Utah: Urge your Legislators to Amend Flawed Carry Bill

Currently pending a hearing in the House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee is House Bill 112 and House Bill 237.  While HB 112 attempts to provide an avenue for law-abiding individuals to lawfully carry a concealed firearm without a permit, the true outcome would be just another government mandate on what should be a very personal decision.  Please contact members of the House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee and urge them to amend House Bill 112 into a true constitutional/permitless carry bill.

HB 112 would only allow individuals to carry a concealed firearm without a permit so long as a cartridge is not chambered or in the case of a revolver, two empty consecutive chambers in the cylinder.  This bill would apply additional restrictions on the way an individual chooses to defend themselves.  Requiring an individual to carry an unloaded firearm for self-defense is no different than the state mandating gun locks on the firearm in your nightstand.  You may choose to utilize a gun lock or safe because that is appropriate for your own situation.  The decision on your method of carry should be no different. 

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House Bill 237, contains all of the same provisions as House Bill 112, with one important difference.  This legislation expands Utah’s firearm prohibitions to include domestic relationships beyond those in federal law, including acts between two individuals who have, at one time, lived in the same residence, regardless of the nature of their relationship.  In addition, HB 237 attempts to vilify firearms by unnecessarily adding additional penalties for the mere possession of a firearm in one of the aforementioned situations, regardless of if the actual firearm was used in the commission of a crime.  If enacted, HB 237 would remove the judge’s discretion when it comes to restricting the Second Amendment rights of individuals. 

NRA members and Second Amendment supporters are encouraged to click the “Take Action” button to contact members of the House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee and urge them to amend House Bill 112 and to OPPOSE House Bill 237.