hi ed, my name is don and i live over in salem. i'm not sure where you heard that salem was less than permit freindly, but nothing could be further than the truth.my brother is a cop in town, and i was asking him quite a few questions as i was going for mine. my brother said that they gave them out like candy.
about 10 years ago, i had a bit of a party and the cops came for loud music. some pot was smoked and i got the ticket because my name was on the lease. that conviction is still on my record but i have a new permit in my wallet anyways, if that's any indication for you.
as a matter of fact, i recently met the new chief when he signed off on a form 1 to put a short barrel on my uzi. the chief was himself into guns even though he comes to us from hartford,ct. like myself, the chief is also into aviation, so we talked it up for a bit. we have no real gunshops in town anymore, but pelham has 2or 3,derry has at least 2, plaistow at least 2,so there are plenty just one town away in almost any direction. if you look around, some of salem is still a great place to live, but i must acknowlege that it is pretty shitty for traffic till you learn the back roads, and there really isn't anywhere to shoot in town anymore.pelhan rod and gun is only 15 minutes away and they rival nashua as the best club in the southern part of the state (new 600yrd range)
all that and no answer about nashua, just a thumbs up for salem gun friendliness.
congrats on your escape, i lived down in medford til '71.