Hey, don't judge Washington based on King County and the Peoples' Republic of Seattle (don't forget, WA is the original "shall-issue" state with a long history of gun ownership, like some of the other states, most of the populace is in one major metropolitan area inhabited by leftist snowflakes). 99% of what you want to see in Washington is NOT in Seattle. Minnesota is another great state, forget the debacle of Minneapolis. Too much natural beauty to be denied. Illinois? Chicago, a proud city historically beset by corrupt management. Still a great city to visit, eat out in, and some of the best sports fans in the world. Of course, I have family there, so travel there regularly. Same as with New York. Outside NYC, the populace of that great state is fairly normal. Even California, as much as I despise the government there, go north and the top half of the state is made up of normal, conservative, gun-loving, outdoor-loving folks such as most of us here.
I'm in the same boat as many others here: if I were to not travel to states whose gun laws I abhorred, I'd not be able to see half my family. Parents are too old too travel, half of my siblings can't get the time off from work or afford traveling to see me.
Yeah, there's turmoil all over, but firearms are only one means of self-defense. I'm not gonna let not being able to take any guns stop the wife and I from taking her dream vacation, two months in Italy. (Maybe I can find some friendly guy in her cooking school to loan me a shotgun, though.)
The reason WA is coming off the list is once I get my Utah license, then Washington won’t be an issue. Interesting how they will recognize Utah but not Texas. the class for Texas was more in depth, the background check for Texas more extensive too. So not for sure why they would recognize Utah but not Texas. You have to be 21 here, unless your in the military. You can be 18. Maybe that’s it. Who knows.
I do have to give Washington credit though, if I were to come there I could get a non-resident fairly easy. The problem is you have to apply in person. Even then I would have to say that Washington still has much better gun laws then most everyone else on the list!
I would say the least worse of all the states mentioned would be WA and MN, followed by IL. At least from the point of view of a Texan. I could get a non-resident MN as well if I was willing to apply in person.
I do understand. Look at the 2016 voting map and that tells you everything you need to know. Rural America votes trump.... major cities on th east and west coast and a few others are the problems. Most Democrats and libs live in cities now!
However, it is interesting to note... that of all the states listed, only New York has a pending bill in their state government that will give temporary non-resident LTC’s good for the entire state including NYC, as well as a bill that will give short term reciprocity to visitors from other states with a home state LTC. If that passes, that will be HUGE for New York!
Actually I will be coming through Washington in a year or two while return back to the lower 48 from a trip to Alaska. Actually looking forward to it.
Getting permits/licenses for Canada has actually been easier to get Then some states here! (Illinois) Albeit there’s a few guns I won’t be able to take to Canada. Not that I would want to take those anyways.
Italy is awesome, we have a cruise planned out of Venice, if COVID doesn’t cancel it. Last time I was there I got to get a tour of the Beretta factory. Saw them make my 92FS Inox... where it was then imported back home for me and I picked it up at my local FFL. Albeit it took 4 months to get back home. I also saw them makeing a couple of the $90,000 shotguns too. I was tempted to get one of those two, but I knew my significant other would probably shoot me with it when we got back home! LOL
Italy is fairly safe and I’m not to worried about it there, not like here. Especially if you stay out of the Mafia controlled areas. Which aren’t the touristy areas.