Moving to California!

[03Lightningrocks]

Brothers!

I may be moving to California. I have had my CHL for about a year......

- I know that it is not recognized there but can I keep my Texas CHL? What do I need to do?
- Can I renew it from California when it comes time?
- Can I store my suppressors (illegal in California) in Texas?

Thanks guys....

Boy, you really never appreciate the freedoms that you have until they get taken away!

Not that you need one more person telling you this but, "DON'T DO IT" !!! My brother moved out there for 18 months to do a job. He said it was the worse place he has ever lived. The "politicly correct" police are everywhere and you won't believe some of the crazy things those people do and say! You will come back a liberal if not very careful!

[Skiprr]

I spent 10 years in California.

Beautiful coastline; beautiful national/state parks.

Worst state government and laws imaginable.

My commiserations to you.

You'll pry the cold, dead finger from my gun before I ever again live in California.

[Scott in Houston]

I worked for 9 years for a Silicon Valley company. It was the most fun I ever had, professionally. The catch, I lived in Houston while doing it.
I left because the next 'step' career-wise was a move to the Bay Area. On cost of living alone, I needed to triple my pay to make it even worth thinking about... and when you throw in the politics, the loss of freedoms, and the fact that your kids will be surrounded by nut-jobs at all times (friends and teachers), it's just not worth it unless you're making millions and can home-school.

I hope it works out for you, but I just cannot fathom it personally.

[Wes]

I absolutely despise that state! Vacationed there for 3 days visiting my brother in law and couldn't wait to get back home. He left fairly quick himself, only moved there because the wife got a huge pay increase, something like 70 to 120ish, and they had less each month than they did here. I think they lived there for all of 16 months. I don't think I could do it for one!

[Dave2]

I absolutely despise that state! Vacationed there for 3 days visiting my brother in law and couldn't wait to get back home. He left fairly quick himself, only moved there because the wife got a huge pay increase, something like 70 to 120ish, and they had less each month than they did here. I think they lived there for all of 16 months. I don't think I could do it for one!

Oh it's a great place to live when you're not supporting yourself. I loved it for that last year of high school, and the year and a half of college when I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with my life. I still enjoy going to the SF Bay Area to visit my family. But now that I'm fully into the adult years of my life, I do not want to live there. I really think that I'd get run out of town if I stayed for more than a month at a time... I just can't hold my tongue that long. I'd end up helping out with running the sound like I do at every church I attend, which would give me access to a microphone... and there's a real danger that I'd tell off the whole church. I know my dad's pretty conservative theologically speaking so the church my parents attend would be too, but I have no idea what the congregation's political feelings are.

Ok, so I wouldn't really get up there uninvited and start schooling them, but I'd be tempted... sorely... and that's not conducive to a low-stress environment.

[kjolly]

I have a lot of family in CA., but the few times I have been have really disliked it. Very expensive and crazy people.

[Ruark]

There are some cool places in CA, and of course a lot of history, but overall, no way I would live there. It's a shame; CA is such a gorgeous state (the sequoias, Yosemite, the coast, redwoods, Death Valley, etc.), yet the political, legal and cultural climate is suffocating. We travel there every couple of summers to visit some relatives and have been anxious to get the hell out, every time.

I remember once we visited a northern CA beach. We got out and were walking along the surf (it was cold, windy and foggy) when a Volkswagen van parked next to our car. A couple got out with their three grade-school-age kids. ALL FIVE of them had tie-dyed t-shirts and waist-length braided pony tails, and each was carrying an empty gallon plastic milk jug. I mean, what the heck? As they slowly walked past, I nodded slightly in greeting, but they just glared at us angrily without speaking, looking very irritated. My "danger" meter was beeping like mad. To this day I have utterly no idea what they were doing out there. We shuffled quickly back to our car and left.

I have never seen so many freaking weirdos in one place as I have in CA. Remember this is the land of Hells Angels, Charlie Manson, MS13, the Crips and the Bloods, et. al.

We got down to Barstow and headed towards Baker and Vegas, feeling greatly relieved in the relative peace of the vast, empty desert.

[olafpfj]

Make sure you buy a copy of How to Own a Gun and Stay Out of Jail California edition. Its puts kalifornia gun laws in an easy to read understandable form. Also go to Calguns website and download the "assault weapon" identification guide. The preceding is not a joke.

For those who really want to see how crazy Kali really is check out the"assault rifle" guide at calguns. No joke its really that complicated and stupid.

[T Bone]

Thanks everyone for your words of wisdom and advice.

It is a big move for me...... I can't complain about the money here or there.

People are packed in like sardines over there and I would only feel comfortable if I can carry concealed over there...... Thank goodness I will have my Texas CHL for out of state but in Cali, I really want my conceal carry...... I have been travelling there for over a decade and know the nutjobs there.

For the person who said that I would come back a liberal....NEVER!

[fishman]

Hurry back and while your there, teach those people how to vote!

[Heartland Patriot]

I spent 10 years in California.

Beautiful coastline; beautiful national/state parks.

Worst state government and laws imaginable.

My commiserations to you.

You'll pry the cold, dead finger from my gun before I ever again live in California.

I've mentioned this before, but I spent two tours in Norcal at the behest of Uncle Sam while in the USAF...those two periods of five years I spent (with a two year "break" in between ) put me in the exact frame of mind you have about it. Beautiful place...terrible laws.

[Texas10X]

Hurry back and while your there, teach those people how to vote!

[T Bone]

I spent 10 years in California.

Beautiful coastline; beautiful national/state parks.

Worst state government and laws imaginable.

My commiserations to you.

You'll pry the cold, dead finger from my gun before I ever again live in California.

I've mentioned this before, but I spent two tours in Norcal at the behest of Uncle Sam while in the USAF...those two periods of five years I spent (with a two year "break" in between ) put me in the exact frame of mind you have about it. Beautiful place...terrible laws.

On terrible laws.... I am bringing most of my firearms with me and leaving my Class 3 stuff behind in storage.... The problem with the laws in California are just crazy. I can bring my HK MR556 if I install a "Bullet Button" Mag release but my Sig Mosquito .22 with threaded barrel is illegal.

It takes skill not to be an accidental felon!

[magillapd]

I have never been nor do I ever want to go to California. I have a very hard time going into New Jersey to visit family! (only will do if I stop at my parents house in PA first to leave my gun/ammo)

[olafpfj]

I spent 10 years in California.

Beautiful coastline; beautiful national/state parks.

Worst state government and laws imaginable.

My commiserations to you.

You'll pry the cold, dead finger from my gun before I ever again live in California.

I've mentioned this before, but I spent two tours in Norcal at the behest of Uncle Sam while in the USAF...those two periods of five years I spent (with a two year "break" in between ) put me in the exact frame of mind you have about it. Beautiful place...terrible laws.

On terrible laws.... I am bringing most of my firearms with me and leaving my Class 3 stuff behind in storage.... The problem with the laws in California are just crazy. I can bring my HK MR556 if I install a "Bullet Button" Mag release but my Sig Mosquito .22 with threaded barrel is illegal.

It takes skill not to be an accidental felon!

You never said where in Kalifornia you're moving to. Its a big state after all and attitudes vary wildly depending on where you are. I lived there for 35 years until I moved here. 34 in the Los Angeles area and 1 up in the Bay area. Those two cities are vastly different in terms of attitude of the populace. LEO attitude is about the same though. Rural central California is fairly firearm friendly with many counties practically shall issue.

For all the stupid laws there are a lot of grandfathered "assault rifles" and over 10 round magazines. No one asks any questions at the ranges I've been to.