Which is the worst "gun" state now?

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Based on laws alone, PRNJ may be the worst. However, despite what you may hear, the level of annoyence is kinda low. Dont get me wrong, this state stinks. However, depending on your interests, once you get your FID it is kinda mellow. Yes you need a permit for each handgun, but after the first it gets kinda quick and easy. At this point my local PD drops them off in my mailbox in about 3 days. It does however suck if you want an evil weapon (like a FAL or AK or CETME or ... )

Wait. What am I saying? It does stink here. I guess it only hurts less because this is the only state I've lived in.:mad:

Loch
 
I was gonna say either CA or NJ, unless you wanted to count DC in that list.

I can assure you, however, it is *not* oregon. shall-issue CCW with no carry restrictions (ie: only restricted where federally prohibited). class-3 friendly. no silly AW-ban laws. no registrations. no permits. just NICS and ATF stuff
 
CA is probably the best of the worst.

The biggest areas of pain are AW bans, mag limits and the stupid handgun approval list. However, if you are resourceful, you can get about any handgun you want and many rural areas are virtually shall issue for CCW.

Gun Shows are under attack and many urban areas no longer have them.

However, here in Sacramento, there are at least 2 excellent (one is particularly awsome) out door ranges, the city operates an indoor range and a guy I know is building a very nice indoor range in the south of town.

The bullet tax is looming on the horizon and possibly some onerous ballistic finger printing monstrosity. Also, they are going to start busting people who have guns but are legally disqualified from ownership. That could get interesting.

Also and this may be suprising to many - I think self defense shootings are treated with a suprising amount of neutrality - that is to say, in most jurisdictions, if you cap someone in a clean shoot, it is rare that they will go after you to demonize guns or to send a message about vigilantism. I have even seen several cases where people were CCWing without a permit and they had to use it and charges were not filed.

As for Alaska, it may well be the last free state. Alaska is unforgiving and dangerous - and incredibly beautiful. Blissninnies need not apply. In a few weeks, I will be 15 years departed and I still miss it.
 
Gotta be Maryland:

No more new handgun sales unless it has a "personalized" internal locking device (interpretation still being debated, but as I understand, no guns currently manufactured pass muster)

Firearms must be on police-approved list

Must take a class prior to purchase

All, including private, handgun sales must go through State Police, with 7 day waiting period

No carry whatsoever, except unloaded from home to range

"May issue" CCW, peasants need not apply

Atty Gen'l who explicitly stated that guns do not belong in the hands of the people

Home of Montgomery County (trumps all?!)

etc., etc.
 
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For handguns MD easily.

With the shell casing law (only NY also has it) many guns became illegal (new guns only). For a while guns w/out the casing could be fired at a state police lab so all were available but they stopped that "loophole".

Now we are a couple days away from the built-in lock law. With this law any gun that doesn't have a built-in lock (as I understand the regs are still unclear what that includes so what may be legal when the law 1st goes into effect may become illegal if the law is "re-interpreted" later) that was made after Jan 1, 2003 is illegal to sell here. That makes almost everything illegal (only S&W and Taurus offer the locks across their entire line, HK offers them as an option I think, Springfield will have them on their 1911s, some others may have them now or develop them in the future but...). Used guns look like they'll be ok (though I guess the law can always be re-interpreted by our AG who is on record against private ownership and has stated that he will put the most restrictive interpretation on any gun law he can which brings us to...).

There is a federal law making gun ownership illegal for anyone convicted of a misdomeanor who spent a year in jail, at least that is the intent. The way it is interpreted here (and only here), if you were convicted of a misdomeanor anytime in your life (even a bar fight 20 years ago) that COULD have resulted in a 1yr jail term or longer (almost everything provides that as a possibility) you cannot legally own guns and guns are being confiscated (see the archives at TFL and you'll find threads about it).

There is a 7 day waiting period and state police check. They keep the paperwork but there isn't official registration here:rolleyes: .

CCW is virutally impossible.

One must watch a safety video to get a card that states you are allowed to buy guns.

One purchase every 30 days is the limit, unless you get a collector's license.

Private sales are regulated, must go w/ purchaser and gun to state police barracks for proper fees to be paid and background check to be started.

On the bright side no license is needed, no real safety course is required (yet) and there is no official registration (though the way the DC sniper investigation was handled should dispel the myth that there isn't real registration).

Long guns aren't bad here however (except "assult rifles" like AKs and ARs, which face the same restrictions as handguns). No waiting period, only the federal "instant" check, no limit on number in a month, no built-in lock law (I think) or shell casing law (yet), class III is legal, etc.

So for long guns I guess CA (which doesn't get it for me overall due to better handgun laws and possible CCW in some counties) and NJ (better handgun laws) are worse.

Which is worse overall, NJ, CA or MD, don't know.
 
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well....considering where I live, it would have to be bias, but I believe the worst "gun state" right now would be NJ.

I would have said PRK, but two things put NJ on top:

1. The just signed "we don't exist yet" handgun law, in addition to the spate of legislation being introduced for coming sessions.
2. The legal protections. For example, one wouldn't be able to do a Jim March style expose of the CCW process here. The open records law doesn't cover it, as pervious court cases have ruled that any CCW related documents are considering restricted and confidential. Also, despite the fact that the law clearly states a FID MUST be issued within 30 days if no info arrives to prevent issuance, the police routinely take anwhere from 60-180 days or more.....court rulings have held that perfectly legal.

Things are going much further downhill, especially with our governor (Your "new best friend") striving to set new lows in both corruption and utter stupidity....
 
These aren't states! These are people! %$#@## Laws are passed by people elected to represent the people. In this case, it would seem that the legislators feel compelled to think for the people in the aforementioned states. On another thread, the question was asked about "where do rights come from?" and I don't rightly know. But I do know how they go away.
 
Illinois getting closer

Illinois

1. No concealed carry of any kind

2. No class 3 of any kind

3. No new shooting ranges in the last ten plus years

4. Illinois "Safe Neighborhoods" act a license to stop, search and convict as a felony any gun owner with a weapon in their car that can't prvoe they are on the way to or from a shooting range or event.

5. A rabidly anti-gun Democratic Governor and States Attorney coming in as of January 13th.

6. A Liberal, Democratically controlled legislature with Daley pulling the strings

7. A Firearm Owners ID card, issued by the state, required to purchase any guns or ammunition (currently $5 for 3 years, but our new governor has already propsoed making it $500 for one year)

And, it's just gonna get uglier as the next few years pass by.

The worst part is our current Republican party types don't think there's anything wrong with the way they lost every office in the state while Conservatives just about everywhere else in the country won big.

I'm stocking up on ammo and picking up a few extra bits and pieces I may not be able to get after they start putting things in place.

Just my opinion.

Don P.
 
This is a really interesting thread. I think those of us that live in CA have probably painted the picture a little darker than it really is. We cannot buy assault weapons, period. And "new" high capacity mags are out. Other than that, we can buy pretty much anything on the market. I know I've never had a problem buying anything I've wanted be it a bolt action rifle, shotgun, pistol, or revolver, and have never yet had to seek anyone's permission. Pay the DROS fee, the "safety" cert fee (old card was lifetime, new one is apparently for 5 years), and pick it up in ten days.

Course if I were into assault weapons I'd be seriously bent.

I'm a lot more concerned about what the future may bring than where we are right now.

Those of you who live in states where there aren't any restrictions should be darn thankful.
 
NJ BY FAR AND AWAY

CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING:
All rifles and shotguns including air and bp guns require a FID to purchace. while this is good for life currently you must have your correct address on the card - If you move you must get a new card. they take this opertinituty to investgate you again new card can in some locations take as long to get as origional card (4-6 months average some places as long as 1 year)
Handguns of any type(this includes airpistols and BP guns as well but not surprisingly not paintball guns) require a permit to purchace and registration to buy. These are good for only 90 days and can be renewed ONLY AT THE DESCRATION OF THE ISSUING AUTHORITY - other wise you have to go through the whole process again. Requirment of fingerprinting if you have not had a permit issued in 1 year but some locals require it for every permit. Permits can take as long as six months or six days. each and every local police dept can (and often does) add its own requirments above anf beyond state law. (such as fingerprinting for every permit of coming down to the station only on mon wed and fri for permits of other nonsence that they can come up with.
You can be turned down for either a permit of FId by the chief of police if he "feels issuing you one is not in the best intrests of the community" this is COMPLETELY UP TO HIM AND HE HAS ABSOULUTE CONTROL IN THIS MATTER. If you disagree you have to take him to court at your expence!
after all this you still have to pony on up to the gunshop and pay an additional $15 for the NCIC when you actually purchace the gun - this after a fingerpring check by the fbi to get the permit in the first place - the reasoning behind this? I was told by the issuing officer who gave me my permit "you could commit a crime between the time we give you the permit and you buy the gun"
Hollowpoints are legal to own and shoot but other wise restrited - There were even some arrests a few years ago for possision of dimpled shotgun slugs(winchester I think) they tried to say they were hollowpoints and thus illegal to have in your possision i the field. (if you have one of the rare carry permit you have to carry solids unless you are LEO - possision of expanding bullets even if you have no firearm with you is a crime(unless under specific expections in the law - but don't expect your local leo to know these he will in most cases arrest you anyway and YOU will have to prove in court you were in the right).
In Nj as a gun owner you are guilty until proven innocent. we have an assult weapons ban here which even the leo's don't understand but what thew heck arrest everybody and let the courts sourt it out.
One man was arrested for possision of a mini 14 and 10/22 rifles as assult rifles even through both were SPECIFICLLY LISTED IN THE BAN AS LEGAL TO OWN - THEY USED THIS AS A REASON TO CONFISCATE HIS ENTIRE COLLECTION. He got it back eventually (and many thousands of dollars in legal fee's later in condition that shall we say was not origional)
a second man had his collection conficated becouse he owned a winchester model 60 22 rifle - YES virginia in NJ this is an assult rifle! How did they find it you ask? well he and his wife had a argument and a neibor called the police. when asked if he had firearms in the home he replied yes and they conficated the entire collection( a great many guns) when the model 60 was found he was charged with possisionof an assult weapon (a felony) this took many years and thousands of dollars to correct in his favor.
When it comes to firearms ownership Nj is the cesspitt of the country worse than any I have seen mentioned yet.
I escaped I hope you fellows do as well.
 
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Dang, this thread opened my eyes! I knew California was bad but I didn't realize there were so many other places in the U.S. where the government is outlawing guns and wiping their butts with the constitution.

I was mad when I found out you had to pay a $200 tax and get the signature from the local Sheriff just to purchase a full-auto weapon. I guess I should be happy that I can still buy assault rifles the same as any regular hunting rifle and I don't have to wait on handguns. I won't be leaving Utah for awhile and will definitely let the legislators hear my opinion if anything like what's mentioned above starts to happen here!
 
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Oh yes, I remember hearing about the ambiguity in the assult weapon law in NJ. The case though wasn't a Winchester Model 60 but a Marlin Model 60 (you know, the most commonly owned rifle, and possibly gun, in the country). I think it had something to do with it being a semi-auto and holding x amount of rounds.

I remember reading that and deciding that I'd never live in NJ.

Overall, NJ may be worse than MD, and many states are worse for long guns (we're not bad for long guns generally), however strictly for handguns I think we are still the worst.

Yes many states (well a few) have stronger restrictions on owners. Registration, real safety courses before you can buy, needing a permit to buy, needing a license to own, etc. However, you can eventually buy a new gun. Well, with the new MD law only six gun makers have guns that can be sold here (and not necessarily all their models), here is the list: Approved Integrated Locking Devices (from the MSP website) .

Really, I guess some of how I feel about this is only anger over this new law that now effects me and keeps me from being able to buy most of the new handguns I'd otherwise want to buy. In reality it is probably quite close between NJ and MD (maybe IL too, though I'm not sure). I don't include CA, MA and NY, parts of which are as bad or worse than NJ and MD, because in some parts of those states you can actually get a CCW and the powers that be are relatively pro-gun (though some state laws may not be and some are worse than some MD laws and maybe some NJ laws).
 
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A point...

Here's one many never considered or even knew. When you think of cheese or dairy you often think of WI. When you think of CCW permits you will never think of WI as they have none, zero, zip. WI does not have any carry period. WI does not even recognize Police Officers from other states. If a police officer from a town just on the other side of the border wanted to do an interview of a suspect just inside WI's border, there's no provision to allow him to carry. Technically if a LEO from across the border has a high speed pursuit enter WI he's not covered either. There is no off-duty carry for WI LEO's either. Pretty shocking info from the dairy land, eh?
 
Gotta agree with the majority.

New Jersey.

Then maybe Hawaii, Masachusetts, New York.

Ick. California's not looking so bad. :rolleyes:
 
chaim, F=ma, and other MD residents:

Has anyone organized a trigger lock mail-in protest to our clueless representatives who passed the Gun Safety Act, which requires these integrated trigger locks and external trigger locks for sales of pre- 1/1/2003 manufacture handguns? I'd like to mail the offending item to those responsible, to show that even if I have to buy the thing, I won't be shackled with it (I do use other methods to prevent theft, etc.). Any thoughts?
 
MD isn't in the top five, as it has no registration. I'd say that NJ,IL and other states with de-facto registration are the worst, followed by states with partial registration (ie NY state requires registration of pistols only). Follow that with states that don't allow any concealed carry, then those that ban classes of weapons or having extensive waiting periods.
 
Has anyone organized a trigger lock mail-in protest to our clueless representatives who passed the Gun Safety Act
Click to expand...
I haven't heard of such a thing but if someone organized it I'd be happy to mail in about a dozen or so of the things.
 
NJ is definitely the worst! But the amazing thing is that all you have to do is CROSS THE DELAWARE to come into the land of the free in PENNSYLVANIA. It's just a bridge, guys. Now, it is quite true that you have to pay to cross the bridges into PA, but not to go into NJ, but after all, how could they have set it up any other way? Who would pay to leave PA and enter NJ? ITS JUST A COUPLE OF DOLLARS TO COME OVER TO THE LIGHT, GUYS!:neener:
 
My Vote My Damn state PRK Thank You NOT-Gray Davis,Diane Feinstein,Don Perata and Barbara Boxer ,they SUCK.:cuss: :fire: :banghead:
 
I don't know - the domestic violence laws around here keep my wife from beating me.
 
I say Jersey is worse. Our weather is better and there are more days we can play outside.
 
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