Might be moving to LancCo... a few questions

[dave_in_delaware]

Greetings. I'll try not to be long-winded...

I might be moving (back) to Lancaster County and had a few questions for those of you who actually live there.

1. How's the crime rate, particularly south and east of Lancaster City? I might be moving to "the country" like Peach Bottom or Quarryville. Is crime more rampant there compared to 10 years ago? Has crime "hit" the more rural areas, or is it still sort of isolated in the larger towns/cities?

2. Are there any gun ranges in southeastern LancCo? Or maybe over in Chester County?

3. What are the limitations of shooting on your own property, particularly if you're surrounded by farmland? Obviously a berm or other safety measures would be used.

4. Do you need a LTCF to own/possess a gun in PA? What about open carry? What about transport in a vehicle? In Delaware, OC is lawful without a license, whether on your person or in a car. To conceal of course, you'd need a CCDW License.

5. Does the County Police station provide potential residents w/ crime info, or could they tell me if a particular area is seeing an increase in crime? Delaware provides crime data online via a map interface so anyone can see what crimes happened where.

6. Does the public tend to freak out when they see you carrying? Or is this area rather OC friendly? Or does everyone conceal?

Sorry for so many questions. But these are things I've been thinking about since I'm possibly going to be moving out that way. I was born and raised in LancCo, but I never owned a gun when I lived there....

Thanks for any info everyone!

[ranger7]

Greetings. I'll try not to be long-winded...

I might be moving (back) to Lancaster County and had a few questions for those of you who actually live there.

-snip-

2. Are there any gun ranges in southeastern LancCo? Or maybe over in Chester County?

-snip-

Thanks for any info everyone!

http://www.slcfsa.com/
PM me with questions about this club if interested.

[bighornjd]

Southern Lancaster county is very rural and i would imagine has a relatively low crime rate. Still mostly farmland, lots of Amish, a small residential development here or there, not very commercialized at all. Several small local stores spread fairly thin, but for the most part be prepared to travel to shop or work unless its agriculture related. Quarryville and Peach Bottom are very nice areas and the further south you go the more rural it gets. One of the few areas around I can say I might actually like more than where I live. From what little I know, it seems Solanco school district is probably a good one.

[87th PVI]

Greetings. I'll try not to be long-winded...

I might be moving (back) to Lancaster County and had a few questions for those of you who actually live there.

1. How's the crime rate, particularly south and east of Lancaster City? I might be moving to "the country" like Peach Bottom or Quarryville. Is crime more rampant there compared to 10 years ago? Has crime "hit" the more rural areas, or is it still sort of isolated in the larger towns/cities?

4. Do you need a LTCF to own/possess a gun in PA? What about open carry? What about transport in a vehicle? In Delaware, OC is lawful without a license, whether on your person or in a car. To conceal of course, you'd need a CCDW License.

6. Does the public tend to freak out when they see you carrying? Or is this area rather OC friendly? Or does everyone conceal?

To Q1 ~ I wouldn't live in Lanc City for a million $$$ but the country living there is like country living most places not far from urban areas... Still want to lock your door but much less likely to have an incident than if you were in the city.

To Q4 ~ no LTCF need to own or possess as in OC or in possession in one's home etc. LTCF needed to carry concealed which also goes for OC in a vehicle since that is considered to be concealed by the vehicle. (some debate about motorcycles but that is for another thread) There are many threads here that can give specific details if you have other questions on this and with the OP being two weeks ago you have probably already answered them.

To Q5 ~ I would say that most conceal just because the percentage of LTCF holders is much higher than the number of people I see OC. I have OC'd in Lancaster & York Counties without any confrontations so far. My wife's one time OCing was for a PAFOA OC meet & greet in Lancaster, & I know at least three others who OC in York County regularly & they all were also at that M&G in Lancaster.



ETA ~ PS: My wife is a Lancaster County gal who transplanted to York to live with me in 2001... she says she likes living in York better than Lancaster. You might want to include York in your consideration area... housing prices are lower on this side of the river & our rural areas are just as nice, but with less tourists.

[keystoneman 85]

Greetings. I'll try not to be long-winded...

I might be moving (back) to Lancaster County and had a few questions for those of you who actually live there.

1. How's the crime rate, particularly south and east of Lancaster City? I might be moving to "the country" like Peach Bottom or Quarryville. Is crime more rampant there compared to 10 years ago? Has crime "hit" the more rural areas, or is it still sort of isolated in the larger towns/cities?

2. Are there any gun ranges in southeastern LancCo? Or maybe over in Chester County?

3. What are the limitations of shooting on your own property, particularly if you're surrounded by farmland? Obviously a berm or other safety measures would be used.

4. Do you need a LTCF to own/possess a gun in PA? What about open carry? What about transport in a vehicle? In Delaware, OC is lawful without a license, whether on your person or in a car. To conceal of course, you'd need a CCDW License.

5. Does the County Police station provide potential residents w/ crime info, or could they tell me if a particular area is seeing an increase in crime? Delaware provides crime data online via a map interface so anyone can see what crimes happened where.

6. Does the public tend to freak out when they see you carrying? Or is this area rather OC friendly? Or does everyone conceal?

Sorry for so many questions. But these are things I've been thinking about since I'm possibly going to be moving out that way. I was born and raised in LancCo, but I never owned a gun when I lived there....

Thanks for any info everyone!

Hey Dave,

We chatted before via PM. As you know I am from Lititz, Pa. Which is north of Lancaster city almost up toward Lebanon.

1) My father lives in Safe Harbor which is down around Peach Bottom and Quarryville the only real crime down there would be local teenagers doing what most teenagers do anywhere. Lancaster City is the only real place in Lancaster Co that has serious crime and some surrounding areas that support low budget housing also have a bit of crime but nothing as severe. Lititz - is very very nice especially if you get outside of the town and in the country. I don't think I would move if offered.

2) Yes we have plent of gun ranges. I can name like 6 and know there are over 15+. Manheim Sportsmen, Old Bastards, Elstonville, etc, etc.

3) If you are inside a saftey zone and out in the sticks shoot away - we do it all the time at a buddys.

4) No LTCF to own a gun. Open carry is legal but on foot as I understand it. To transport in a vehicle the gun and ammo must be separate, unless you have a LTCF then you obviously can have the gun on you.

5) Call the local county police they will probably be helpful. If not, just check papers and ask locals.

6) I've only ever seen one other person OC in Lititz and he was in Sheetz with no problems. I CC everywhere just my preference. I do know the local mall (Park City) has a no OC policy they will ask you to leave, but I do CC there as well.

Keep the questions coming chief ...

[SharpShooter88]

I live in Ephrata a little ways from the city but well withing trouble distance. We are smack dab in the middle of lancaster and reading, which equals lots of drugs...and with those drugs comes problems...they are hand in hand. We have a lot of people transplanting from the city to live in the smaller town and they of course bring their city attitudes and problems right along with them. I have had vehicles broken into in front of my house as well as behind my house. Personally I don't trust anyone around here unless I have known them for a number of years...I can't wait to get the hell out of this town!

[duane1]

You don't have to explain Ephrata to me I used to own a home there. I got the hell out because there was a good chance I would have either hurt or did worse to some of my neighbors. Think of the world as a person Ephrata would be it's asshole . There isn't much of a noise ordinance so people can pretty much get away with anything.

[IV_Warrior]

4) To transport in a vehicle the gun and ammo must be separate, unless you have a LTCF then you obviously can have the gun on you.

That's only true for long guns. For handguns, you MUST have a license to carry/concealed carry permit from any state, except in very specific circumstances. Doesn't matter if the gun is visible or not, as the law states carry in ANY vehicle requires a license. (Not, as another poster suggested, that a vehicle in a gun is considered concealed.)

§ 6106. Firearms not to be carried without a license.
(a) Offense defined.--
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), any person who
carries a firearm in any vehicle or any person who carries a
firearm concealed on or about his person, except in his place
of abode or fixed place of business, without a valid and
lawfully issued license under this chapter commits a felony
of the third degree.
(2) A person who is otherwise eligible to possess a
valid license under this chapter but carries a firearm in any
vehicle or any person who carries a firearm concealed on or
about his person, except in his place of abode or fixed place
of business, without a valid and lawfully issued license and
has not committed any other criminal violation commits a
misdemeanor of the first degree.
(b) Exceptions.--The provisions of subsection (a) shall not
apply to:
(1) Constables, sheriffs, prison or jail wardens, or
their deputies, policemen of this Commonwealth or its
political subdivisions, or other law-enforcement officers.
(2) Members of the army, navy, marine corps, air force
or coast guard of the United States or of the National Guard
or organized reserves when on duty.
(3) The regularly enrolled members of any organization
duly organized to purchase or receive such firearms from the
United States or from this Commonwealth.
(4) Any persons engaged in target shooting with a
firearm, if such persons are at or are going to or from their
places of assembly or target practice and if, while going to
or from their places of assembly or target practice, the
firearm is not loaded.
(5) Officers or employees of the United States duly
authorized to carry a concealed firearm.
(6) Agents, messengers and other employees of common
carriers, banks, or business firms, whose duties require them
to protect moneys, valuables and other property in the
discharge of such duties.
(7) Any person engaged in the business of manufacturing,
repairing, or dealing in firearms, or the agent or
representative of any such person, having in his possession,
using or carrying a firearm in the usual or ordinary course
of such business.
(8) Any person while carrying a firearm which is not
loaded and is in a secure wrapper from the place of purchase
to his home or place of business, or to a place of repair,
sale or appraisal or back to his home or place of business,
or in moving from one place of abode or business to another
or from his home to a vacation or recreational home or
dwelling or back, or to recover stolen property under section
6111.1(b)(4) (relating to Pennsylvania State Police), or to a
place of instruction intended to teach the safe handling, use
or maintenance of firearms or back or to a location to which
the person has been directed to relinquish firearms under 23
Pa.C.S. § 6108 (relating to relief) or back upon return of
the relinquished firearm or to a licensed dealer's place of
business for relinquishment pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S. § 6108.2
(relating to relinquishment for consignment sale, lawful
transfer or safekeeping) or back upon return of the
relinquished firearm or to a location for safekeeping
pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S. § 6108.3 (relating to relinquishment
to third party for safekeeping) or back upon return of the
relinquished firearm.
(9) Persons licensed to hunt, take furbearers or fish in
this Commonwealth, if such persons are actually hunting,
taking furbearers or fishing as permitted by such license, or
are going to the places where they desire to hunt, take
furbearers or fish or returning from such places.
(10) Persons training dogs, if such persons are actually
training dogs during the regular training season.
(11) Any person while carrying a firearm in any vehicle,
which person possesses a valid and lawfully issued license
for that firearm which has been issued under the laws of the
United States or any other state.
(12) A person who has a lawfully issued license to carry
a firearm pursuant to section 6109 (relating to licenses) and
that said license expired within six months prior to the date
of arrest and that the individual is otherwise eligible for
renewal of the license.
(13) Any person who is otherwise eligible to possess a
firearm under this chapter and who is operating a motor
vehicle which is registered in the person's name or the name
of a spouse or parent and which contains a firearm for which
a valid license has been issued pursuant to section 6109 to
the spouse or parent owning the firearm.
(14) A person lawfully engaged in the interstate
transportation of a firearm as defined under 18 U.S.C. §
921(a)(3) (relating to definitions) in compliance with 18
U.S.C. § 926A (relating to interstate transportation of
firearms).
(15) Any person who possesses a valid and lawfully
issued license or permit to carry a firearm which has been
issued under the laws of another state, regardless of whether
a reciprocity agreement exists between the Commonwealth and
the state under section 6109(k), provided:
(i) The state provides a reciprocal privilege for
individuals licensed to carry firearms under section
6109.
(ii) The Attorney General has determined that the
firearm laws of the state are similar to the firearm laws
of this Commonwealth.

[keystoneman 85]

Funny how Ephrata and Lititz are so close yet I know what you guys are talking about. I avoid Ephrata like the plauge. I mean look at freakin Green Dragon that place used to be OK it was no Roots but it was OK - now when you go there its just a bunch of low lifes from New York selling knock off purses, chains, watches, etc. Not my type of flea market.

[SharpShooter88]

Funny how Ephrata and Lititz are so close yet I know what you guys are talking about. I avoid Ephrata like the plauge. I mean look at freakin Green Dragon that place used to be OK it was no Roots but it was OK - now when you go there its just a bunch of low lifes from New York selling knock off purses, chains, watches, etc. Not my type of flea market.

You should have seen the HUGE bust that the FBI and a few local and state LEOs made there this year. My fiance said it was insane....people were literally mugging these people after they got busted and the cops just stood there and watched as they just took the illegal merchandise...I think a few of the illegal immigrants were also deported...I thought this incident was histerical...