Any reason not to move to Missouri?

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I am from Missouri and it is a beautiful state (south of I 70 anyway) I grew up in St. Louis in the 60s and 70s and would not go back there if you put a gun to my head. Crime is bad and a lot of the cops down in the city are into some kind of power trip and don't believe that "citizens" should be able to carry.
 
A lot of people are saying stay rural, as far as I know the only local control of firearms in missouri is whether or not to allow open carry. Though communities do set the price for a ccw license I know of nowhere in the state it is over $100, which is a bit pricey imo, but not prohibitively expensive. From a legal standpoint you're fine living where ever, the mayors of KC and STL might complain all day about lax gun laws, but they can do nothing about it. I personally live in a conservative leaning city about 20-30 minutes from downtown STL. There are some city policies I don't agree with in STL, but none of them have much to do with guns.
 
Are there places to shoot long distance or hunt easily?

Carry laws good?
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Bench Rest Rifle Club is about an hour west of downtown. I believe they have a 600 yd range, a 100 yd range, and a pistol range. I know they hold IDPA shoots, and the membership is in the $200 - $300/yr range (or at least it was last time I checked several years ago.)

There are several indoor ranges. Three of which are:

1. Ultimate Defense in St. Peters which I am a member, and is very nice with lots of different offerings including marksmanship competitions, defensive pistol competitions, and lots of classes from beginner to advanced.

2. Bullseye in midtown, which although old, still is a quality range. I've only been there a few times.

3. On Target in Imperial, a little south. Pretty good place. Great range, but fairly out of driving range for me. Only been there twice.

Many great gun stores. St. Louis has a pretty good shooting community, and if you hit the ranges often, you'll start seeing familiar faces at different events. It's kind of cool when you go "picket" a stupid "gun buyback", and run into several other like minded individuals you know from the range. I often see folks at gun shows who look familiar. Then, when saying hello, find out they were the person in the booth next to you last time you went shooting.

The laws are also pretty good.

Missouri recognizes ALL state's CCW's.
Missouri's CCW is recognized by the most other states (I believe. I could be wrong, but it is recognized by 35, or some such.)
Castle doctrine extends to PRIVATE PROPERTY. Such as the inside of your vehicle.
Since your vehicle is considered private property, Missouri has a "peaceable journey" law. If you are lawfully allowed to posess a firearm (regardless of residency), you may carry it INSIDE your vehicle IN ANY MANNER YOU CHOOSE. Just be careful if you choose to CC inside your vehicle without a permit. One step outside, and you will be breaking the law.
"Gun Buster" signs (no guns) have no weight in law. You may ignore them at will. However, if asked to leave an establishment and you refuse, you may be prosecuted for tresspassing. (Myself, I refuse to spend my money at a place that doesn't want me there.)
Some may find it a bad thing, but it is perfectly legal to be intoxicated while armed in Missouri. However, you may not carry in an establishment that derives over 51% of its revenue from the sale of alcohol. As far as intoxicated while armed, I personally believe drunk people should not be required to die helplessly, and that if it is illegal to use a gun in a particular manner, it is illegal regardless of whether you're drunk or not, therefore why make it illegal to SAFELY and RESPONSIBLY carry while you are inebriated. (NOTICE: I did not say it was a GOOD thing. Carrying while intoxicated would probably raise many questions about judgement if you ever DID have to use lethal force while drunk, so I do NOT advocate it. So I'm just pre-empting those who are inevitably call me a kook for "saying drunk carrying is a wonderful activity". I never said that.) However, I have been at Bar-B-Ques where I've had a few too many and had to call a cab. Thank God I didn't really have to worry about becoming a criminal simply because my BAC went over .8%, and could responsibly leave my gun in its holster while I rode home instead of drunkenly fumbling with it in a parking lot trying to lock it in my vehicle hoping nobody stole it before I could make it back the next day just to be legal. (Now watch all the holier-than-thou's pile on about the irresponsibilities of even turning my eyes towards a picture of a bottle of beer while armed.) Stuff it. I'm from Missouri. Don't like it? Change the law.

As far as wildlife, outdoor activities, and hunting....Missouri is pretty good. Squirrel season opens May 22nd. Deer (firearm) is usually the two weeks prior to Thanksgiving. (Bow) is Usually from Sep 15th to Dec. 31st. We have early "Youth" Turkey and Deer seasons for the kids and a couple of black powder seasons. Dove season is Sep 1st.

There are many Conservation/Wildlife areas including August Busch which is only about 1/2 hour west of downtown. Mark Twain Lake which is about two hours North, and many others.

As far as crime, I have to admit St. Louis is pretty far up on the list. Lot's of shootings on the North Side. As with any city, staying clear of the bad areas cuts your chances of violent encounters down pretty much. However, I can't say that areas other than North County are just fine. There were a couple of shootings in Schnuck's Grocery store parking lots in several nicer areas of town. Denny's in St. Charles. A couple in O'Fallon which is usually a pretty safe place. However, crime is everywhere. If you use your head and keep your situational awareness, St. Louis isn't any more dangerous than any other highly populated city.

I hope I've provided some useful information. Remember, this is just my opinion. However, I love Missouri and have grown pretty fond of the St. Louis region.

Oh yeah, we have some pretty good baseball, too.
 
I will say that one thing I do not like is businesses are free to prohibit guns in their parking lots. As in not even unloaded in a locked trunk, if you're a patron no biggie you'll be asked to leave at worst. However, I work for such a company, I don't want to lose my job just because somebody saw something in my trunk, or if my car was broken into and I reported it.
 
The only problem with Missouri is that it is full of Missourians!:D

Okay, just kidding, other than their driving habits, Missourians aren't half bad, and where else can you find a liquor store that also sells guns? (or was it a gun store that sold booze?)
 
We are not amused,

You just don't like our driving habits because we have hills and curves in Missouri instead of straight, flat roads that are always next to a corn field. Lol.
 
We are not amused,

You just don't like our driving habits because we have hills and curves in Missouri instead of straight, flat roads that are always next to a corn field. Lol.
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I beg to differ Missourians think what this state has counts as hills and curves. Trust me drive around the Appalachian region and you'll know the difference.
 
I live in the Ozarks. Love it here, except in the summer. Great hunting, fishing, floating, hiking and camping. I work for the USFS as a Seasonal Ranger in the Rocky Mountain States during the summer. I hate the summer humidity here. Bugs, snakes, poison ivy and humidity. In my opinion St Louis sucks. Most of us down here would like to give St Louis to Illinois and KC to Kansas. St Louis is full of Liberal nutbags. Missouri is one of those states that is SOLID RED except for the urban areas, St Louis, KC and Columbia, the I70 corridor. Down here in the Ozarks, a man can still live free so long as you're not hurting someone else, you can do your thing without being hassled.
 
Yup. The Ozarks are the best thing in Missouri. I spent a lot of my youth down there. Table Rock in the 70s was cool.
 
I was in the Cassville area with a guy. We went in a quick stop to buy
some items. He was asked to leave not because he had a gun on his hip but the ole no shirt,no shoes no service!! I thought it was funny. He did not. I think the guy in the store was just jealous cause he looked great without the shirt!!!
 
Lot of crime in St. Louis.
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St. Louis city only has around 300,000 residents; St. Louis County / Metro area has around 3,000,000 residents. All of the crime rate statistics are skewed because of the small population of the city, but large population of St. Louis County.

From Wiki - "On August 22, 1876, the city of St. Louis voted to secede from St. Louis County and become an independent city"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Louis_County,_Missouri

Missouri is an outstanding state. Just stay away from parts of St. Louis (northern STL) and you will really like.
 
It's a great state, lived here 30+ years, in West suburbs. Illinois sucks in general, but you don't go there in less you wanna lap dance. St. Louis is made up of very tight, small neighborhoods. Good hunting, fishing, great place to rise a family, carry a pistol, and watch baseball. KC is good if you're into fat chicks.
 
I am a displaced Californian, living in the Ozark's for 20 years now. It's a great place! Just remember, when driving, if you see a car with its signal light on, figure it was left on at the factory!:neener:
 
Check out the conservation departments "Outdoor Missouri " map. Lots of conservation areas that offer hunting.
 
You guys are forgetting the greatest part of Missouri, thats the northern third. We live the good old country life up here and only travel down to KC or St. Louis if we have to. I do love Missouri, but I could move anywhere in the Midwest and enjoy it just as much. Just as long as I'm not near a large city, I'm happy.
 
Well...

there is Mark Twain's story of the little girl whose family was moving to that state - she went out into the yard and said:

"Goodbye trees, we're goin' to Missouri!"
"Goodbye house, we're goin' to Missouri!"
"Goodbye God, we're goin' to Missouri!"

But Twain corrected himself, and said that her final statement was actually:

"Good, by God! We're goin' to Missouri!"

PRD1 - mhb - Mike
 
Ever since Sany Hook things have taken a turn for the worse as far as gun rights in MO.

Missouri Democrats Introduce Legislation to Confiscate Firearms - Gives Gun Owners 90 Days to Turn in Weapons


Missouri Democrats introduced an anti-gun bill which would turn law-abiding firearm owners into criminals. They will have 90 days to turn in their guns if the legislation is passed.

Here’s part of the Democratic proposal in Missouri:

4. Any person who, prior to the effective date of this law, was legally in possession of an assault weapon or large capacity magazine shall have ninety days from such effective date to do any of the following without being subject to prosecution:

(1) Remove the assault weapon or large capacity magazine from the state of Missouri;

(2) Render the assault weapon permanently inoperable; or

(3) Surrender the assault weapon or large capacity magazine to the appropriate law enforcement agency for destruction, subject to specific agency regulations.

5. Unlawful manufacture, import, possession, purchase, sale, or transfer of an assault weapon or a large capacity magazine is a class C felony.



Read more: http://nation.foxnews.com/gun-contr...gun-owners-90-days-turn-weapons#ixzz2R9cjIWRi


Read more: http://nation.foxnews.com/gun-contr...gun-owners-90-days-turn-weapons#ixzz2R9c15U00
 
Ever since Sany Hook things have taken a turn for the worse as far as gun rights in MO.
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Not even close to being true! Your links are from 2/14, and got laughed out of the house . We (Republicans) have a super majority and NOTHING anti has even come close to being passed. Get your facts straight before you start rumors about our great State.

But, this just got passed by the House (115-42)

"Second Amendment Preservation Act"

http://www.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills131/biltxt/intro/HB0436I.HTM

http://forums.gunsandammo.com/showthread.php?13404-Missouri-s-2nd-Amendment-Protection-Act-Holy-Crap!
 
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