Which States are the most gun friendly? SOUND OFF

[NWdude83]

WA state has to be in the top 10 best, maybe the top 5.

[Boris Bush]

WA state

If and when you are in contact with the police and inform them after being asked that you do have a weapon on you and he or she asks for you to give it to them you do NOT have to give it to them! You can simply tell them "It is safe where it is..." and leave it at that! Sounds good to me. If a large public area gets funding from the public, you can carry there (at the baseball game!). Stay out of the bar area when you go out to eat, and dont go to the bar and stay out of the places that post the sheeple sign of no weapons.

I see so many people that carry everytime I go out my wife gets mad at when I point out everyone that carries. I also saw somewhere (wish I would have kept the link) that 7.8% of the population here carries. That is almost one in ten! 95% of my co-workers carry, and all of my civilian friends carry. We dont have to retreat either.....

[cannonballmount]

What are the weapons laws of North Carolina that are fearful? My son took a job there and I was hoping to plan a Whitetail hunt, to try something other than the Antelope, Mule Deer, and Elk we hunt here. Hoping to try my skills in a dense hardwood forest.

(How is the fly fishing there? Know this is a shootin' Iron forum, but would like a full score.)

[Kenpo]

I'm new to AZ, and have been glad to find a strong gun culture. I have a police officer next door. I went out to load the jeep up for a camping trip, 870 in hand. He saw me and waved me over and I thought "huh-oh"... He said, "hey, thats just like the one I have" pulling his 870 out of his trunk, mag extension and all.

By the way, armoredman, can you (or anyone) explain anti-New Orleans confiscation laws? I googled it to no avail. I assuming the name is self explanatory, but wanted to be sure. Also, when I first moved here, I was told that guns purchased don't have to be registered. What exactly is going on with the paper-work I fill out? I know a hard copy stays at the gun shop for 25 years, but besides that, the guys at the shops haven't really been able to explain who else knows I bought a gun or has record of it. Just curious.

[Doc_DAK]

I wound up doing a "reverse lookup" on this today, in the process of seeing how many rounds a magazine in MA could hold before it became Evil. I ended up with a Brady Bunch (:barf PDF ranking the states. Their idea of the "worst" were Kentucky and Oklahoma, tied for 49th with only 2 points each. Maine was tied with Wisconsin at #21 (12 points each). New Hampshire tied with Minnesota, Nevada, South Carolina, and Wyoming for 23rd, 11 points each. Texas came in 29th, along with Georgia and Vermont, with 9 points.
I guess everyone already knows who's the top three. Actually, it's the top four as far as the Brady Campaign To Prevent Guns is concerned: third place is a two-way tie.

Re Maine law:

Municipalities may require basic safety course or some other proof of proficiency.

Actually, it's more like "shall" than "may," but an applicant may have several ways to "demonstrate to the issuing authority a knowledge of handgun safety." (Title 25 M.R.S.A., §2003)
And, "The demonstration of knowledge of handgun safety to the issuing authority may not be required . . . of any applicant who was or is in any of the Armed Forces of the United States and has received at least basic firearms training."
I can't remember if I showed them my MA permit, or my DD214, or if they just accepted it because they'd already issued me Veteran license plates.
Life is good.

[Sevengunner]

Yes, in VA open carry is OK, BUT in Northern Virginia (very liberal), open carry will eventually cause a drama.

Yes, VA is a "shall issue" state and people who meet the requirement can get a permit; BUT, where do you carry? Not in any restaurant that serves beer; not in the theaters that ban handguns; not in the Metro system; not in the many federal buildings and installations in VA; not on school property or campus...etc.

So when I walk my dogs I carry (especially at night). Overall, though, VA's "gun friendly" image is a lie.

[Brenainn]

The southeastern state to avoid would be NC which is, from a lot of standpoints, the "California of the South".

Yep. Not as good as some might think. There seems to be a billion different steps to EVERYTHING firearm related. Oh, and most of their political and legal/laws are just bazaar in general. For example was a question on the driver's license test this year, "How do you know when a road is bumpy at night?" Answer, "Look at the tail lights in front of you". Please tell me how much sense that makes? WHAT the crap?

SC and GA seem to be pretty good with gun laws in general. I've live in both.

[Pinball]

Virginia is fine below the northern part of the state. I bought 3 semi auto handguns in the past 12 days. No waiting since I have a carry permit. Can get as many as I want without questions. I carry where legal and don't go many places where it's not. Too many liberals around Alexandria, DC etc. Go south, east or west and those areas are much more agreeable than the northern area.

[Capt_Vin]

Not New York. Seems like there are the written laws, then the laws as interpreted by LE.

[ColtLover64]

I live in California and I, too, am contemplating leaving very seriously. It has become draconian and I feel my freedom and my family's life/freedom is being taken away from us. Any internet search for real info on this cannot be completed without personally checking with those who actually are availed the real information by experience. My concerns are also impacted by the over-taxation and under representation of those who are like-minded. Please, if you will, provide some light for me. I'm looking for a state(s) that are gun/second amendment friendly, respectful of privacy and the rights of personal property, not a socially engineered melting pot of multi-culturalism/politically correctness, and finally a state(s) that aren't over-taxed and over-burdened by ills of today's maladies. On the lighter side, a state(s) that has a good source of parts for my 1967 Mustang and good hunting/fishing would be greatly appreciated. Thanks to anyone that replies or has valid suggestions, God Bless.

[raftman]

Despite people knocking the West Coast as liberal, or even socialist, we actually enjoy decent gun rights in Oregon relative to the rest of the nation. No limits on ammo capacity, or "assault weapons." No waiting periods, no one 1-gun per month limits. Shall issue. No need for a special license to own or buy guns. No requirement to inform of your carrying status for a routine traffic stop. Out of a possible 100 points for strictness of gun laws as rated by the Brady Campaign, we score an 18. California tops this list scoring 79 out of the possible 100. (Interestingly enough, CA appears to have 2-3 times the violent crime rate that OR has).

There are downsides. We don't recognize any other states' CHL's, and as a result, most states don't recognize ours.

[rcurry]

Another interesting tidbit about Kentucky that my instructor explained to me is our permits are not simply for guns. It is a concealed weapon permit. There are all different types of items that are weapons. Our permit covers everything from brass knuckles, knives, Billy clubs, you name it.

[KSFreeman]

I'm always amazed at the responses in these threads.

Washington? Unless you like NFA firearms and suppressors.

Texas? Unless you want ease of carrying a pistol.

I suggest looking at the ATF's State Laws and Published Ordinances, Publication Number 5300.5. See which states take the fewest pages. You will likely find Idaho and Alaska on the top of your list.

Or, see what the Bradys dislike (however I cannot figure out their rating system, it completely confuses the laws).

[BuckHammer]

Indiana is one of the best states for concealed carry. It's pretty good on all other gun-related issues. No Short-barrel Shotguns, but short-barrel rifles are alright, I think. Hi-cap mags, flash-hiders and all that good stuff are allowed.

If you're a deer hunter, deer hunting with rifles is very limited in Indiana. Shotguns are good to go for deer, though.

[brocken]

You can get NFA firearms and suppressors in WA, you just need to pay the big old permit fee for it.

Other than that I would say Washington is on the easier end of the spectrum. Especially in comparison to California.
We share permits with quite a few states. Oddly enough, one of those states isn't Oregon.
Which is kind of a bummer since I like to travel down the coast into Oregon and Cali and either have to leave my pistol at home or safely in the trunk. Kinda doesn't do you much good in either location.

[KSFreeman]

You can get NFA firearms and suppressors in WA, you just need to pay the big old permit fee for it.

Washington law prohibits the use of firearm suppressors.

Washington law prohibits certain NFA firearms if not owned prior to your state's ban date.

[KSFreeman]

Indiana is one of the best states for concealed carry. It's pretty good on all other gun-related issues. No Short-barrel Shotguns, but short-barrel rifles are alright, I think. Hi-cap mags, flash-hiders and all that good stuff are allowed.

If you're a deer hunter, deer hunting with rifles is very limited in Indiana. Shotguns are good to go for deer, though.

1. Indiana has no concealment requirement. Indiana law requires a license to carry, openly or concealed. Licenses are 4 years or Life. Indiana recongizes the licenses to carry of all states and foreign countries.

2. You can have short shotguns if they are taxed AoW.

3. Short-barrelled rifles are fine if comply with NFA.

4. Centerfire rifles on deer is limited to predation. You can use a centerfire rifle on crows, squirrels or coyotes, but deer are restricted to shotgun slugs, muzzleloaders, carbines in pistol caliber. The mindless DNR reg of no centerfire rifle for deer is ripe for modification.

[5whiskey]

All NFA is fair game in NC, but the carry laws are asinine. Going armed to the terror of the public is ambigous and could possibly apply to open carry if a rookie cop wanted to try and make it fit and you hail from certain counties where the DA and other government officials are very liberal. No carry zone list is mind-numbing. Legal obligation to notify LEO of being armed (I don't agree with this, and I'm going to be a cop). Self Defense laws are VERY shaky, but most conservative counties treat it like most other certain states. The state law, however, reads that you have an obligation to determine whether or not an intruder IN YOUR HOME threatens life or limb before lethal force is authorized (while I partly agree with this, as I don't WANT to hurt anyone, if I scream at someone to get the heck out of my house or I will shoot them from my bedroom and they continue to advance, I should be able to assume that they threaten life or limb without encountering them first.), but you can shoot them through the door if they try to force entry with intent to commit a felony (which forced entry while someone is at home goes straight from B&E to burglary, which is a felony) . NC has some pretty asinine laws.

[seattleshooter]

WA state's suppressor law is contradictory in function. It is legal to own them but not use them. So, feel free to load up at the gun shops, but don't even think about screwing one onto your barrel. Sounds like liberal anti-gun logic to me.

[dnr1128]

Here in Mississippi the laws are very conducive to owning firearms. We have the castle doctrine with no obligation to retreat, and your vehicle is considered to be an extension of your house, so you can have a fully loaded handgun concealed inside the vehicle without needing a permit.

Open carry is legal, with the only problem being that the state SC has ruled that a holster conceals a weapon, so you need a firearms permit to open carry as well as concealed. The permits cost $132, and there is no training required. Just fill out the paperwork, get it notarized, get fingerprinted, take a picture, and wait the 45 days to get it in the mail. There is no waiting period for gun purchases, and if you have a firearms permit there is no background check either. They write your permit number on the yellow paper and you get your gun, so you save the three minutes they would have spent calling uncle sam. I think that if you buy more than two guns a week they have to call, but I doubt many of us do that. My wife would kill me if I did that.

Plus the food is good.

[kozak6]

Seattleshooter, make sure you look at the last post date before you reply. Sometimes it's better to not post, or to start a new thread instead of necromancing an old one.

Arizona's gun law have only been clarified and improved in the meantime.

And get this. At the end of the legislative session, which will be probably this month or next month, it will be legal to carry a concealed pistol without a permit, Alaska/Vermont style.

It's difficult to own nunchucks, though .

[Mallard76]

As already stated, Florida.

[ARDogman]

SD seems to be pretty easy. We can drive around w/ loaded shotguns and road hunt pheasants...which I like when I'm lazy. Oh...and I just found this from Wikipedia.

South Dakota is a "shall issue" state for concealed carry. The local county sheriff shall issue a permit to carry a concealed pistol to qualified applicants. A temporary permit shall be issued within five days of the application. Concealed carry is not permitted at an elementary or secondary school, in a courthouse, or in any establishment that derives over half of its income from the sale of alcoholic beverages. For non-residents, South Dakota recognizes valid concealed carry permits from any other state.[237][238][239][240]

Open carry is legal in South Dakota and does not require a concealed pistol permit. Firearms may be transported in vehicles if they are clearly visible.

When buying a handgun from a Federal Firearms License (FFL) holder, an application to purchase a handgun must be filled out by the buyer and submitted to the local police by the seller. Beginning June 1, 2009, anyone who passes the federal background check will be able to take possession of any firearm immediately, per SB0070.[241]

South Dakota has state preemption of firearms laws. Units of local government may not restrict the possession, transportation, sale, transfer, ownership, manufacture, or repair of firearms or ammunition or their components.[242] Firearms manufacturers, distributors, and sellers are not liable for injury caused by the use of firearms

[RETG]

Go to the Brady campaign to Prevent gun violence of something like that and view the ratings of the states. Lower the better in my opinion. BUT, there is only one state with a zero rating and that is the same state where you can carry into a school with a permit. Utah.

However, I'm not sure of how much a permit costs.

[aroundchicago]

Unfortunately I live in Illinois, and absolutely the worst state for a gun owner. Of course Illinois politics has been dominated by liberal politicians who want as many restrictions on citizens rights as possible. And even with the most strict gun laws in the country, guess what city is the murder capital of the country? Go figure.