17. Montana....and US gun culture.
They call Montana "Big Sky Country" and it's easy to see why. From our window we can see the Bitterroot mountains to the west, their angular, snow covered peaks rising to just short of 10,000 feet. To the east is the more rolling Sapphire range and between is the Bitterroot river and the main highway which stretches from Missoula all the way down to Salt Lake City. Houses and farms line the valley but as there is so much space, nothing appears crowded.
It's a haven for wildlife. Ducks, geese, osprey abound and we've also seen various birds of prey ranging from small kestrels to bald eagles. On the ground, bison roam, we've spotted a fox and last evening a herd of deer wandered through the backyard.
Over the next few days we will be getting out and about and intend seeing a bit more of the State...although bear in mind that it's the 4th largest and equal in size to France. Having said that, the population is only 1 million and the average salary is only around $40k. It's not a wealthy state in monetary terms although as I've already mentioned, it's riches are in it's scenery and wildlife.
Yesterday, Steve took me out to a couple of outdoor supply stores, a bit like Blacks or Mountain Warehouse that we have at home. These stores are vast warehouses containing goods for any outdoor pursuit you can imagine...indeed, if they don't have it, you don't need it. But it was the hunting section that left me open mouthed.
Racks of every kind of firearm lined the walls, pistols filled cabinets and the ammunition aisles ran for 20 metres or so. There was more than enough ordnance to take over a small country...in fact on second thoughts, even a large one. Next time you are in Waitrose imagine the tinned produce aisles being replaced with ammunition boxes...pick whatever you want...and you get the idea. Checking out with your basket full would be equally as easy.
Now I am not anti-gun per se, I know that gun culture is enshrined in the American psyche and in a rural "huntin', shootin', fishin'" state such as Montana, it plays an important role in wildlife management as well as supplying/supplementing food in a less well off population. But it was the sheer volume and ease of obtaining firearms that I hadn't really appreciated until I saw it first hand. To buy liquor you have to be 21 and venture into special liquor stores with blacked out windows...to buy a gun you just have to go into any sporting goods store, prove you are 18, pass an instant CBD check and that's about it.
That's the way life is here and it's not going to change!
It's a haven for wildlife. Ducks, geese, osprey abound and we've also seen various birds of prey ranging from small kestrels to bald eagles. On the ground, bison roam, we've spotted a fox and last evening a herd of deer wandered through the backyard.
Over the next few days we will be getting out and about and intend seeing a bit more of the State...although bear in mind that it's the 4th largest and equal in size to France. Having said that, the population is only 1 million and the average salary is only around $40k. It's not a wealthy state in monetary terms although as I've already mentioned, it's riches are in it's scenery and wildlife.
Yesterday, Steve took me out to a couple of outdoor supply stores, a bit like Blacks or Mountain Warehouse that we have at home. These stores are vast warehouses containing goods for any outdoor pursuit you can imagine...indeed, if they don't have it, you don't need it. But it was the hunting section that left me open mouthed.
Racks of every kind of firearm lined the walls, pistols filled cabinets and the ammunition aisles ran for 20 metres or so. There was more than enough ordnance to take over a small country...in fact on second thoughts, even a large one. Next time you are in Waitrose imagine the tinned produce aisles being replaced with ammunition boxes...pick whatever you want...and you get the idea. Checking out with your basket full would be equally as easy.
Now I am not anti-gun per se, I know that gun culture is enshrined in the American psyche and in a rural "huntin', shootin', fishin'" state such as Montana, it plays an important role in wildlife management as well as supplying/supplementing food in a less well off population. But it was the sheer volume and ease of obtaining firearms that I hadn't really appreciated until I saw it first hand. To buy liquor you have to be 21 and venture into special liquor stores with blacked out windows...to buy a gun you just have to go into any sporting goods store, prove you are 18, pass an instant CBD check and that's about it.
That's the way life is here and it's not going to change!
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