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Hey, Everybody~
Was surprised when my sister phoned a couple months ago and announced she was ready to get a self-defense handgun and professional training. For years I'd attempted to convince her to "do it now, in advance of need" and she'd blown me off as a 'gun nut'. "Besides," she said, "I live in a safe, stable neighborhood."
Well, that pack of outrageous, crippling laws Gov. Brown signed (with more to come) shook my sister's confident belief in her sense of personal safety and it dawned on her that she'd better get *something* this year, while she still can.
I'm pleased to state that my years of reading CGN enabled me to fill her in on what she'd need to know/do in order to get started. Also found her an Instructor and a range; she's been training weekly (!) and has already purchased two new handguns
Plus, encountering the 10-day wait and one-handgun-per-month 'rules' has infuriated her (as it does all first-time CA buyers) and made her keenly aware of just how big a bind law-abiding citizen gun owners are in.
I *did* tell her about CGN and encouraged her to join, but she's not an 'online person' and may never sign up. At least she says, "I'm not ready for that" rather than a flat-out "No way!"
My sister is a typical Californian: apathetic regarding firearms, as opposed to anti-gun. Now that she's become a gun owner --i.e., has some skin in the game-- she's paying attention to the crazy-making laws/legislation and noting which politicians in her area are sponsoring such.
We've had a lot of laughs during her 'awakening': Prior to taking possession of her first handgun she asked me, "Will I be able to carry a safe into my house?"
"Honey, how would I know?!" I replied. "I'm not there! Buy a safe (per latest CA DOJ specs) that you can carry in the store!"
She located one, brought it home, then called me again: "What do they mean, 'bolt it to the floor'? I have to wreck my floor???"
On the plus side, she's already 'hip to' Boresnakes, Borestores, snap caps, non-toxic cleaning supplies, desiccant, after-market grips, as well as all the bare necessities safety gear. She has no problem with recoil or range noise, thank goodness.
When I learned that *my* old range --Chabot-- has been forced out of business I was shocked and terribly sad. That place was my 'second home' for four years. Also sensed that its demise is yet another facet of the current 'take it all' political stance, so urged my sister to practice weekly for as long as she still can --advice I'm happy to say she has taken so far.
Anyway, I fled CA nearly two years ago and live on a few rural acres in a sensible state; I can shoot in my own backyard, no 10-day waits, no one-in-thirty delays. No magazine restrictions or barrel length issues, etc.
Beyond the firearms details, there is no drought, no jets overhead low enough that I ever hear them (actually, I can barely see them), no traffic or congestion of any sort, no gang activity anywhere near me. I've met all of my neighbors and made friends with half a dozen of them.
We enjoy FOUR seasons: gorgeous Autumn; Winter gives dustings of snow (2 to 4 inches) for a couple weeks; verdant floribunda Spring; 2-1/2 months of hot and humid Summer. (By this time next month, temps will be livable; everybody knows to slow down and take it easy during July/August.)
EVERYTHING costs less here; unleaded gas is @ $1.85 per gallon right now. All of my appliances are electric; typically, that bill is $35-$40 per month, year round. My water bill is $17.50 per month. Groceries run about 30% less than CA prices. Some items are 50% less --especially canned goods.
There are no street lights drowning out the night sky, so if there's no cloud cover we're treated to a zillion stars --and lots of shooting stars
I wish I'd been able to come here decades ago! But at least I'm here now, and thoroughly enjoying the 'tea time' of life
If any of you are considering a move out of CA, I wish you Godspeed. Those of you who cannot or will not relocate, I wish you all the best. (I'm a native Californian and spent nearly my entire life there, but can honestly say that I don't miss it. YMMV.)
-Pat
Was surprised when my sister phoned a couple months ago and announced she was ready to get a self-defense handgun and professional training. For years I'd attempted to convince her to "do it now, in advance of need" and she'd blown me off as a 'gun nut'. "Besides," she said, "I live in a safe, stable neighborhood."
Well, that pack of outrageous, crippling laws Gov. Brown signed (with more to come) shook my sister's confident belief in her sense of personal safety and it dawned on her that she'd better get *something* this year, while she still can.
I'm pleased to state that my years of reading CGN enabled me to fill her in on what she'd need to know/do in order to get started. Also found her an Instructor and a range; she's been training weekly (!) and has already purchased two new handguns
Plus, encountering the 10-day wait and one-handgun-per-month 'rules' has infuriated her (as it does all first-time CA buyers) and made her keenly aware of just how big a bind law-abiding citizen gun owners are in.I *did* tell her about CGN and encouraged her to join, but she's not an 'online person' and may never sign up. At least she says, "I'm not ready for that" rather than a flat-out "No way!"
My sister is a typical Californian: apathetic regarding firearms, as opposed to anti-gun. Now that she's become a gun owner --i.e., has some skin in the game-- she's paying attention to the crazy-making laws/legislation and noting which politicians in her area are sponsoring such.
We've had a lot of laughs during her 'awakening': Prior to taking possession of her first handgun she asked me, "Will I be able to carry a safe into my house?"
"Honey, how would I know?!" I replied. "I'm not there! Buy a safe (per latest CA DOJ specs) that you can carry in the store!"
She located one, brought it home, then called me again: "What do they mean, 'bolt it to the floor'? I have to wreck my floor???"
On the plus side, she's already 'hip to' Boresnakes, Borestores, snap caps, non-toxic cleaning supplies, desiccant, after-market grips, as well as all the bare necessities safety gear. She has no problem with recoil or range noise, thank goodness.
When I learned that *my* old range --Chabot-- has been forced out of business I was shocked and terribly sad. That place was my 'second home' for four years. Also sensed that its demise is yet another facet of the current 'take it all' political stance, so urged my sister to practice weekly for as long as she still can --advice I'm happy to say she has taken so far.
Anyway, I fled CA nearly two years ago and live on a few rural acres in a sensible state; I can shoot in my own backyard, no 10-day waits, no one-in-thirty delays. No magazine restrictions or barrel length issues, etc.
Beyond the firearms details, there is no drought, no jets overhead low enough that I ever hear them (actually, I can barely see them), no traffic or congestion of any sort, no gang activity anywhere near me. I've met all of my neighbors and made friends with half a dozen of them.
We enjoy FOUR seasons: gorgeous Autumn; Winter gives dustings of snow (2 to 4 inches) for a couple weeks; verdant floribunda Spring; 2-1/2 months of hot and humid Summer. (By this time next month, temps will be livable; everybody knows to slow down and take it easy during July/August.)
EVERYTHING costs less here; unleaded gas is @ $1.85 per gallon right now. All of my appliances are electric; typically, that bill is $35-$40 per month, year round. My water bill is $17.50 per month. Groceries run about 30% less than CA prices. Some items are 50% less --especially canned goods.
There are no street lights drowning out the night sky, so if there's no cloud cover we're treated to a zillion stars --and lots of shooting stars
I wish I'd been able to come here decades ago! But at least I'm here now, and thoroughly enjoying the 'tea time' of life
If any of you are considering a move out of CA, I wish you Godspeed. Those of you who cannot or will not relocate, I wish you all the best. (I'm a native Californian and spent nearly my entire life there, but can honestly say that I don't miss it. YMMV.)
-Pat
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