If you’ve wondered why so many Washington families are packing up and heading east across the border, this episode of the North Idaho Experience Podcast with William K. Kirk—the attorney-educator behind Washington Gun Law—hits the bullseye. It’s about guns, sure, but also taxes, crime, schools, governance, and the pace at which daily life changes when policy turns ideological. Below is a fast, plain-English rundown of the conversation—and what it means if you’re Idaho-curious.

From “come as you are” to “assimilate or leave”

Kirk traces his family to Washington since 1883, so when he says the Evergreen State has changed, it’s not a drive-by take. For decades, Washington was “baby blue”—quirky, hipster, tolerant. Over the last ten years, however, the cultural shift hardened. Policies on firearms, prosecution, taxation, and K-12 curricula pushed many families past their comfort threshold—especially parents deciding what they’re willing to accept on behalf of their kids.

That change didn’t happen in a vacuum. As Kirk explains, Washington’s economy is now tech-driven. Highly paid workers (and the corporate and political assumptions that follow them) concentrated power in a few counties. The math is simple: when one metro’s votes and money dominate the state, the tail starts wagging the dog. The result? A widening gap between how most Washingtonians want to live and how they’re governed.

Crime, courts, and consistency

The podcast spends time on a rarely discussed driver of migration: public safety. It’s not just policy on paper; it’s how those policies are applied—from police funding to charging decisions to sentencing. Kirk’s point is pragmatic, not partisan: citizens can live with rules they disagree with if those rules are clear and consistently enforced. What they can’t live with is unpredictability—one judge tossing a solid case on a technicality while another lets a repeat violent offender walk on low bail.

A smart local antidote? Civic focus below the statehouse. Kirk urges citizens to pay attention to city councils and to build judicial accountability: track records, rating systems, and—when warranted—well-funded challengers. Elections, he reminds us, come down to money and math. If you want a safer community, make those local levers matter.

Why Idaho—especially North Idaho?

You can feel the difference when you cross the border. The draw isn’t only Idaho’s gun culture; it’s community culture—neighborhoods where people still know each other, churches running volunteer security teams, and a norm of personal responsibility. The episode gives a shoutout to local industry and gun-friendly businesses that anchor those values, like North Idaho Arms (catch Kirk’s new videos at their North Idaho studio). If you want to connect with them, their listing is here: North Idaho Arms.

The hosts flag a strategic concern, though: growth direction. Idaho will grow—no stopping that. Which industries you invite determines who arrives. A mega software campus might come with great salaries—and a long-term cultural and political reset. Compare that with expanding skilled manufacturing (the episode even name-drops Aero Precision as the sort of employer Idaho should court). Bottom line: growth is inevitable; good growth is a choice.

Gun laws, self-defense, and the “life vest” you really need

Kirk’s channel often translates complex legislation into plain English—where the lines are so you can decide where to scribble. One recurring theme: states aren’t usually banning the Second Amendment outright; they’re back-dooring restrictions with licensing layers, training mandates without capacity, or insurance requirements that don’t exist in the real market. The lesson for carriers is straightforward:

• Train (more than you think you need).
  
  
• Know your local standards (Idaho’s stand-your-ground specifics, how your county prosecutes, and how your judges think).
  
  
• Carry a legal “life vest.” Kirk’s analogy: if you’re out on the ocean, the brand matters less than whether it keeps you afloat. He’s the national spokesperson for Right to Bear (owned by Palmetto State Armory), but his advice applies broadly—USCCA, U.S. LawShield, Attorneys on Retainer, etc. Whichever provider you consider, insist on local counsel you can meet and coverage that spans everything “from a fist to a firearm”—because most self-defense incidents don’t involve lethal force.
  
  

Pro tip: If you serve on church security, ask whether your policy covers you in that role without an expensive rider.

The community flywheel

What struck the hosts—and what you notice on the ground in Kootenai County—is the sense of community. New arrivals aren’t “escapees” hiding out; they’re joiners and builders: coaching kids, standing up voter guides, sitting in courtrooms to observe, learning Idaho code, and buying local.

That’s why shops that invest in education (and welcome new shooters) become force multipliers. The team gives kudos to North Idaho Arms for taking time with first-time buyers and for being a phone call away when FFL questions get complicated. And if you want to follow the legal landscape as it unfolds (not just in Washington, but in any state likely to import those ideas), subscribe to Washington Gun Law on YouTube. Kirk frequently covers how California-style proposals metastasize into “copy-and-paste” bills elsewhere—and how to respond before they land on your porch.

The bigger question: Can Washington be “saved”?

Kirk’s candid answer—not under current math—surprised even seasoned listeners. Unless Washington’s industry mix changes (or a massive cultural correction occurs), the numbers don’t add up for a durable course correction. That’s not defeatism; it’s realism that informs personal decisions. If you’re a Washington family whose threshold was already tested by school policy, crime, taxes, and firearms restrictions, moving may not be “waving the white flag.” It may be choosing the rules you want your kids to grow up under.

Thinking about your own move?

The North Idaho Experience team specializes in helping conservative families find their freedom in Kootenai County and beyond. We live here, we raise our kids here, and we pay close attention to the local levers that keep Idaho, Idaho. If you’re ready to talk neighborhoods, schools, commute realities, and where your values fit best, contact North Idaho Experience and we’ll help you chart the path.