People from other parts of the world, as well as the mid and eastern United States, often think of Arizona as the ‘Wild West’ with everyone packing a gun, shootouts on street corners, cowboys riding their horses down unpaved streets, rattlesnakes coiled and ready to strike at any given moment, Gila monsters prowling about, and so on.
So, is any of this true?
Well, yeah, some of it, LOL.
The packing a gun part – yes, Arizona is a generally gun-friendly state, where people are allowed to carry a weapon on their hip without a permit as long as people can see it. I don’t see guns on hips all that much though, anymore, and it’s rather jarring and disturbing when I do, unless it’s on a police officer. I remember years ago the popular local supermarket, Smitty’s, had a sign that you had to check your firearms in at the front desk before grocery shopping.
I know people carry concealed weapon in their cars, but I don’t think that’s a particularly Arizona thing. Arizona law stipulates that concealed weapons carriers must be legally licensed to carry. Contrary to the humorous Phoenix Driving article, we don’t experience any more shootouts than anywhere else, and possible fewer.
We do have crime here, like anywhere else, but statistically, Phoenix has a lower crime rate per capita then most major cities. We have an auto theft problem, being so close to Mexico, where stolen cars are taken and stripped down, or whatever it is they do with them.
We still have a few unpaved streets in unincorporated areas of the city, and occasionally you will see horses being ridden down them, or more likely, at a bridle path ‘horse crossing’ across a busy (paved) street. Sometimes an entrepreneur will have a horse and wagon or buggy to take tourists for rides, but then, they do that in New York City, too.
Rattlesnakes, coyotes, Gila monsters – yep, we’ve got ‘em, but it’s unlikely you’ll see one unless you’re in a less populated area or in the desert (which is, by the way, quite green and beautiful much of the time).
Here’s a quote I came across on a forum:
I love the nightlife scene here. Mill Avenue in Tempe has to be one of the best spots. There are plenty people, clubs, and bars to have a good time in. Scottsdale has a very nice nightlife also. There are plenty of unique houses and neighborhoods, like that castle on the side of Camelback Mountain — not to mention the awesome desert landscaping and the rest of the neighborhoods around there.
I never find myself bored in Phoenix. There is always something to do. Whether it is hanging out at the clubs, heading north to Flagstaff skiing, or the Grand Canyon, Sedona, golfing in Phoenix, everything is awesome. I feel there is plenty of culture here, even with the urban sprawl.
In reality, if you want a taste of the Wild West, head out to Tombstone, or take a Pink Jeep ride to see the desert. Otherwise you may just be pleasantly surprised with Arizona’s casual, friendly, yet urban people and environment.