Armed Polite Society
Main Forums => Politics => Topic started by: Ben on November 05, 2010, 07:07:38 PM
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It's looking more and more like Kamala Harris will end up being our new AG. I honestly thought she would never have a chance, even in this lib state, because of her Draconian views on the law (for the law-abiding anyway). Here's what she has to say about the San Francisco law on residents being required to keep their guns unloaded, locked, and unuseable:
Sponsored a San Francisco ordinance requiring gun owners to keep their handguns in a locked container or disabled with a trigger lock in their own homes making them useless for immediate self-defense! And said that “[j]ust because you legally possess a gun in the sanctity of your locked home doesn’t mean that we’re not going to walk into that home and check to see if you’re being responsible and safe in the way that you conduct your affairs.”
One would think that would raise hackles of even anti-gun people in this state, since if you replace "guns" with anything else, (let's say pot) and her with another AG, what's to keep an anti-pot AG from doing random home searches on "how people conduct their affairs".
It appears many of my fellow residents are already scared about this. I was going to go today to buy that Ruger LCR that I had asked opinions on in the Roundtable, and found out the local gun shop was completely out of handgun safety certificates (we have to take a lame test every 5 years to buy a handgun) because the had a run on them this week. He's hoping to get some in next week...
I was checking things out on Calguns.net, and some people there had a good point, in that Harris is so screwed up that quite possibly she'll make constitutional bungles that could actually work out in the positive for gun owners. One can only hope...
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So I wonder who's gonna be the next "McDonald"
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One would think that would raise hackles of even anti-gun people in this state, since if you replace "guns" with anything else, (let's say pot) and her with another AG, what's to keep an anti-pot AG from doing random home searches on "how people conduct their affairs".
Or sex.
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Or sex.
You'd think the (insert sexually positive group here) would realize that. But alas, as long as someone else's rights are being infringed, they think it's okay....unintended consequences are like a dead language in this country....
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Whatever Arnold wasn't he could usually be counted on to veto most anti-gun insanity. Jerry and Kamala certainly spell trouble for California gunowners, but they will have to fly head-on into Heller to do their worst. I don't think they'll get away with that.
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You'd think the (insert sexually positive group here) would realize that. But alas, as long as someone else's rights are being infringed, they think it's okay....unintended consequences are like a dead language in this country....
guffaw
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The problem with the libs, esp. in CA, is that as long as nobody is trying to infringe on their practices of sexual perversions, or making any mention of moral standards/religion they think they're optimally free. Any other infringements on freedom are OK by them as they seem to not really see it as such.
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You'd think the (insert sexually positive group here) would realize that. But alas, as long as someone else's rights are being infringed, they think it's okay....unintended consequences are like a dead language in this country....
Do you remember the context in which that word first appeared on thse forums? :)
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Do you remember the context in which that word first appeared on thse forums? :)
I'm trying to remember what I had for breakfast.
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Whatever Arnold wasn't he could usually be counted on to veto most anti-gun insanity. Jerry and Kamala certainly spell trouble for California gunowners, but they will have to fly head-on into Heller to do their worst. I don't think they'll get away with that.
Although Arnie is the jackass that signed the "no mail order ammo and we're taking your fingerprints when you buy ammo" law (a group is currently suing to stop its FEB 2011 implementation).
I'm much more concerned with Harris as an AG than I ever was with Brown. For as much as a moonbeam as he is, he actually never (to my knowledge) pushed any 2nd Amendment restrictions in his AG role, he just gave the thumbs up whenever anyone else did, and (again AFAIK) never blocked or spoke against any proposed or implemented restrictions. I think Harris will attempt an active role in 2nd Amendment restrictions.
But you're right in that things might not go as they plan due to Heller, et al., and where Californians have simply laid down to let, "a restriction here and a restriction there" get by, they may not do so when her full wacky agenda comes to light.
The truly sad part is it's hard for me to root for her Republican opponent as the ballots are counted, because he may actually be to the left of Brown where RKBA is concerned.
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The problem with the libs, esp. in CA, is that as long as nobody is trying to infringe on their practices of sexual perversions, or making any mention of moral standards/religion they think they're optimally free. Any other infringements on freedom are OK by them as they seem to not really see it as such.
What makes you think Liberals are the only ones guilty of this? Pretty much everyone is guilty of this. The state of Texas is a great example. You can carry your guns almost anywhere, but God forbid you want some liquor.
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I was checking things out on Calguns.net, and some people there had a good point, in that Harris is so screwed up that quite possibly she'll make constitutional bungles that could actually work out in the positive for gun owners. One can only hope...
Ya think? I'm rather curious to see how much of their asinine drivel would backfire on them. Anti-2A folks refusing to back down handed us Heller and McDonald. If they had folded, we'd actually be well behind where we are today.
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What makes you think Liberals are the only ones guilty of this? Pretty much everyone is guilty of this. The state of Texas is a great example. You can carry your guns almost anywhere, but God forbid you want some liquor.
Or buy adult toys in some places.
(Took a whack-on-the-nose by an appeals court)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23155562/
Boy, you should see a real born-and-bred Texan get red when you lay out a case for why they aren't nearly as free as they think they are.... >:D
PS:
If at all possible, were I a Californian, I'd vote with my feet after this last election cycle. They are going to destroy that state, one liberty and one business at a time. It's going to be like Detroit, x 100. Me, I'd not be there when it happens if I were some of you....
There are lots of states that are way more free. Most western states and most Southern states.
Find the opportunity, salt the earth, retreat.
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We have had "Don't Californicate <your state's name>!" bumper stickers for years, and for good reason.
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PS:
If at all possible, were I a Californian, I'd vote with my feet after this last election cycle. They are going to destroy that state, one liberty and one business at a time. It's going to be like Detroit, x 100. Me, I'd not be there when it happens if I were some of you....
There are lots of states that are way more free. Most western states and most Southern states.
Find the opportunity, salt the earth, retreat.
I hear you. I've been thinking about it a lot more lately. I'm at a point in my life and finances where I can easily take a deferred retirement, sell my home and rental property here, and move somewhere way cheaper and with more freedom, and have a comfortable retirement income with what I get from the .gov and if I pick a good market, what I can get from re-investing in rentals somewhere else.
My big thing holding me back is my parents. It's a self-imposed guilt trip, nothing they're doing, but they're on in years, and my mom is in the early stages of Alzheimer's, which makes things pretty hard on my dad. I'm at their farm at least a couple of times a month helping out. I just feel like I'm hanging them out to dry if I take off now.
I've actually thought a lot about Oregon and Washington, since from what I've seen from albeit short trips there over the years, they have a climate and physical features that are a big draw for me, plus they wouldn't be all that far for still helping out my folks. But it seems like both those states are starting to lean pretty progressive too. Sometimes when I read stuff about Portland, it makes San Fransisco look conservative.
I used to go to Texas a lot, and really like the people and social environment that values independence and freedom, but man, those humid summers always did me in ( I mostly was in the San Antonio region).
I also throw Kentucky, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Arkansas into the mix when I'm thinking about places, but have again only spent a little time in three of them. They're mostly on the list from seeming to be pretty free, having good fishing and hunting, and from me seeing nice sized pieces of land for sale in small town environments that are in my price range on Realtor.com. :)
But yeah, I've been a "stay and fight" guy, but it may be time for me to admit defeat.
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Or buy adult toys in some places.
(Took a whack-on-the-nose by an appeals court)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23155562/
Boy, you should see a real born-and-bred Texan get red when you lay out a case for why they aren't nearly as free as they think they are.... >:D
PS:
If at all possible, were I a Californian, I'd vote with my feet after this last election cycle. They are going to destroy that state, one liberty and one business at a time. It's going to be like Detroit, x 100. Me, I'd not be there when it happens if I were some of you....
There are lots of states that are way more free. Most western states and most Southern states.
Find the opportunity, salt the earth, retreat.
Workin' on it, I'm pretty sure I'm done here.
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I remember reading some years back about California taxing retirement income, even if you move out of California. Something about since you earned it there, you owe it there.
Is that right?
DD
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I remember reading some years back about California taxing retirement income, even if you move out of California. Something about since you earned it there, you owe it there.
Is that right?
DD
I'm not sure of current status -- I need to look into it. Not only for retirement income, but for a while they were looking at a "penalty tax" if you sold commercial property (including residential rentals) and moved out of state. There's so many underhanded tax regulations that get passed here, no one can keep up with them. Moving my money out of state is something that is going to require consultation with a very well-qualified tax attorney.
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There's so many underhanded tax regulations that get passed here, no one can keep up with them.
I'm thinking that might be intentional. [ar15]
DD
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Whatever Arnold wasn't he could usually be counted on to veto most anti-gun insanity.
He didn't veto the .50BMG ban. Or the microstamping law. Or the thumbprint/no mail order ammo law.
Arnie kind of sucked, IMHO. I predict Brown will be remarkably better than him on gun rights as governor.
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Boy, you should see a real born-and-bred Texan get red when you lay out a case for why they aren't nearly as free as they think they are.... >:D
...and I would not be one of those Texans....see my sig....when Texas starts repealing the rest of their "Blue Laws" that didn't get axed the first time and legalizes Alaska/Vermont-style CCW, then I'll put up an arguement...
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Ben, come on up to OR, we'll welcome you with open arms. But don't tell the liberals down there that. Tell them that we're building a wall between CA and OR to keep the stupid out.
Granted, we've got quite a few of our own stupids up here (see the latest election results for plenty of proof of that) but we're at least fighting them. When a liberal governor in OR can BARELY squeak by a complete political newbie, It's A Good Sign.
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Right after the election, I bought two maps.
One is a large, detailed map of the western U.S., and the other a map of the whole country.
My wife and I have decided to start looking at other possible places to live, and at the same time begin taking road trips to show our two young sons their country.
First one will be spring break next April. I'm thinking western & northern Arizona, swing-up to see the Grand Canyon, then maybe swing around the north side and through Zion NP and back to So Cal.
Other suggestions for this trip and/or future recon missions are most wanted and welcome.
Are there any parts of Texas that aren't humid in the summer?
Sawdust
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Ben, come on up to OR, we'll welcome you with open arms. But don't tell the liberals down there that. Tell them that we're building a wall between CA and OR to keep the stupid out.
Thanks Man! I promise to sneak out in the dead of night! :)
Sometimes people have a blanket "no Californians" rule, not recognizing that some of us are would-be refugees that will strengthen the Conservative and libertarian voter blocks in their states. Our state only got this way from Leftists coming in. We used to have Reagan as Governor.
Sad that I have to think about fleeing, but good to know there are places where I'm welcome. :)
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PS:
If at all possible, were I a Californian, I'd vote with my feet after this last election cycle.
I did back in 2005. I've lived most of my life there, and I miss it. The straw that broke my back was the doubling of bridge tolls to fund mass transit that I could not use, instead of increasing fares.
I consider myself a Californian refugee, but Texas is my home for now. I uprooted a LOT of my life to leave California, and it hurts a lot, even now. Maybe one day I'll get to go back, but i don't see it happening soon. Living here, I've learned to appreciate a lot of what a conservative state has to offer, but California will always be my home. I don't regret the decision at all, but hard choices stink, and it was a hard choice.
Looking at maybe some jobs in Oregon or Washington; that might be a compromise. One of them is with a large internet retailer based in Seattle; we'll see.
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Nevada is loaded with californian refugees, part of the reason scary harry reid was reelected. Sadly, many of them brought their politics with them. I've told many a californian "you left cali for a reason, don't vote those reasons in here." My parents thought california was getting bad in 1978.
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...and I would not be one of those Texans....see my sig....when Texas starts repealing the rest of their "Blue Laws" that didn't get axed the first time and legalizes Alaska/Vermont-style CCW, then I'll put up an arguement...
Plus taxes and suckling off the .gov teat.
Most Texans seem pretty happy to have a police state, so long as its a conservative police state.
Not complaining, though. We had a choice of places to live, Texas made the most sense and still does.
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Sometimes people have a blanket "no Californians" rule, not recognizing that some of us are would-be refugees that will strengthen the Conservative and libertarian voter blocks in their states. Our state only got this way from Leftists coming in. We used to have Reagan as Governor.
Problem is that Californian Conservatives/libertarians are Flaming Leftists compared to the average rural Montanan :P
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Problem is that Californian Conservatives/libertarians are Flaming Leftists compared to the average rural Montanan :P
By "rural Montanan", are you referring to Ted Turner or Robert Redford? :P :)
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Pretty places attract rich liberals. Don't get too cocky. :)
There are plenty of CA conservatives. I'm one of them. And we may be coming to a state near you.
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By "rural Montanan", are you referring to Ted Turner or Robert Redford? :P :)
No I'm referring for instance to 70 year old grandmothers that are mad as hell.
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Pretty places attract rich liberals. Don't get too cocky. :)
There are plenty of CA conservatives. I'm one of them. And we may be coming to a state near you.
It's not that pretty here. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter and the wind blows most of the time. We have rattlesnakes and cactus and ticks. :P
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Most Texans seem pretty happy to have a police state, so long as its a conservative police state.
That irked me when I lived there. Yeah, Texans aren't nearly as free as they profess to being. It would take a LOT of money to get me to move to TX again. About as much as getting me to move to CA. Both are authoritarian states.
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Vote counting still underway; Cooley has a slight lead:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/11/09/MNJL1G8UDN.DTL
Check the comments. Even San Francisco leftists don't want Harris to be AG.
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Yeah, Texans aren't nearly as free as they profess to being.
Americans aren't nearly as free as they profess to being.
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Vote counting still underway; Cooley has a slight lead:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/11/09/MNJL1G8UDN.DTL
Check the comments. Even San Francisco leftists don't want Harris to be AG.
I won't have a chance to read the comments till I get home from work, but this leads me to believe her supporters recruited a lot of illegal aliens and criminals to vote for her, as they seem to be her biggest base. Reading about her, she always seems to support criminals over law abiding citizens.
Edited for grahmer
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That irked me when I lived there. Yeah, Texans aren't nearly as free as they profess to being. It would take a LOT of money to get me to move to TX again. About as much as getting me to move to CA. Both are authoritarian states.
Oh, I think I'll choose Texas over CA anyday.
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That irked me when I lived there. Yeah, Texans aren't nearly as free as they profess to being. It would take a LOT of money to get me to move to TX again. About as much as getting me to move to CA. Both are authoritarian states.
True....but Texas has better barbecue.... =D
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It's not that pretty here. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter and the wind blows most of the time. We have rattlesnakes and cactus and ticks.
Thought I detected a whiff of Cali in Missoula... =D
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Thought I detected a whiff of Cali in Missoula... =D
That's about 500 miles from us! :P
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Come on, that's just a two-day ride now. =D
Just pulling your chain. Not everybody down here in Cali is bad news.
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Come on, that's just a two-day ride now. =D
Just pulling your chain. Not everybody down here in Cali is bad news.
No, but the state has been overpowered by liberal whack jobs. Huge concentrations of democrats and liberals have ensured it will be a bastion of left wing ideology for years to come.
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Well, you just have to realize that I am pretty much a "moderate" around my neighborhood :O
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Look, I agree the future's not bright in CA. I'm giving that reality a lot of serious thought. Like most of you I have attachments that keep me hooked into where I live.
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Are there any parts of Texas that aren't humid in the summer?
Sawdust
Pretty much the entire western third.
Also, all this Texas bashing but no 'zamples. Put up or shut up, folks... ;)
Brad
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Pretty much the entire western third.
Also, all this Texas bashing but no 'zamples. Put up or shut up, folks... ;)
Brad
[marches around in big 20 gallon hat with spurs, boots and chaps]
We here Texans are the plum-most pro gun folks in these United States!
(except we don't allow open carry...)
I'm a Texan! Yay, freedom! Yay, USA!
(unless your non-violent but non-conforming beliefs clash with typical Texas values)
[/hat]
Yes, I'm generalizing. But I lived there for 6 months, in DFW. You're perfectly free to live how they WANT you to live without any hassle whatsoever. Step out of what they consider to be "the line" and they'll thwak you good, to get you back into their line. Dry counties, no open carry, etc.
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Okay.
1) No open carry - can't argue with you there. Wish we had it. Minor annoyance, at best. Texas has no state laws regarding purchase and ownership - they defer to fed law for that. Certainly not something to make a blanket "Y'all ain't as free as ya think ya are!" statement. It is, at best, a nitpicky reason to hear yourself gripe. The state has no restriction on firearms in/on your own property. Plus there's always the option of a CHL for when you're out in public.
2) Dry counties - Counties vote themselves wet/dry. If they vote to keep themselves dry I have no problem with that. It's called the democratic process. (Besides, there are very, very few dry counties left anyway. Heck, even Lubbock went wet last year. *gasp*)
Brad
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Brad: $140 CHL, mandatory HPV vaccinations, Trans-TX Corridor, no liquor sales on Sunday, TAKS tests, no tanning beds for 16yo's, criminalizing sex toys, Rick Perry....need more?
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Brad: $140 CHL, mandatory HPV vaccinations, Trans-TX Corridor, no liquor sales on Sunday, TAKS tests, no tanning beds for 16yo's, criminalizing sex toys, Rick Perry....need more?
JFK-BLOWNAWAY-WHATELSEDOIHAVETOSAY?
>:D
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I can drive (and have driven) from my front door to within about 50 miles of my dad's house while open carrying with no permit. :cool:
But I have to put it away before crossing from New Mexico into Texas ;/
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Brad: $140 CHL, mandatory HPV vaccinations, Trans-TX Corridor, no liquor sales on Sunday, TAKS tests, no tanning beds for 16yo's, criminalizing sex toys, Rick Perry....need more?
$140 CHL. Sure, but that's for FOUR years ($35 a year for the math challenged) that graduates to a 10 years period after the third renewal. Huge discounts for veterans and seniors.
Mandatory HPV vaccinations. Shot down. Ain't happenin'.
Trans-TX corridor? Find me a state that doesn't have a govt program to dislike and I'll move there tomorrow. It's pretty much dead in the water anyway.
No liquor sales on Sunday. I don't like it either, but I have this nifty workaround called "buying what I want someting during the other six days of the week the stores are open".
TAKS test. Every state has some kind of mandatory schooling competency test. And?
No tanning beds for 16 yr olds. That's right, not unless they get their parent's permission. Just like tattoos (which is 18 I think).
Criminalizing sex toys. Local municipalities choice. Stupid choice, but still their choice. Last I heard it was not a choice unique to Texas, either. It just happened to make national headlines from here.
Rick Perry? Meh. Could be worse. We could've gotten Bill White.
Brad
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...no tanning beds for 16yo's...
What's that all about?
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Tanning beds: Verboten for 16 & under. 16.5 to 18 w/ parent permission. Brad: just b/c other states do it isn't an excuse...like just following orders. And White wouldn't be any different than Perry...Dewhurst is the real power.
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And White wouldn't be any different than Perry...
Au contraire'. You think some of the things Perry has done are draconian? Ricky P. doesn't hold a candle to the esteemed Mr. White. For elaboration check into his background. Specifically the Mayor of Houston part. Second term.
Brad
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Tanning beds: Verboten for 16 & under. 16.5 to 18 w/ parent permission.
Is it also illegal for those under 16 to lie in the sun?
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It's "all natural" so it's okay.
Brad
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Is it also illegal for those under 16 to lie in the sun?
No...but the Texas Legislature does convene this January.....
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No income taxes, so property taxes are off the charts.
Red light cameras.
No Refusal DUI checkpoints.
You still couldn't move me to CA, even at gunpoint.
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Red light cameras.
No Refusal DUI checkpoints.
City/county thing, not a state thing.
Brad
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No income taxes, so property taxes are off the charts.
Property taxes are one of the last good things about CA, and something the Dems have been wanting to change for a long while. If they do, I predict implosion. We are currently capped at 1% of assessed value with an allowable 1% increase in the tax per year (which every county takes). If taxes were to just double to 2%, people in $500K homes with 90% mortgaged and stretching to make those mortgage payments, well, it won't be pretty.
What are Texas property taxes? Obviously it would depend on income and property values, but I'm interested in what the cost/benefit is of no income tax / high property tax vs state income tax / low property tax.
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My recollection of TX property taxes from when we'd looked into a few years ago, and extrapolating from what I remember friends from CA telling me about their property taxes, was that if moving from CA and buying a similar property, although the price for the house in TX would be less than half, the taxes will probably be around the same, or a bit higher.
My memory could be faulty though.
Now if you want low property taxes, AL is a good state to be in, or was in 2001. I looked at houses roughly halfway between Birmingham and Tuscaloosa back then and for a $130k house, property taxes were around $3-400/year. Wound up not taking that job (pathetically low salary, plus SWMBO didn't much like the idea of AL, and I'd have all but certainly been layed off 9 months later in the aftermath of 9/11).
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Property taxes are one of the last good things about CA, and something the Dems have been wanting to change for a long while. If they do, I predict implosion. We are currently capped at 1% of assessed value with an allowable 1% increase in the tax per year (which every county takes). If taxes were to just double to 2%, people in $500K homes with 90% mortgaged and stretching to make those mortgage payments, well, it won't be pretty.
What are Texas property taxes? Obviously it would depend on income and property values, but I'm interested in what the cost/benefit is of no income tax / high property tax vs state income tax / low property tax.
TX property taxes vary wildly depending on where you live.
In my neighborhood, in Pearland City limits, the tax rate is about 3.8%. So, property taxes on a $200,000 home are about $5900.
Sales tax is over 8%.
We will mostly likely move out of City limits down the road. Of course, we're just renting...someone else is paying the property taxes :laugh:
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Of course, we're just renting...someone else is we are paying the property taxes as they're passed on in our rental price :facepalm:
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What are Texas property taxes? Obviously it would depend on income and property values, but I'm interested in what the cost/benefit is of no income tax / high property tax vs state income tax / low property tax.
No state property tax. Property taxes are assessed at the city/county/school level. Taking into consideration the homestead exemption my effective property tax rate is 2.15% (actual rate is 2.38% for our school district).
Texas state sales tax is 6.75%. Lubbock city and county taxes add an additional 1.5% (8.25% effective rate). No sales tax on commodities or unprepared food items. No sales tax on real property transactions.
Of course, we're just renting...someone else is we are paying the property taxes as they're passed on in our rental price
Plus the additional 10-15% rent property owners want to cash flow.
BRad
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This house isn't a cash flow rental....more like a "would like to sell it, but would take a beating" and probably is being rented at a slight loss.
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Feels good to catch a break every now and then, eh? =D
I'm curious, what are rent rates in your area? Be nice to have a comparison with rates here in Lubbock.
Brad
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Feels good to catch a break every now and then, eh? =D
I'm curious, what are rent rates in your area? Be nice to have a comparison with rates here in Lubbock.
Brad
Our house:
2006 in a masterplanned community, 3200sqft, some upgrades, $2100 mo.
www.har.com is standard mls listing site.
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While the GOP is navel-gazing about what to cut, they might think about questioning the root concept of property taxes. You never own your home; you are a lifetime indentured servant.
The rates cited above would render much of California uninhabitable by homeowners, given the average current price of CA homes.
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Now if you want low property taxes, AL is a good state to be in, or was in 2001. I looked at houses roughly halfway between Birmingham and Tuscaloosa back then and for a $130k house, property taxes were around $3-400/year. Wound up not taking that job (pathetically low salary, plus SWMBO didn't much like the idea of AL, and I'd have all but certainly been layed off 9 months later in the aftermath of 9/11).
Our house cost us $160K (which got us a very nice house), and our property taxes are $650 a year, compared to $4300 a year for our house in WI. My state income tax is 18% less than it was in WI. Vehicle registrations for three cars and a motorcycle ran us $250 compared to $335. Gas tax is 30 cents less.
I still can't figure out where the politicians in WI spend the money. AL actually has money in a rainy day trust fund. Wisconsin depleted the state's rainy day fund years ago.
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Our house cost us $160K (which got us a very nice house), and our property taxes are $650 a year, compared to $4300 a year for our house in WI. My state income tax is 18% less than it was in WI. Vehicle registrations for three cars and a motorcycle ran us $250 compared to $335. Gas tax is 30 cents less.
I still can't figure out where the politicians in WI spend the money. AL actually has money in a rainy day trust fund. Wisconsin depleted the state's rainy day fund years ago.
That'll be changing starting with the 2011 legislative session. >:D
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No state property tax. Property taxes are assessed at the city/county/school level. Taking into consideration the homestead
Yeah, sorry, my bad -- it's the same here, collected by County. Prop 13 just limited local governments to 1% of appraised value statewide.
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Our house cost us $160K (which got us a very nice house), and our property taxes are $650 a year, compared to $4300 a year for our house in WI. My state income tax is 18% less than it was in WI. Vehicle registrations for three cars and a motorcycle ran us $250 compared to $335. Gas tax is 30 cents less.
Just, wow! Our house, for the purpose of taxation is assessed at $30something thousand. Taxes at about $750 last year.
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TX property taxes vary wildly depending on where you live.
In my neighborhood, in Pearland City limits, the tax rate is about 3.8%. So, property taxes on a $200,000 home are about $5900.
Sales tax is over 8%.
We will mostly likely move out of City limits down the road. Of course, we're just renting...someone else is paying the property taxes :laugh:
I live in a suburb of Austin. Total property taxes are a little under 1.5% of appraised valuation, so for a $300,000 house with homestead exemption you'll pay about $4250, more than half of which is for the local school district. Total sales tax rate is 8.25% locally. These are not terribly different from what I left in Minnesota 14 years ago, but there is NO state income tax - so moving here was like getting a promotion. (And we don't have 8 months of winter. =D )
Some blue laws are just downright silly. (Liquor stores and car dealers close on Sunday!) But you don't need a license to carry a firearm in your vehicle, only on your person. (And holding a Texas CHL exempts you from NICS when you buy a gun.) And so long as you jump through the legal hoops, you can own fun stuff like machineguns and suppressors.
Rick Perry? Not perfect by any means, but not horrible, either. His HPV vaccine mandate was just noise, as his "executive order" had no force of law behind it. And IIRC, he signed a law granting discounted college tuition at state universities to illegal aliens. (His #1 blunder - and it's a big one, IMHO.) He also loves toll roads too much. But he carries a pistol himself, supports RKBA, and has been known to show up unannounced at some local gun shops.