Which State has the best gun laws?

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Little Wolf said:
New Hampshire has a state law that PROHIBITS any town, state government agency, or municipality from having a gun law that is more restrictive than the state.

That means it is ILLEGAL for any state,town, or local gov to make up a regional statute that is more restrictive than the laws of the state. IE a town can't issue a local ordnance against concealed carry, or ownership, neither can a town hall, state park, legislative building, state owned school or university.

Even Arizona and Vermont doesn't have that.
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VT has preemption, but it comes in the form of stare decesis, through the 1908 VT Supreme Court case that overturned the city of Rutland's ban on handgun possession. The court ruled that Rutland's law flew in the face of Article 16 of the state constitution (see sig line for that). VT doesn't need a preemption law, because any local ordnances would immediately be ruled unconstitutional and have always been.

When people use the phrase 'constitutional carry,' they typically mean that the law comports with their interpretation of the 2A. Nothing wrong with that.

But, in VT, carrying without a permit is not guaranteed by legislation (which can be repealed just as easily as it is granted), but by specific text in the constitution affirming the right to keep and bear to the individual specifically for the purpose of self defense. The courts have always upheld this right, and its enshrinement in the constitution since its ratification in 1777 would make it a very uphill battle to ever repeal.

This is the true meaning of constitutional carry, and is the reason I think VT has its act together on firearms more than any other state.
 
PA is one of the few decent, northeast, mid-atlantic states for gun laws. Look who surrounds PA. NJ, MD, NY, OH. Other than VT, and NH its the best in the region. PA is a "shall issue" state so counties MUST provide a valid reason for not issuing, and only have so many days to do so.

You can OC in Philly with a valid PA CCW permit, and in the rest of the state without one.
 
I think that Vermont has a thing about sound suppression. They have a lot more people walking in the woods than driving in their cars.

Farmers also used to worry about their cattle being shot.

There has been some positive safety considerations made when they banned suppressors which does not trend from anti gun view.

However, VT is full of NYC people while NH is full of MA people. Start thinking about how wonderful these places are.
 
Lotsa talk about Vermont on here...

Here's the way it goes:

Vermont Constitution

[RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS; STANDING ARMIES; MILITARY POWER SUBORDINATE TO CIVIL]
That the people have a right to bear arms for the defence of themselves and the State - and as standing armies in time of peace are dangerous to liberty, they ought not to be kept up; and that the military should be kept under strict subordination to and governed by the civil power. Source. Con. 1777, ch. 1, art. 15. Con. 1786, ch. 1, art. 18.


The Vermont Statutes Online

Title 13: Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Chapter 85: WEAPONS
13 V.S.A. § 4003. Carrying dangerous weapons

TITLE 13
Crimes and Criminal Procedure
PART I
Crimes
CHAPTER 85. WEAPONS

§ 4003. Carrying dangerous weapons

A person who carries a dangerous or deadly weapon, openly or concealed, with the intent or avowed purpose of injuring a fellow man, or who carries a dangerous or deadly weapon within any state institution or upon the grounds or lands owned or leased for the use of such institution, without the approval of the warden or superintendent of the institution, shall be imprisoned not more than two years or fined not more than $200.00, or both.

There used to be a law about silencers, but I didn't see it on the VSA site. It used to go something like $25.00 fine for each; manufacture, possesion, transfer and use. IIRC, one could get a special tax stamp for them, but they weren't cheap, and you had to "know somebody" to even get one.

Fully-automatic weapons need the same Federal permits as anywhere else, but I've heard that so long as you don't have a record, they're fairly easy to obtain.

After that I can tell you that the Police around here PREFER you carry concealed, but really have absolutely no power to stop you from open carry.

It's true that I can't carry in certain places, but I try to avoid them as much as I can, and when I can't, I just make sure the gun stays locked up in the car.

Rutland is a whole different story, but I try to avoid that town like the plague that it is...
 
i've always heard mixed reviews on texas. Texas do they have od ammo rules? I know they are more restrictive with knives than NY. which leads me to believe they may have other less than stellar rules and regs.
 
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lobo9er said:
i've always heard mixed reviews on texas. Texas do they have od ammo rules? I know they are more restrictive with knives than NY. which leads me to believe they may have other less than stellar rules and regs.
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Texas would be great if it didn't have the Damn Yankee influence... We're slowly throwing off the anti-2nd-Amendment "laws" that were forced on us by the carpetbaggers and the damn liberals in the NRA...

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2011/09/the-secret-history-of-guns/8608/3/
 
I guess I will have to suffer by here in Indiana. State preemption, shall issue, lifetime license, Castle Law, Stand your Ground, sound suppression devices are legal, can't have short barreled shotguns (damn you John Dillinger) but SBR's are okay with tax stamp, full auto is okay too, pistol grip on a shotgun does require a License to Carry Handgun, oh and the law is silent on method of carry so open or concealed is legal. Poor us.
 
Rey B said:
I guess I will have to suffer by here in Indiana. State preemption, shall issue, lifetime license, Castle Law, Stand your Ground, sound suppression devices are legal, can't have short barreled shotguns (damn you John Dillinger) but SBR's are okay with tax stamp, full auto is okay too, pistol grip on a shotgun does require a License to Carry Handgun, oh and the law is silent on method of carry so open or concealed is legal. Poor us.
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Yeah, but Indiana is really close to Illinois, so you're guilty by association... :)
 
At least you're not out here in the People's Free Demokratik Socialist Liberal Republik of California... I remember the good (make that GOOD) old days before these lib nutcases got hold of our gub'mint to make it all safe and cozy for the inner city types, whalloping all over the rest of us. :cuss:

Actually, when I was growing up it wasn't like that here... its only been since the 70's that its gotten really bad... and if they had their way, they'd force everyone to be just like them (don't think they don't try...) :uhoh:

Makes it damn hard for any of us trying to make an eee-scape to a normal state, as we have this reputation of going into a wonderful place in a much nicer state, paying 10 times too much for the land jacking up property taxes, then whining and demanding everyone has to change to be just like the city they just left... ARRGHHHHH!!! (I think the presence of big cities are what turns people... um... strange!):what:

Mind you, some places here are OK... tho the laws here still reflect the nanny statist city dwelling liberals... Which makes me laugh about people in must issue states and those who have more sane firearm laws complaining about how bad it is... When you think its too bad, move here... ;)
 
Susanna said:
At least you're not out here in the People's Free Demokratik Socialist Liberal Republik of California... I remember the good (make that GOOD) old days before these lib nutcases got hold of our gub'mint to make it all safe and cozy for the inner city types, whalloping all over the rest of us. :cuss:

Actually, when I was growing up it wasn't like that here... its only been since the 70's that its gotten really bad... and if they had their way, they'd force everyone to be just like them (don't think they don't try...) :uhoh:

Makes it damn hard for any of us trying to make an eee-scape to a normal state, as we have this reputation of going into a wonderful place in a much nicer state, paying 10 times too much for the land jacking up property taxes, then whining and demanding everyone has to change to be just like the city they just left... ARRGHHHHH!!! (I think the presence of big cities are what turns people... um... strange!):what:

Mind you, some places here are OK... tho the laws here still reflect the nanny statist city dwelling liberals... Which makes me laugh about people in must issue states and those who have more sane firearm laws complaining about how bad it is... When you think its too bad, move here... ;)
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The difference is that many of us who might move to California would just ignore the leftist anti-2nd-Amendment gun "laws" that you have and continue to keep the guns that we already had. Most people though fail to understand that the state has no more business telling you what type of firearm you can have than it does what type of religion you can worship. If the state was to start telling people that only a particular subset of religions (or lack thereof) were legal, I think that most people would have a problem with it. On the other hand, if a state like California tells the people that firearms that look a certain way are not legal, the sheeple don't have a problem with it. This needs to change.
 
effengee said:
There used to be a law about silencers, but I didn't see it on the VSA site. It used to go something like $25.00 fine for each; manufacture, possesion, transfer and use. IIRC, one could get a special tax stamp for them, but they weren't cheap, and you had to "know somebody" to even get one.
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Effengee-

The suppressor law is here, at §4010.

http://www.leg.state.vt.us/statutes/fullchapter.cfm?Title=13&Chapter=085

§ 4010. Gun silencers

A person who manufactures, sells, uses, or possesses with intent to sell or use an appliance known as or used for a gun silencer shall be fined $25.00 for each offense. The provisions of this section shall not prevent the use or possession of gun silencers by:

(1) a certified, full-time law enforcement officer or department of fish and wildlife employee in connection with his or her duties and responsibilities and in accordance with the policies and procedures of that officer's or employee's agency or department; or

(2) the Vermont National Guard in connection with its duties and responsibilities. (Amended 2009, No. 154 (Adj. Sess.), { 238f, eff. June 3, 2010.)
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I'm unaware of any special dispensation for privileged individuals, other than those mentioned in the statute.
 
Utah is the only state to get a zero from the Brady Campaign. It also has preemption so no silly local laws. It even has an official state gun, the iconic design of one of its native son's, the 1911. I believe that withing a couple years it will also have so called constitutional carry. The push for it has already begun.
 
Utah doesn't allow loaded carry of handguns in a vehicle without valid CCW, that is a big strike in my book.
 
I just checked out the Brady site. Those people have some serious mental deficiencies!

On a positive note I will be moving back home to Maine in a few months after living in Massachusetts for the last 20+ years.

It feels good to be going from a state with 65 points to a state with 9 points. Maine actually just enacted some new legislation that drops it to 7 points on the Brady scale. I would like to be able to carry on campus when i go back to school next fall, I will have to contact my new reps.

Time is coming for some tax stamps!
 
Don't know which state has the best laws but Texas is pretty open about the whole thing. You need a license to carry but it's perfectly legal to carry a handgun in your vehicle at all times. This works for me.
 
Surprisingly little mention of Montana here. Open carry is legal and accepted everywhere, concealed carry permits are only required within municipalities and easy to get. I know someone who has a permit but chooses to open carry-- the cops leave him alone.

Also, there's plenty of land to shoot on. No one uses ranges. :D
 
Utah doesn't allow loaded carry of handguns in a vehicle without valid CCW, that is a big strike in my book.
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Not sure where you are getting that from, it is incorrect. In Utah one can carry a loaded handgun in their car sans permit. Here is the code section should you care to read it, 76-10-505. http://le.utah.gov/~code/TITLE76/htm/76_10_050500.htm

Basically if it is your car or the person who lawfully is in possession of the car consents one can carry in a car without a permit.
 
My source was the NRA, it might be dated and sorry if my info is incorrect but this is the link to my source.http://www.nraila.org/statelawpdfs/UTSL.pdf
As a practical matter I don't usually research state codes but rather look at the NRA or Concealed Carry .org.
Has the NRA info always been wrong or has there been a recent change in the law.
I used to work in UT and commute to CO back a dozen or so years and that was my understanding then so when I saw it while checking for my kids before they took a trip passing through UT it did not strike me as anything counter to what I had been told years back.
 
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