What are the 3 States with the Least Restrictive and the 3 States with the Most Restrictive Gun Law?

[bearcreek]

I don’t post often, and don’t recall the last time I did

That was your first post. Look to the left of the text box and you'll see your screen name. A couple lines under that it'll say "messages:" and then a number.

Texas is certainly better than CT, as are most states, but it's nowhere near the top 3. Texas is actually in the minority of states that require you to get a permit to carry a pistol. Most either don't require a permit or only require one to conceal the weapon.

 

[DMF38]

I live in MA and I know it's one of the worst gun states. I thought California was one of the worst too. And I thought TN was one of the best states for gun owners.

 

[Basura Blanca]

If CA AB3071 passes (likely) that would IMO be enough to give CA the top ranking about being the Worst, which will no doubt make a lot of CA politicians happy.

(should not have commented earlier that CA needs to try harder to be the worst, because they decided to)

What's bothersome is it wasn't always like this; anything like this for that matter. Growing up here, there wasn't a lot of hand-wringing over guns nor was there a concerted effort session after session for the legislature to try to outdo themselves. The most egregious lawmaking we've endured is relatively new. For instance, BFSC and whatever it's called now wasn't a thing until the 90s whereas FOID traces its roots to 1968 (not trying to make a CA - IL comparison, it's just an example). Similarly, CA has always had may-issue even as far back when a lot of states were strictly no-issue.

As much as I like "top 5" style lists, a better examination of trends might be post Heller/McDonald anti-gun lawmaking proposals. We've only had a working, applicable 2A for a decade and yet it seems to have empowered the anti-gunners more than it's put them in check.

 

[Dudedog]

When my mom grew up in Fillmore the Jr High age girls would walk out of town with .22 rifles to hunt rabbits in the river bed for dinner.
Now girls that age with guns together would probably result in a call to the PD.

 

[230RN]

Colorado's still pretty good, but now that the "liberals" have control of the legislature and we have a "liberal" Governor, I'm waiting for California Copycatism to take over. Maybe not all at once, but I'm expecting it by degrees.

A little bit here for the sake of the children, a little bit there as a matter of common sense, and oh, we can't allow that because of Officer Safety...

And with the Boulder-Denver Commieplex pushing things....

Standard procedure, you get the picture.

Terry, 230RN

 

[trevally]

Michigan is pretty good. An open carry state. Conceal permits require completion of an 8 hour class. CPL fee is $135 and good for 4 years. CPL is accepted in many other states.. but stay away from Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and most of the West Coast.

I was under the impression that Michiganistan has required registration of all firearms. If so, that would eliminate Michiganistan as a state where I would live.

 

[trevally]

I guess if there is a "best" of list, that is pretty good. I do not see why Florida is rated 24?/
We don't have open carry (which I don't personally care about) but other than that there is no real hassle of gun ownership??

Florida has an unconstitutional Red Flag law.

 

[WheelGunMan]

I was under the impression that Michiganistan has required registration of all firearms. If so, that would eliminate Michiganistan as a state where I would live.

Sounds like that might be a good thing.

 

[bearcreek]

I was under the impression that Michiganistan has required registration of all firearms. If so, that would eliminate Michiganistan as a state where I would live.

Michigan requires handguns to be registered, not long guns. Certainly still knocks it down past the halfway point on the list.

 

[giggitygiggity]

Having to get a carry permit at all pushes PA down the list and then throw in handgun permit to purchase and it drops like a rock.

PA does not require any permit to purchase handguns or any other firearms. Long gun private party transfers are allowed. However, private party transfers of handguns generally must be administered by an FFL. You need a permit to carry firearms concealed on your body and/or loaded in a vehicle. At most sheriffs’ offices, a permit can be obtained in under half an hour and for less than $50 without nonsensical classes, qualification, or other BS. Just a questionnaire similar to a 4473 and a picture and you can walk out the door with the permit in hand.

Pittsburgh and Philly politicians routinely try to infringe upon gun rights in PA. However, their escapades routinely get struck down by the courts and/or legislature due to PA’s preemption clause which generally prohibits municipalities from enacting additional gun control measures at the local level. Prime examples of PA giving the finger to gun control termites includes the Pittsburgh mayor’s push to enact an AWB being rescinded as well as the courts enacting a preliminary injunction on the state attorney general’s opinion that 80% lowers were to be treated as firearms. This is good because the more this nonsense gets proposed and swiftly struck down, the more precedent it sets for striking down gun control in the future.

With respect to hunting restrictions being lumped into the scoring in the Guns and Ammo article referenced in a previous post, I do not consider hunting regulations to be synonymous with gun laws. In my opinion, they’re two separate categories and grouping them together can become toxic and lends credence to the anti-gun sentiment that guns are for hunting and not for the people to assemble and overthrow tyrants. Hunting regulations are not necessarily enacted to restrict people’s ownership and use of firearms. Instead, they are designed to prevent potentially dangerous situations while afield, prevent unnecessary suffering of game, etc. That said, I wish the government would just allow people to hunt with whatever they want and punish harshly if they do something dangerous/illegal.

 

[bearcreek]

PA does not require any permit to purchase handguns or any other firearms. Long gun private party transfers are allowed. However, private party transfers of handguns generally must be administered by an FFL.

Correct. I amended my original statement. See post #33. I'll quote it here,

You're right. Not really a permit to purchase. The State police keep a registry of all handgun transfers in the state ( the legal transfers anyway) in clear violation of PA law. Anyway, point is, it makes sense that PA would be down low on the list.

 

[giggitygiggity]

Correct. I amended my original statement. See post #33. I'll quote it here,

Cool beans!

 

[FFGColorado]

Colorado's still pretty good, but now that the "liberals" have control of the legislature and we have a "liberal" Governor, I'm waiting for California Copycatism to take over. Maybe not all at once, but I'm expecting it by degrees.

A little bit here for the sake of the children, a little bit there as a matter of common sense, and oh, we can't allow that because of Officer Safety...

And with the Boulder-Denver Commieplex pushing things....

Standard procedure, you get the picture.

Terry, 230RN

Ya know open carry is legal in the 'republic, yes? NOT in Denver but yes in Boulder. Colorado, like many other states, has had UBC for the last 7 years.

The only thing that's really 'new' is the RFL..a recent case, as it traveled through the 'system', was thrown out by the judge. Yes, 'due process' is compromised, but at least in the 2 latest, the 'system, as imperfect as it may be, worked as advertised.

Rep. Jared Polis says he thinks banning weapons possessed by law-abiding people violates the Second Amendment: "I believe it would make it harder for Colorado families to defend themselves and also interfere with the recreational use of guns by law- abiding Coloradans," Polis said. "If we want to reduce violence, we should invest in improving our schools to ensure that young people have jobs and do not turn to gangs, crime or violence of any form, and improving access to mental health services."

I have bought and traded MANY guns in the last 3 years(late returnee to the gun owning 'crowd')..and the 'process' has never taken more than 10-15 minutes..

 

[230RN]

When I referred to the Boulder-Denver Commieplex, that was a nod to the general socialistic programs and attitudes of that area rather than specifically to whether or not open carry was permitted. Indeed, it is still technically legal in both Boulder City and Boulder County but illegal in Denver.

On the quoted Polis remarks, Governor Polis is not quite as foursquare on board with the Second Amendment as implied by your [/u]Representative[/u] Polis quote.

Black-market gun sales are enabling violent criminals and gangs to purchase firearms without background checks. The root of this issue is gun theft. In 2015 and 2016 alone, smash-and-grab gun store robberies resulted in nearly 400 guns being stolen in Colorado. We should work to equip gun shops with strong security measures like closed-circuit cameras, discrete signage, and reinforced windows, which are already required of marijuana dispensaries in Colorado. We can also look to the example of Richmond, Va., who have strengthened penalties for illegal gun sales--and seen armed robberies and gun homicides drop substantially as a result.

I've encountered few issues as polarizing as our nation's deadly gun violence epidemic. It shouldn't be this way. Like most Coloradans, I support our Second Amendment right to use guns for defense and sport. And like most Coloradans, I think we should take action to reduce gun violence and help save lives. Nothing about these views is incompatible.
....

Polis said common-sense measures are needed including the banning of military-style weapons, not allowing access to guns to those who have temporary restraining orders and allow for the Centers for Disease Control and others to conduct gun violence research. He added that saying there's no easy solution is not an excuse for inaction.

( ^ ^ Please read the expanded quote.)

Source: The Coloradoan on 2018 Colorado gubernatorial debate , Mar 3, 2018
https://www.ontheissues.org/Governor/Jared_Polis_Gun_Control.htm

Without being accusatory, and without impeaching my crystal ball, I would submit that this is kinda-sorta typical of "progressive" politicians: to gradually more closely toe the Party Line "out loud" as they eyeball higher political office.

However, it will take several years for my crystal ball to clear up and be vindicated in this particulat case.

"Just you wite, 'Enry 'Iggins, just you wite."

And right now there's a proposal in the State Legislature to require "Safe Storage."

Ring a bell with some of Polis' quotes above?

With respect to the original post: Colorado ain't bad, but I expect it to get worse.

Terry, 230RN

 

[FFGColorado]

When I referred to the Boulder-Denver Commieplex, that was a nod to the general socialistic programs and attitudes of that area rather than specifically to whether or not open carry was permitted. Indeed, it is still technically legal in both Boulder City and Boulder County but illegal in Denver CITY.

original post: Colorado ain't bad, but I expect it to get worse.

Terry, 230RN

Some snipped...The topic of the thread is,

What are the 3 States with the Least Restrictive and the 3 States with the Most Restrictive Gun Law?

I'm guessing you don't live in Boulder..and the rhetoric you hear from ANY side is just that, rhetoric. Listen to some that comes out of Colorado Springs, or find the thread about how dangerous Colorado Springs has become..even tho as a city, they have VERY liberal gun policies.

I guess I'm not aware of the 'socialistic programs' in Boulder..but have lived here for 'only' 21 years...

 

[.38 Special]

I'm not sure that California is the very worst state for gun owners, but I do think we deserve to be bottom three. "May issue" means "no chance" in much of the state. Black rifles have to be modified to near-uselessness to be legal. Handguns have to be listed on the "roster" in order to be legally sold. Background check for ammunition purchases. Ten day waiting period on all firearms. Red flag laws. Ten round magazine limit. No 50 BMG. "Firearms safety certificate" for handgun purchases. Near-universal registration. Essentially no NFA.