Planning a trip out west. Gun friendly?

DG45

New member
My wife and I are planning a trip out west sometime this summer. We don't HAVE to go anywhere, this isn't a business trip that I have to make, so we won't be stopping anywhere that I have to worry very much about handgun laws. I have a CCW permit in my state, and my state has CCW reciprocity with about 30 other states. I shouldn't have any trouble with CCW in those enlightened states. My only concern is in the unenlightened non- free states like California where I don't have CCW reciprocity, and where I apparently cannot even travel unless my gun is unloaded and locked away (ie. is useless for self-defense), and apparently even then I can only travel with my locked away gun for as long as it takes me to pass through the state in interstate travel. I assume this means California doesn't want me to stop there and spend my money. Is this correct? Strangely, I note that California is begging to slop itself at the Federal trough, hoping to get some of my tax money to support the state. What's the law in your state?
 
I don't know if its on your route, but I'm in Missouri. We may have some the most relaxed gun laws in the U.S. I'm fairly sure that we recognize all CCW's from other states... Anyway, have fun and safe travel :)
 
Well how about the north west, Wyoming, South Dakota, North Dakota, Colorado, Utah, and I guess Nebraska. I'll tell you Yellowstone Park is gorgeous, Mount Rushmore, Devils tower, The Rockies, Deadwood, and Sturgis if you're planning to do it last week of july or first week of August. Let me tell you nice people, lost of history, lots of Native American History, lots of open land. Beautiful driving, whether your driving through the mountain passes or on the interstates and to top it off its the modern day wild west gun toting, gun loving cowboys and the laws to do so. i think everytime I got pulled over traveling from Oil rig to Oil rig or Oil rig to home and the trooper or LEO asked if I was packing and I told him yes, a conversation about guns broke out or about hunting, I even got invited a few times to go shoot with them. I had one that was a bit young and asked if he can shoot my SA 1911 off behind a hill about 1/4 mile back.:eek, so of course I'm always willing to shoot, "you can shoot mine, if I can shoot yours".:D
 
What's the law in your state?

Arizona is very gun-friendly. The state recognizes all out-of-state CCPs, and you can open carry without a permit almost anywhere, even in large metropolitan areas. Also, our open carry law is for real, not like some other states where the law says you can OC, but you'll be hassled by the cops if you try it. You'll have zero hassles OCing here, even in downtown Phoenix.
 
Texas of course is very gun-friendly and has wonderful places to visit, from the coast to the gorgeous Hill Country, where I live. My wife and I visited Illinois this summer (not by choice, it was her family's reunion). Passed through several states where my Texas CHL is respected; when I got to the Illinois state line I unloaded my gun and locked it in a case in the trunk. At the motels we stayed in, I unpacked the gun in my room, reloaded it and kept it handy at the bedside. In the morning, back in the box ... it sucks, but until states like Illinois and California, where I lived for 30-some years, realize the error of their ways, you need to stash the gun and stay on alert ...
 
AVOID Kalifornia & Oregon...

especially Portland.
They don't recipocate on other CPL's. Oregon you have to have their permit.
Portland loves to hassle/ extend investigation into ant CPL to run them out of town.
 
Thanks to all who've commented; especially jrothWA who says avoid California and Oregon. I knew about California; but had no idea Oregon was so gun unfriendly. It's no problem for me. I don't go anywhere I don't feel welcome. Looks like we'll try to drive to Alaska, via Wyoming, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, and Washington state; that is, we will if western Canada is ok. Does anybody know if they are? If not we'll swing south from Washington State through Idaho and points south to about Arizona (keeping well east of Oregon and California) then back through New Mexico (oops, New Mexico's not reciprocal with me; scratch New Mexico). but we'll figure it out. Thanks again.
 
Here's Idaho's info....

ID - Honors Permit:
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming, District of Columbia, undefined
ID - Permit Not Honored:
Vermont, Guam, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands
Right Denied:
Illinois, Wisconsin, American Samoa, N. Mariana Islands-
 
Funny that JROTHWA says that Oregon isn't gun friendly. Oregon has open carry, (though I prefer not to). Concealed carry licenses are easy to apply for and are received within a couple of weeks. Oregon has provision for the legal ownership of machine guns, and allows you to possess sound suppressors, (silencers). Granted Oregon doesn't recognize other states concealed carry permits, but Washington state doesn't recognize Oregon's either. Washington won't allow you to own machine guns. I think on the whole of it, that Oregon is more gun friendly than Washington.
 
Socialist Washington State

In 2004 Washington’s Firearms and Dangerous Weapons statute (RCW 9.41) was amended to allow non-Washington residents to carry concealed weapons in Washington if they have obtained a concealed weapons permit from another state that meets certain conditions imposed by Washington’s law. For additional questions or to obtain information on this law and the states that Washington currently recognizes, please go to the Attorney General Web site at www.atg.wa.gov/page.aspx?ID=2334.



Might check that out. Spokane HATES guns... Lots of Propaganda, But they have great Colleges so i'm stuck here for now.
 
Do not attempt to cross the border into Canada with any type of handgun without first attempting to jump through all their hoops, which I believe is almost impossible.If you chose to come to Alaska the first port of call that you can drive without crossing into Canada will be Valdez.Any ship you chose must land you at an Alaskan city or town with direct access into Alaska, Haines , or Skagway require crossing into Canada before reaching the Alaska highway system. You should have no problems in Alaska, but please remember ,but please remember everywhere in this state is bear country, and while many will stare or comment about your choice to carry, II can guarantee the day after a mauling they will all be packing.Alex
 
Well delete wyoming from your list, they just amended there CCW reciprocity and it dropped like 19 states. I would still check to see if your state qualifies, its still a beautiful place.
 
Well,southern Oregon is very gun-friendly,but as stated above,the closer you get to PDX,the more it seems like you're in L.A.Currently,Oregon does not honor any other states' permits,but a few days ago there was a bill introduced in Oregon to honor ALL other states' permits,so keep an eye out for it,it is Oregon House Bill 2099...Unlike the Feds,state legislatures move pretty quickly sometimes,this may be law by the time you get here...
 
Spokane HATES guns...

Ahhhh, Spokane is the conservative center of WA state. In a little shop on Division I watched a dealer take a brand-new M249 SAW out of the safe and set it on the back counter, ready to sell. To police or other dealers I guess or Idaho buyers. Spokane is an area where nobody cares about the pickups having real rifles in the rifle rack. They hate guns there? Not likely.

Did you happen to mean 'Seattle' ? That would be umbrellas in the pickup rifle rack.

Bart Noir
 
As a Washington transplant that came from Oregon, my advice would be to go see Oregon. The coast is a necessity and there's countless things to see and do on the east side of the state. Some of us in Washington do all of our vacations in Oregon. It's a great state to visit and has the most remote wilderness area in the lower 48.. Google "Steens Mountain".

Don't let CCW laws make you miss the trip.

Put your guns in the trunk.
 
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