I hear you. I'm up in Wisconsin on a weekly basis and it's night and day just crossing over the border. The mine set is different between the states. Talk with most folks in IL and firearms freak them out. A ton of WI folks (more so the further north in WI) don't bat an eye when you mention firearms.
I guess if you grew up around firearms it’s just normal to deal with firearms. Being born and raised in Chicago, firearms wasn't a big every day thing. It wasn't until I was in my 20's when I purchased a firearm and never looked back.
Recently I was out riding my motorcycle up northern part of WI and decided to stop at Subway for lunch. An older gentleman pulled into the parking lot and got out of his vehicle with open carry firearm on his side. Now it was lunch with a packed Subway and I thought folks where going to freak. Nope. The gentleman walked in, got in line and ordered his lunch. I watched everyone in the place and not one person even gave him a second look.
Three miles north from my home (in WI), fully automatic firearms with suppressors are legal.
Yes, we live on an island called Illinois.
I guess if you grew up around firearms it’s just normal to deal with firearms. Being born and raised in Chicago, firearms wasn't a big every day thing. It wasn't until I was in my 20's when I purchased a firearm and never looked back.
Recently I was out riding my motorcycle up northern part of WI and decided to stop at Subway for lunch. An older gentleman pulled into the parking lot and got out of his vehicle with open carry firearm on his side. Now it was lunch with a packed Subway and I thought folks where going to freak. Nope. The gentleman walked in, got in line and ordered his lunch. I watched everyone in the place and not one person even gave him a second look.
Three miles north from my home (in WI), fully automatic firearms with suppressors are legal.
Yes, we live on an island called Illinois.