I recently made a quick trip to Wyoming. My husband and I wanted to see if the Equality State could provide a suitable homestead for the Tipton clan. My California friends anticipated trouble. “Watch out,” they warned. “Everyone in Wyoming has a gun.” My real estate agent did. The single mom of two packs a GLOCK 9mm. I’m not sure why that surprised me. It shouldn’t have. Why wouldn’t a real estate agent carry a gun? What’s not to love about a 9mm handgun? That said, when I first brought-up the subject of guns to my pistol-packing real estate agent . . .
She took it entirely the wrong way. “Since you’re from California,” she said, her back bristling. “you need to know that everyone is armed in Wyoming. If you don’t like guns, maybe this isn’t the right state for you.” I told her that I was from Colorado, I cherish my gun rights and I love my guns. That settled that.
As we toured some potential residences, my agent told us that Cowboy State developers are adding built-in fire-proof safes and “safe rooms” (with gun storage) into their new home. How do urban transplants from New York and California take that news, I wondered. “I tell them the safe’s for important documents.” And the safe room? “Wine storage.”
So she does sell homes to pro-gun control or at least gun-averse buyers. Can’t say I blame her. You’ve got to feed your family. Besides, there’s little chance a sudden influx of left-leaning anti-gun immigrants will tip Wyoming’s political balance. I’m not saying it’s impossible. Just that the newcomers would have to overcome Wyoming’s deep, cultural pro-gun bias. Did I say bias? I meant to say love.
A love me and mine may one day share with these kindred spirits. We shall see . . .