How to NOT ruin Montana if you move here (Missoula: college, where to live)

[Ben Around]

Originally Posted by expatvermonter

I read all these posts about bashing "outsiders" moving to Montana, and let me say I have first hand experience with people ruining my home state of VT. Here is how to NOT ruin things if you move from NY, NJ, MA, IL, CA to a rural state.

1) Refuse to pay $350K for that new 3 Br rancher. Tell the seller that it is only worth $120K and that is all you will pay. If you are willing (and can) pay overinflated prices you have just ruined the market for someone who can only afford a reasonable mortgage. Build simple, cheap and green. The locals will respect you for it (no McMansions).

2) Leave your "liberal" mentality in CA! This does not mean you have to like Bush or Rush. People in the rural areas generally don't want extreme left or right thinking/politics. They are mostly center of the road pro-constitution.

3) Don't get involved in politics. Let the state be run the way it has been. If you like right wing bible thumping move to Mississippi or Tennesse. If you like diversity (gang-bangers and hip hop) move to LA. If you like constitutional freedom move to ID, MT, VT. There are states that match your like and dislikes. It is a big country, but don't move to an area to change things.

4) Rural people own and carry handguns for self defense. If you don't like it stay in NY City where it is safe under Mayor Bloomberg. We don't want a police heavy state in Montana or Vermont!

5) Subarus, Volvos, Birkinstocks, North Face, Latte do not belong in rural areas. It is like wiping the greed and excesses in the faces of the locals. This does not mean you need to shop at Walmart for your fashions and wear a dirty cammo baseball hat. If you move here buy a utilitarian vehicle (Jeep, Small Pick-up Etc), get some new Carharts, a woodstove and live simply. Country does not mean being a redneck. Just dress down and be humble, not loud and pretentious. Save your cash for future emergencies. Greed is not welcome in the simple country lifestyle!

6) Don't blast hip-hop or wear your pants around your ankles. NO ONE here wants to hear it, believe me!

So rural people carry handguns "for self protection"?? Is this true? From what are you protecting yourself? I thought rural areas have low crime rates. Hell, I've lived in cities for most of my life and I don't carry a handgun, neither does anyone I know. Neither did my parents or grandparents, city folks all.

Please explain, expatvermonter... (or other rural folks, for that matter--do you agree with what this guy is saying?)

[CatherineFrances]

Crime is crime no matter where you live or roam. All states - all countries.

The RKBA issue is important to many people who choose to open or conceal carry a gun. No one is forcing anyone to carry or use a firearm. God gave us all free will - use it or lose it.

This is to the man that mentioned 'guns' above.

By the way, rural and 'woods' crime has gone up in many states due to the illegal drug trade, selling of legal Rx drugs and people stealing gas/fuel from farmers and ranchers. Etc.

The Missoula, MT are has had an increase in crime not just up north (The Yaak.) or in any other town and/or OUT of state. Not a theory - on the news and even the Reserve Street Walgreens was robbed several times. Vandals and punks with their criminal actions have increased too. Last Sunday or the Sunday before paper - The Missoulian - Front Page.

Catherine
Armed and Female
An Open Carry Advocate

[AQHA]

Originally Posted by Ben Around

So rural people carry handguns "for self protection"?? Is this true? From what are you protecting yourself? I thought rural areas have low crime rates. Hell, I've lived in cities for most of my life and I don't carry a handgun, neither does anyone I know. Neither did my parents or grandparents, city folks all.

People in cities think of guns as tools used by street thugs who use them for drive by shootings and muggings. Those of us in the country look at guns as a heirloom passed down from our dad or grandpa. We wear guns to shoot snakes or for protection against other wildlife. We also wear them because we can. We have not bent over to the liberals and let them take our gun rights.
Have you ever been out shooting pop cans or water jugs with your dad or kids? Its called plinking. Guns are not tools of the devil, they are works of art that can be enjoyable and relaxing to enjoy.

[Stephan_K]

Originally Posted by AQHA

People in cities think of guns as tools used by street thugs who use them for drive by shootings and muggings. Those of us in the country look at guns as a heirloom passed down from our dad or grandpa. We wear guns to shoot snakes or for protection against other wildlife. We also wear them because we can. We have not bent over to the liberals and let them take our gun rights.
Have you ever been out shooting pop cans or water jugs with your dad or kids? Its called plinking. Guns are not tools of the devil, they are works of art that can be enjoyable and relaxing to enjoy.

X2....

[Alaskapat528]

Originally Posted by expatvermonter

I read all these posts about bashing "outsiders" moving to Montana, and let me say I have first hand experience with people ruining my home state of VT. Here is how to NOT ruin things if you move from NY, NJ, MA, IL, CA to a rural state.

1) Refuse to pay $350K for that new 3 Br rancher. Tell the seller that it is only worth $120K and that is all you will pay. If you are willing (and can) pay overinflated prices you have just ruined the market for someone who can only afford a reasonable mortgage. Build simple, cheap and green. The locals will respect you for it (no McMansions).

2) Leave your "liberal" mentality in CA! This does not mean you have to like Bush or Rush. People in the rural areas generally don't want extreme left or right thinking/politics. They are mostly center of the road pro-constitution.

3) Don't get involved in politics. Let the state be run the way it has been. If you like right wing bible thumping move to Mississippi or Tennesse. If you like diversity (gang-bangers and hip hop) move to LA. If you like constitutional freedom move to ID, MT, VT. There are states that match your like and dislikes. It is a big country, but don't move to an area to change things.

4) Rural people own and carry handguns for self defense. If you don't like it stay in NY City where it is safe under Mayor Bloomberg. We don't want a police heavy state in Montana or Vermont!

5) Subarus, Volvos, Birkinstocks, North Face, Latte do not belong in rural areas. It is like wiping the greed and excesses in the faces of the locals. This does not mean you need to shop at Walmart for your fashions and wear a dirty cammo baseball hat. If you move here buy a utilitarian vehicle (Jeep, Small Pick-up Etc), get some new Carharts, a woodstove and live simply. Country does not mean being a redneck. Just dress down and be humble, not loud and pretentious. Save your cash for future emergencies. Greed is not welcome in the simple country lifestyle!

6) Don't blast hip-hop or wear your pants around your ankles. NO ONE here wants to hear it, believe me!

Had to rep ya on that one. Excellent post!

[Alaskapat528]

Originally Posted by Ben Around

So rural people carry handguns "for self protection"?? Is this true? From what are you protecting yourself? I thought rural areas have low crime rates. Hell, I've lived in cities for most of my life and I don't carry a handgun, neither does anyone I know. Neither did my parents or grandparents, city folks all.

Please explain, expatvermonter... (or other rural folks, for that matter--do you agree with what this guy is saying?)

We currently live in a rural area and have also lived in large cities. Do I agree with what he is saying? Absolutely!! You have proven to be true what the OP posted about. You probably don't carry a handgun because you live in a city with socialist gun bans. Rural areas do have crime, especially when you have trash move in or who enter the area. No area is crime-free. Don't mean to offend but telling it the way it is.

[Reziac]

Originally Posted by Ben Around

So rural people carry handguns "for self protection"?? Is this true? From what are you protecting yourself?

City folks.

[greenheartanne]

It's not their politics, it's their sense of entitlement, their desire to have the same creature comforts they came to expect in their home states, and their lack of humility. I'm a lefty, have been all my life. I moved to Montana in 1973 and I never built a house, bought a latte, or drove anything but old cars. When Bozeman got too gentrified, I moved to Butte. I lived in Dillon for a good few years, too. It breaks my heart to see what's happening all over the state, but Bozeman is truly a tragedy.

[greenheartanne]

Oh yeah, I'm fine with hunting (a little skeptical about the out-of-staters looking for antlers) but I see no need for ANYONE, ANYWHERE to carry a handgun. People who expect trouble, find it... in cities, towns, on ranches, in their own homes.

[rickers]

Originally Posted by greenheartanne

Oh yeah, I'm fine with hunting (a little skeptical about the out-of-staters looking for antlers) but I see no need for ANYONE, ANYWHERE to carry a handgun. People who expect trouble, find it... in cities, towns, on ranches, in their own homes.

I don't hunt but I do do a bit of hiking in rough brushy and forested areas as well as open places. Unless you have lived in Montana and spent a lot of time in the back country you wouldn't understand the need to carry a gun. I have been charged by deer as well as being stalked by a cougar. I have been "trail blocked by bears" many times. I do not want to pack around a heavy rifle. These are good reasons to carry a hand gun in the bush.
Now then there is small town living. It was just about August last year and we had to stay for about a week in an unsavory motel with no indoor door lock. it was a glass sliding door (broken latch) with a padlock hasp on the outside. All week really scummy heroin addicts walked past our door and window, looking in going to the guy behind us who is a known heroin dealer and full on scumbag. On top of that my wife and I are in the room watching TV when this really scummy junkie comes right on in without asking or knocking. There was no trouble but it freaked out my wife big time. He just wanted us to babysit his drink while he went to the liquor store for another bottle. He didn't want to leave it where he was partying for fear that some one else in that room would drink it up. I am very glad to own, carry, and use my gun. This State is in some ways still the wild lawless west. Montana is not really a good place to be depending on the police for protection. We are all sort of on our own here.