy, rainy weather - Portland.
If you like to ski - Boulder.

Having lived in CO and having had in-laws in Portland, I would take Boulder, irrespective of the gun laws, but just for a better QOL, IMO - YMMV

 

[Robert]

That wondering state is (1) Anti-Firearm (2) Drug Friendly (3) Convicted sex offender freindly. Now what could be a better place not to live?

What are you talking about?

 

[russianbear]

Robert: Moderator? Answer the state of Colorado.

 

[taliv]

i'd look seriously at taxes too.
there are a lot more prairie dogs around boulder
the food is excellent there
skiing is great

 

[Robert]

Bear, have you spent much time here or are you just reposting something you read somewhere? Outside of Denver City/ County and Boulder City the state is very gun friendly. In fact we have a very healthy gun culture with competitive shooting, hunting and numerous ranges. Yes, Denver/ Boulder control the state but that does not mean that we all think that way. Every County Sheriff in the state went on record saying they were not going to enforce the new laws as they are unenforceable and unconstitutional.

But yeah we hate guns.

The other two points are off topic for THR so I am not able to address them here other than to say

 

[chicharrones]

This is an interesting topic for me currently. A couple weeks ago I was in metro Portland for a 6 day job. The landscape is fantastic. The rain, when present, was only brief light showers. The weather was a good 20 degrees cooler than I'm used to for the season. The low humidity made beer drinking easier on my head. Even the traffic there was relaxed and not aggressive.

I was offered a job up there, but I'd have to move myself.

Compared to the flat, humid, thunderstorm prone Greater Houston area (with highways full of road ragers mixed with "immigrant speed" drivers), Portland seemed to be heaven.

Of course, many of people that I met there were recent California transplants, so what does that mean for the future of gun rights in Oregon?

 

[strambo]

The gun laws are way better in OR than CO. About as good as they can be short of "constitutional carry". Easy shall issue CCW (and you can carry anywhere you want except federal property, courthouse or airport...there is no sign posting, no bar restrictions etc.), any NFA item you want, no AWB, no magazine restrictions.

With gun laws in the plus column, you gotta look at RE prices, taxes (no sales tax in OR, but 9.something income tax) , traffic etc. I love CO and have lots of family there.

 

[sequins]

I'd recommend Oregon, the northwest is culturally and geographically unique and I really enjoy it up here. I'm in WA so I'm biased though.

One thing you might miss though is the seasons. The northwest really just has summer and winter, not all 4 seasons like the east or midwest.

 

[longknife12]

When I had office in Boulder, most folks that work there commute! I'd vote for Colorado. Plenty of shooing outside of it.
Dan

 

[CoRoMo]

I don't know how the OP plans to vote once moved here, so I can't recommend that he move here.

This state has gone so far left/purple/anti because of a lot of California exodus folks who continue to vote the way they did there.

 

[Sam1911]

[Let's keep this on-topic please, folks.]

 

[Swing]

Regarding gun laws, I'd go with Portland. For nearly everything else, I'd go Boulder.

 

[JTHunter]

Hubs - if you like snow - Colorado.
If you prefer rain, Oregon.

Just remember that there is an underwater volcano about 250-300 miles off Oregon's coast currently erupting. If the eruption gets larger ot there is a massive landslide, the coastline could be inundated by a tsunami.

 

[jamesinalaska]

I went to a Grateful Dead concert outside of Boulder. Now that was something to remember.