For Those Who Decided Enough Is Enough And Left CA...

[LBDamned]

You never know what you have until you lose it.

Being from California (my family is from LA) but living in Texas most of my life taking a VERY good job opportunity in California seemed like a good thing to do for my family. Yeah, I had to sell all of my pistols with threaded barrels, "hi capacity" magazines, ARs, Suppressors, SBRs, lose my LTC but I thought I could just focus on other things and do what's best for my family.

Well, the 4 years I lived in Bakersfield recently were strange. I tried not to read any news or have anything to do with guns so I wouldn't remember what I was missing but no matter how many cool, fun short trips or mini vacations we took I always felt like this huge cloud was over my head. It was living in the shadow of an oppressor, always the insane fees/fines/taxes and lack of freedom was in the back of my mind.

I finally moved back to Texas and couldn't be happier. I just wished my job situation was the same so I could afford even more of my old toys again. It feels so nice to walk into a store, buy 3 "assault weapons" and walk right out without even a NICS check. No more 750/year registration fees, 500 dollar red light camera tickets or ridiculous tax burden.

I will take the ****ty weather and lack of beautiful places within driving distances over my freedoms any day of the week. It literally feels like life has been breathed back into my body. I sleep well and just feel so..........FREE

I will never move again.

Great post!

I feel the exact same way when just visiting AZ... I cant wait to finally move in!

[penguinman]

A majority of Californians moving up here to Washington state bringing their voting habits with them, i.e., they vote for Democrats and Seattle area socialists. A number of gun owners are also among this group because they used to vote Democrat in California since "other things" matter more to these folks.

Yep, so the burden is on you to show that you are indeed pro-2A above all.

Unless you're like me who has a Washington State birth certificate and a HS diploma from Georgia. The only reason I'm still in this state is because the wife doesn't want to leave.

[Rail]

There are exceptions to every rule, obviously, but I have noticed a trend.

It seems that liberal Californians move to Washington and Oregon while conservative Californians move to Arizona and Texas. Nevada and Colorado get a mix of both. IMO, conservative California expats from places like Orange County are what is keeping Arizona a red state for the time being. The same cannot be said for most other states.

The same kind of trend is happening here in the Eastern US with expats from NY, NJ, and other Northeastern states. Liberals are moving into Virginia and North Carolina, conservatives are moving to South Carolina and Georgia (and to a lesser extent, Tennessee). Florida seems to get a mix of both.

They do bring their voting patterns with them.

I know a few California, NY/NJ, and Chicago expats here and in other nearby states. The two big issues that conservatives always mention for leaving those states and moving here: guns and taxes, in that order. The minute they go to the local sheriff's office and walk out with a carry permit in 10 minutes after completing a NICS and paying $20 is the minute they swear they will never move back (and visit as few times as possible). Taxes is the subject they bring up in mixed company, because even liberals will complain about that to some extent.

[CALI-gula]

Great post!

I feel the exact same way when just visiting AZ... I cant wait to finally move in!

I'm one foot out the door, the tip of my flash-hider leading the way.

2 to 3 years maximum.

.