POLITICS + GOVERNMENT

Utah Senate supports bill to drop concealed carry gun permits

Feb 5, 2021, 7:10 AM

FILE -- Ross McGarvey, left, and David McWilliams practice their target shooting at the gun range a...

FILE -- Ross McGarvey, left, and David McWilliams practice their target shooting at the gun range at "Get Some" Guns and Ammo on Wednesday, October 16, 2013. McGarvey said that he expects within the next 6 months to obtain his concealed carry permit. Matt Gade, Deseret News

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — The Utah Senate is favoring a bill that would drop concealed carry gun permits.

Talking about gun permits

The bill is being co-sponsored by Senator David Hinkins, R-Orangeville, who points out that the concealed carry permit does not include extensive gun safety training.

With that in mind, he argues that dropping the permit would actually impact gun safety very little.

“For people that say this somehow qualifies me to carry around my firearm without any sort of training is ludicrous,” he explains. “I can get this without having one minute of training with a firearm. That’s the law today. So going from this to the constitutional carry provision is not going to increase or decrease safety one iota. This is going to, I think, restore quite literally what the Founding Fathers had originally intended.”

He goes on to say that the main change would be in regards to how someone purchases a firearm and then can carry it on their body.

“Say you buy a rifle and you walk out of the store [with it] in a box… well it’s technically illegal to do that,” says Senator Hinkins. “This [bill] allows them to cover it with a jacket or to be able to put it in a purse.”

Voting along party lines

As expected, the bill prompted a heated debate in the Senate, with some Democrats taking a hard stance against the measure.

“I just don’t think this is good public policy,” explains Senator Gene Davis, D-Salt Lake City. “This isn’t the Old West of the 1820s anymore. We’re in 2021… and I think the one thing is that we’ve seen with the proliferation of weaponry in this country, the anger of individuals has risen.”

Eventually, the Senate supported the bill in an initial vote of 23 to 6, which went along party lines and indicated it will likely pass in a final vote.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

Politics + Government

political text messages...

Michael Camit

Dodging political scammers during election year

During elections years, political scammers will target voters to try to get their personal information warns the BBB.

50 minutes ago

Rep Phil Lyman shown, lyman dei comments came under scrutiny...

Emma Keddington

Rep. Phil Lyman defends post correlating DEI policies with Baltimore bridge collapse

Rep. Phil Lyman is defending a post made Tuesday, that said Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies had something to do with the Baltimore bridge collapse. 

1 day ago

Former senator Joseph Lieberman...

Jake Tapper, CNN

Former Sen. Joe Lieberman dies at 82

Former Democratic vice presidential nominee and Sen. Joe Lieberman has died, according to a statement from his family.

2 days ago

rep phil lyman shown, he made comments about the bridge collapse in maryland...

Heather Peterson

LISTEN: Utah Rep. Phil Lyman blames Baltimore bridge collapse on DEI

Rep. Phil Lyman said the bridge collapse is because of "governors who prioritize diversity over the wellbeing and security of citizens."

3 days ago

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 4: A view of the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday morning January 4, 2024 in...

MARK SHERMAN

Supreme Court again confronts the issue of abortion, this time over access to widely used pill

Two years after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and cleared the way for bans or severe restrictions on abortion in many Republican-led states, abortion opponents on Tuesday will ask the high court to ratify a ruling from a conservative federal appeals court that would limit access to the medication mifepristone, which was used in nearly two-thirds of all abortions in the United States last year.

4 days ago

File - The Instagram logo is seen on a cell phone in Boston, USA, Oct. 14, 2022. Instagram has star...

Associated Press

New Instagram feature limits display of political content

Instagram has started an automatic clamp down on the amount of political content appearing in its users' feeds.

4 days ago

Sponsored Articles

Mother and cute toddler child in a little fancy wooden cottage, reading a book, drinking tea and en...

Visit Bear Lake

How to find the best winter lodging in Bear Lake, Utah

Winter lodging in Bear Lake can be more limited than in the summer, but with some careful planning you can easily book your next winter trip.

Happy family in winter clothing at the ski resort, winter time, watching at mountains in front of t...

Visit Bear Lake

Ski more for less: Affordable ski resorts near Bear Lake, Utah

Plan your perfect ski getaway in Bear Lake this winter, with pristine slopes, affordable tickets, and breathtaking scenery.

front of the Butch Cassidy museum with a man in a cowboy hat standing in the doorway...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Looking Back: The History of Bear Lake

The history of Bear Lake is full of fascinating stories. At over 250,000 years old, the lake has seen generations of people visit its shores.

silhouette of a family looking over a lake with a bird in the top corner flying...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

8 Fun Activities To Do in Bear Lake Without Getting in the Water

Bear Lake offers plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy without having to get in the water. Catch 8 of our favorite activities.

Wellsville Mountains in the spring with a pond in the foreground...

Wasatch Property Management

Advantages of Renting Over Owning a Home

Renting allows you to enjoy luxury amenities and low maintenance without the long-term commitment and responsibilities of owning a home.

Clouds over a red rock vista in Hurricane, Utah...

Wasatch Property Management

Why Southern Utah is a Retirement Paradise

Retirement in southern Utah offers plenty of cultural and recreational opportunities. Find out all that this region has to offer.

Utah Senate supports bill to drop concealed carry gun permits