Pro-2A Americans have a reason to celebrate this week after a bill to drop the permit required to carry a concealed weapon in Utah easily passed through the state’s House of Representatives.
The bill now heads to the Utah State Senate for consideration where Republicans holds commanding a majority with 23 out of 29 seats. The House voted 54-19 to approve the legislation. It was initially sponsored by Republican Rep. Walt Brooks, who celebrated the bill’s swift passage.
“This bill allows law-abiding citizens to be able to carry their weapons to protect themselves,” he said. “Legal and law-abiding citizens do just that. They’re careful, and they’re responsible, and they don’t need the government to force them to do something that they would do on their own anyway. I trust the people of Utah.”
The bill is also supported by Utah Governor Spencer Cox. However, constitutional carry didn’t always enjoy approval from the top. A similar bill was passed by the House in 2013, but then-Governor Gary R. Herbert vetoed it.
If Utah does make the move to allow constitutional carry, they will join a list of 16 states that already have it in some form. A few of those states are Alaska, Arizona, Maine, and West Virginia. In states like North Dakota and Wyoming, this only applies to residents. South Dakota is one of the newest states on the list after it passed constitutional carry in 2019.
There has been some debate about whether or not passing this bill would lead to more crime. Rep. Brooks has responded to this by saying that there isn’t any basis to this argument since in the other 16 states with constitutional carry, crime hasn’t gone up.
Some representatives that oppose the bill, like Democratic representative Brian King from Salt Lake City, think they should increase the requirements for background checks when people purchase their firearms. Right now all you need to purchase a firearm in Utah is to be 21-years-old, have a valid driver’s license or state ID, and have an instant background check done by a local firearms dealer. King isn’t alone.
“What I hear from my constituents is more about perception,” fellow Democrat Utah State Rep. Carol Spackman Moss said. “They overwhelming they (say) they’re opposed to this because they perceive it to open the door to many more people carrying guns that aren’t properly trained.”
The only way you’ll be exempt from a background check is if you are buying antique firearms made before 1899. You can also buy a long gun if you are 18-years-old.
Based on how things look now, it looks like Utah will be joining the list of states that allow constitutional carry laws. This is excellent news for law abiding gun owners — and the Americans that live next to them.
It’s nice to see and it’s about time. The old arguments by the gun opponents never did and still don’t hold water. Additional checks will further burden the private citizens right to bear arms which the Constitution clearly,with no ambiguity,already gives us as citizens. Criminals don’t buy their guns at the local sporting goods store nor do they register their weapons so there’s no logic to exposing law abiding citizens,who wish to buy firearms and protect their families,to more lengthy applications. And proof of weapons training? That’s insulting to most of the population who wish to purchase a firearm. Most who aren’t trained by the age of 21 most likely didn’t grow up around firearms and have no interest in them so that’s just a lousy excuse to prolong the passing of this legislation. My father took the time to make sure I was painstakingly aware of the power of a gun and how to use them safely starting with a BB gun at age 4 and a real firearm,(shotgun),at age 8. I’m 50 years old so I’d say I’m well trained if not overqualified to carry a sidearm or any other weapon. And I would say the majority of citizens doing the purchasing of guns are trained in the same or a similar manor. Legislation that shouldn’t be necessary because our carry permit has already been given to us by the 2nd Amendment. Most people,mainly legislators apparently,don’t interpret the language of the 2nd Amendment correctly. A well trained militia,they idiotically try to explain,is a thing of the past and shouldn’t be relevant in modern times. Just who do they think the militia was at the time of that Amendment? They were ordinary citizens. Farmers with plantations and pitchforks and were instrumental in America winning its freedom. So we,as private citizens are in fact the militia that the founding fathers were referring to which strengthens our right to bear arms even further. Chicago is a prime example of how more stringent gun laws do no good in stopping crime. They have more violent gun crime that any state in the country with perhaps the strictest gun laws. You see,criminals,as I previously stated,don’t follow the law or obtain their guns legally so why legislate the rights out of the hands of the law abiding citizen? It makes no sense and is useless in the fight against gun crimes.
#MAGA
The gun controllers don’t want to control guns, they want control over you/us.
Exactly! The want us to buckle to their command!
They don’t want us to think for ourselves leave alone be able to fight back. I think it only shows that we need to keep our guns close and our eyes wide open.
How does this effect the Utah “non resident concealed carry permit”?
Do you know if Utah allows reciprocal carry? If yes, that would answer your question.
I used to have a bumper sticker that read, “WHEN GUNS ARE OUTLAWED ONLY OUTLAWS WILL HAVE GUNS”. When I lived in Chicago and owned some real estate in Missouri , I would travel overnight to get there. I stopped a a rest area in Illinois to nap. A State Trooper pulled up behind me and was reading my bumper stickers. I hope he got a good education from that experience. Most, if not all, cops are on the side of law abiding citizens too.
I am glad this governor has some intestinal fortitude to put it politely. your bumper sticker is a shirt also, as my neighbor wears it proudly. I agree that it is imperative for us to be able to defend ourselves, since it is apparent that our government supports crazies like BLM and Antifa. since #46ILLEGITIMATE has said antifa is not a subversive or threat to American life yesterday, but people who protest the stolen election are terrorists, it is more important than ever to arm yourself legally. if that had been the case many years ago, my dear one might still be here. there were many witnesses to the cold blooded killing, but no one had a weapon who could have stopped it. also, our men and women in blue need our backup at times. I am sure everyone has seen a situation where backup was not readily available, and to stop a discreet distance to ensure the officers safety is the best way to. help these courageous men and women. GOD knows, the courts, judges won’t back them in todays “woke” world. I say thank you to this courageous governor. sorry you have to put up with rino Romney.
I am moving to Utah, Get Out of The Demon Controlled States.
GOOD…..ON UTAH.!!!!! ABOUT TIME SOME ADULTS IN THIS “MESSED UP COUNTRY” WITH A “MISERABLE PRESIDENT”… HAVE MADE A CORRECT DECISION ABOUT CARRYING A GUN. MY HAT IS OFF TO – UTAH.!!!!!! A ND – MORE STATES NEED TO FOLLOW THE UTAH – LEAD IN THIS MATTER…..!!!!! AGAIN….GOOD ON YOU – UTAH.!!!! PEOPLE THERE HAVE SOME BRAINS….
Here in PA, a Constitutional Carry bill is going to be passed in both houses of congress. However, our demonrat governor wolf will veto it immediately.
It is the 2 nd amendment , for the entire country ( all of the U S A ) WE should be able to carry everywhere , any state . Europe had borders & checkpoints , look where that led to . This WAS the land of the FREE , our fathers fought for these rights for 300 years ! When & why is this changing . The government outlawed Booze , look what happened to that great idea ( A REAL S–T SHOW ) . Which of the regular citizens got ( FAMOUSLY RICH ) during that time . HMMM !!! THIMK !!!!!!