Utah senator joins other senators in support of concealed-carry reciprocity
Feb 2, 2023, 4:05 PM | Updated: 5:28 pm
FILE: Aaron Turner, a concealed carry instructor, shows where he wears his Glock 43X at his home in Murray on Monday, Oct. 18, 2021. (Kristin Murphy, Deseret News)
(Kristin Murphy, Deseret News)
WASHINGTON D.C. — Utah Sen. Mike Lee has co-sponsored an act that would make concealed carry permits from one state viable in any state.
According to Sen. Lee’s office, the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act would ensure that a concealed carry permit, issued in any state, would be valid in another state where concealed carry permits are allowed.
This permit would essentially function as a drivers’ license does. Namely, if a person with a valid drivers license travels to another state, that state recognizes that you are legally permitted to drive, even if you don’t have a license in that specific state.
“As a proud constitutional carry state, Utah has always valued the right of its people to keep and bear arms,” Sen. Lee said in a statement. “It defies logic that we allow individuals to use their home-state license to drive in another state but not concealed carry.”
In the past, law enforcement officials have voiced opposition to concealed-carry reciprocity, saying it encroaches on states’ rights and in some cases may put the public at risk.
Utah already recognizes permits from every other American state. And Utah already has concealed-carry reciprocity with dozens of states. But not every state recognizes permits from Utah.
According to the statement from Lee’s office, the bill would also protect state sovereignty by not establishing a national standard for concealed carry permits.
