quote:

Originally posted by SIGGUY (THE 1ST):
Scottsdale.

A number of good gun stores there, try them all and take your pick. You'll be more or less right in the midpoint between Ben Avery, Rio Salado, and Phoenix Rod and Gun Club if that matters to you. You can also take the easy way out of town through Fountain Hills and out into Tonto. If you have a Jeep or something with plenty of clearance and good offroad capability, the desert is your oyster. A retired guy who likes guns could do a hell of a lot worse than Scottsdale.

I grew up in Arizona, went to school here, worked 2/3 of my working life in the "Valley", retired there, etc. The Valley was good to me. We've visited quite a few other states, and had a few acres in Montana we considered building on, ultimately though, none attracted us enough to move out of Arizona. I always said, if not for the Summers, the Valley would have three times the population. They are still building like crazy down there, pretending there is not a water problem. Some scientists have indicated the big Southwestern cities, to include Phoenix, are not sustainable in future due to the water problem. Even though the progressive left has been elected to most state and Federal offices now, AZ. is still an excellent state for gun owners IMHO. Legal sale/trade of firearms without having to go through dealers or request state permission, etc.; Constitutional carry, CCW permits if desired, etc.

Still, the Valley is not the only area of Arizona that might be worthy of consideration. There is Tucson, pretty liberal, but is usually a few degrees cooler than the Valley in Summer. Other areas, that might see some snow in Winter, but be worthy of consideration are Rim Country, Flagstaff and Prescott. The Prescott area is an especially good area for firearms, shooting, training, etc. There are good gun shops all over around Prescott/Prescott Valley, and Gunsite is just up the road in Paulden...

quote:

Originally posted by sourdough44:
Yeah, I’d take AZ over NH in a heartbeat, kinda like Utah too. I know St George, Utah has been growing like crazy.

I was down to St. George today. The number of new developments down there is just insane. I live in Cedar City, its growing rapidly as well but nothing like St. George.
The State put in a new connector from I15 to Hurricane that opened last fall. (about 10-15 miles North of STG). There are 3-4 huge retirement housing tracks on that new stretch alone. Down near Copperrock Golf Course (Where they play an LPGA event) has the same thing.

Stay hydrated, with water.
Not pop, not coffee,
Water!

quote:

Originally posted by rizzle:
Right now more water is being used than we are getting in rainfall/snowmelt. Back in 1983 it was the opposite.
The cities and agricultural areas get hit hard from this lack of rain.
Then we get a season or two of massive moisture and every thing recovers.
Hoover dam is a good indicator of how things are going.
I wouldn't be concerned about lack of water in Arizona, it cycles, never constant.

The way I see it is that it is not so much the rainfall/snowpack that is the issue, but rather the MASSIVE population increase. Back in 1983, Las Vegas was a fun little town. Look at it now. A couple of million in the immediate area, and all of them need/want water and a nice green lawn...in the desert.

Heck, back then, St. George was a "if you blink you'll miss it" kind of place. Now? Pffft.

People is the problem in that area, not the weather.

quote:

Originally posted by Gustofer:

The way I see it is that it is not so much the rainfall/snowpack that is the issue, but rather the MASSIVE population increase. Back in 1983, Las Vegas was a fun little town. Look at it now. A couple of million in the immediate area, and all of them need/want water and a nice green lawn...in the desert.

Heck, back then, St. George was a "if you blink you'll miss it" kind of place. Now? Pffft.

People is the problem in that area, not the weather.[/QUOTE]


I agree that the population increase is a problem.
If we still got the massive rains from tropical storms that started out as hurricanes in the Gulf of America and the storms from the West coast like we used to, the water will recover.
Snow melt from the Rockies and Northern AZ play a big part too.
We haven't had much weather in the last couple years.
Time will tell, if we get dumped on like the good old days, won't be much talk of shortage.

All I know is that so far, this summer is feeling very different than the previous three, so I’m being cautiously hopeful for some monsoons this season.