Which state for a gun owner?

[texican]

1.  Biracial family (so state should have decent mix of races, not all one or the other; have to raise kids in welcome atmosphere)

2.  Like to tote guns openly and have minimal gun restrictions

3.  Like wild or western areas (prefers desert, not big on snow)

Which state would be for me?  Town?

[jameslovesjammie]

Arizona.

[armoredman]

Race should never be an issue, I firmly believe that.
AZ has lots of room! Do you like cities or small towns? Phoneix is large and sprawling, Tucson is smaller and older, Casa Grande splits right between them with almost everything you could need, PLUS a free public range...
Northern AZ is colder and more mountains, but still under our great gun laws - Constitutional Carry, meaning no permit needed to carry a firearm openly or concealed. No waiting periods beyond 15 minutes for the Brady call. No magazine limits, no ammo restrictions, no permits, no licensing, no "safety inspections", no FOID, no "assault weapon ban", and no "safe storage" law. We are NFA friendly, and only require a state CCW permit, which we still issue, to carry in resteraunts that serve open alcohol and are NOT posted, (Olive Garden in Casa Grande comes to mind, great food), or to avoid the Brady call completely, or to carry concealed in a National park/Monument by fed law.
Warning, carrying onto an Indian Reservation is not a "good idea"! Driving thorugh on hgihways is OK, but try to go hunting there without written permission from tribal cops, no, bad juju.
Come on down and take a look see. 

[Ross7]

Arizona Diamondbacks notwithstanding , were I ever to leave Florida I think Arizona would be an excellent place to live.

[armoredman]

Now, that's why I don't follow sports....

[dusty10]

By your forum name, I'm assuming you're in Texas?  If you need to work for a living, Texas ain't bad as unemployment rates are some of the lowest in the nation.  Open carry is presently being discussed in legislature.  But back to your original question, from what I know about various states gun laws I'd say Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma have most of what you are looking for.

[texican]

Thanks.  Good answers.  Didn't specify, but was wanting something cooler than Arizona and drier than Alaska or Montana.

What are Utah or Northern New Mexico like?  Western Colorado (Grand Junction)?

[Maccandy]

A lot depends on not what state your in, but what county in the state. Some counties have strict laws and you can't get a ccw license. And other counties in the same state is no problem at all.

[drnickels]

Northern New Mexico is quite beautiful. I have an uncle that lives there and I used to go visit him all the time. Love the mountains and the weather.

[justaute]

I now live in the DFW part of Texas, but grew up in Utah.  Left there when I was 27 and still have family there.  In short, from a diversity perspective, Salt Lake City has "grown up" quite a bit and has a decent population of Hispanics, Asians, and Pacific Islanders; while there's been some growth in Black-Americans, it is still by far the smallest ethnic group.  Ogden also has pretty good ethnic diversity.  Outside of those two cities, well......

FWIW... I am Asian-American, who can pass as part Pacific Islander as a result of my size.

Thanks.  Good answers.  Didn't specify, but was wanting something cooler than Arizona and drier than Alaska or Montana.

What are Utah or Northern New Mexico like?  Western Colorado (Grand Junction)?

[dleong]

3.  Like wild or western areas (prefers desert, not big on snow)

Well, I guess MinneSNOWta is out of the running for you.   

Given your criteria, Arizona seems to be your best bet. If I'm still into this gun hobby when I retire, I'll probably move there too.

[Wastelander]

If you're wanting good gun laws and cooler temps then you can still live in Arizona--just move up to the Payson, Prescott, or Flagstaff areas and it doesn't really get that hot.

[armoredman]

Northern AZ is quite cool, beautiful country. Everyone hears of the Arizona deserts, but we have some wonderful mountains too, and this really big hole in the ground.  Actually, TWO really big holes in the ground...

[GeneticallySwiss]

South Eastern Washington State is know as the Columbia River Basin.  It is mostly desert Sagebrush/Bitterbrush or steppe type grasslands (called the Palouse).  We get around 6" precipitation a year.  Snow is not unheard of, but when we get it, it is usually a dusting.  We are a shall issue State.  For the most part, politically conservative, friendly people and a great deal of agriculture.  Great place to raise a family, any family.

http://130.166.124.2/wa_panorama_atlas/index.html


GeneticallySwiss

[Master Aegidius]

Thanks.  Good answers.  Didn't specify, but was wanting something cooler than Arizona and drier than Alaska or Montana.

What are Utah or Northern New Mexico like?  Western Colorado (Grand Junction)?

Considering the last place I lived was MT, and I now live in AK, I probably shouldn't be giving advice. But I will state that SouthEastern MT is VERY dry. MT though, is not very friendly towards "minorities" or racially mixed families. Spent a lot of time there.....

Now Alaska! Well if you could get beyond the cold, snow, and dark, it's a very lovely place.

In all honesty, Anchorage is not very cold, the winter's aren't THAT dark, and the snow lets you get out and do fun stuff. A lot of ethnic diversity (including Asian and Pacific Islander's) in the Anchorage area, a low crime rate compared to other large cities, a really good economy, family friendly, and it is open carry both legally and socially. And on a clear day, from Anchorage you can see Alaska.