In Praise of Montana (Vanity)

Self ^ | 1-29-2005 | Self

[farmer18th]

For anyone who might be a little discouraged about the direction of the country, or the erosion of our Constitutional Liberties, I thought I would pass on this story about a friend of mine, (we'll call him Jesse) who grew up in Western Montana:

In his part of Montana, (I suppose this applies to the entire state), you can carry a pistol without a permit. As a teenager, Jesse carried all the time. His dad gave him a revolver, (I believe it was a .38), and then he saved up his money and by the time he was fifteen, he was carrying a .45.

The local sheriff, who lived down the street, saw him packing one day and pulled his patrol car over. The sheriff got out of the car, approached him, and said, "Heah, Jesse, you got a new pistol?"
"Yeah," Jesse said, "been saving for it."
"Can I take a look at it?"
The sheriff looked the new gun over and saw that it wasn't loaded.
"How come it isn't loaded?" the sheriff asked.
Jesse shrugged. "I guess I didn't think I was going to have to shoot anything today."
"Just a minute," the sheriff said. He returned with ammo. "I've got some spares I'll give you."
Jesse looked a little shocked to think this lawmen was giving away bullets, and the sheriff replied before he could say anything:

"I know you and your family. If I get in any trouble, it's good to know we've got another man on the street."

[lotusblos]

I've never run into such an enlightened police officer. I suppose it's a small town thing.

[farmer18th]

My brother, here in California, actually had a similar experience, though not quite as dramatic. Two prisoners escaped from a local prison camp, ran across our farm, until my brother saw them. He got out his shot gun, and pinned them down with a blast over their heads. When one of the prison guards caught up to them, on the side of a hill, he just had enough breath left to yell at them: "Didn't I tell you dumb s*&#ts that everyone has a gun up here?"

[oldenuff2no]

I was raised in a small mountain town in way northern California. As A teenager in the 60's I would go shooting with the local Deputy Sheriff in the middle of the night. He had to patrol until 4AM, and after the bars closed at 2AM there weren't any cars on the road, the town was dead. He would come down and pick me up and transport me and my firearms to the local shooting range. In the headlights and spotlight of his squad car we would shoot for an hour or two. It was the best PR I've ever seen.

[Waco]

Saves a lot of white chalk and yellow tape also.

[GaryMontana]

Hello;

I live in North West Montana. One of our local Radio stations is going to have a major ANTI-UN day where we first shoot a UN flag and than BURN It www.z600.com.

When I first moved to Montana the first thing my neighbors did was come over and talk. They did not ask me my religion, my politics or what I did for an income. They came over showed their guns and asked me what kind of guns I had for hunting, sport, etc.... Right than and there I knew I was in the right state!

I have seen people go into stores with pistols in holsters. I take my wolf husky dog all the time into the local Home Depot. I have also witnessed dogs in bars. NO BIG DEAL IN MONTANA

WHen everyone has a gun there is very little crime!

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

Montana is a changing, while living in Cody, WY & shopping in Billings Montana, the difference was, as day is to dark.

[ZULU]

Unfortunately, you are probably right. We must work harder against the people who use images of inbred morons to disparage people who practise a genuine Americana tradition and right.

Thiriy years ago I remember a similar incident in New Jersey of all places. I was banging away at a target in a woodrd area with my flintlock and a local cop came by.

He stopped off to see what I was shooting and admired my new rifle saying he was going to get one just like it.

The outward movement of city people with city ideas and prejudices about firearms is one of the reasons I left Jersey.

[2nd Bn, 11th Mar]

A couple of buddies and I were deer & elk hunting in Montana in 1975. One day we went into town (Clancy) for supplies and some lunch. The bar we went into was one long, skinny room with a sign as you walked in: "please check guns with the bartender." We did as requested and checked our sidearms. After a schnapps and a burger, we put our pistols back on and it was over to the grocery store. It had no sign, so we did our shopping with pistols in plain view. No one appeared to be concerned at all.

That is one great state, IMHO. Semper Fi,

[DoctorMichael]

Bury me in Montana Bttt.

[farmer18th]

Montana is a changing

Too many equity barons moving in?

[WestCoastGal]

My kind of place..

[farmer18th]

A couple of buddies and I were deer & elk hunting in Montana in 1975.

My friend, "Jesse", is twenty-seven. This happened when he was sixteen, so 11 years ago, or 1994--the Clinton years!

Oh that we might have a little of that Montana spirit here in California!

[RichardW]

I lived in Montana in 1975 and have visited many times. The knock I always heard was that too many Californians were moving there and bringing their liberal ideology with them.

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

"Thiriy years ago I remember a similar incident in New Jersey of all places. I was banging away at a target in a woodrd area with my flintlock and a local cop came by."

The finest handgun hunter and pistol shot I ever knew hailed from New Jersey. (of course he showed the good sense to pull the great skedaddle from there back in the 60's)

Flintlock hey, now you said the magic word. I have been building and shooting rocklockers for nigh over 40 years. Do you still indulge in the sport? If so, there are some good forums out there I hang around on.

http://members.boardhost.com/tmmh/

http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?Cat=0

http://americanlongrifles.com/ (down for maintenance today- 01-30-05)