The people of Utah are about to see a layer of restrictions on their Second Amendment rights lifted.
Republican Gov. Spencer Cox told the Washington Free Beacon on Tuesday that he would sign legislation this week to eliminate the permit requirement for residents of the Beehive State who want to carry concealed guns.
The new law, which passed both chambers of the Utah Legislature overwhelmingly, will allow any law-abiding Utahn 21 or older to carry concealed in the state. Naturally, people already prohibited from owning a gun, including convicted felons and the mentally ill, are not covered by the new policy.
Advocates for the bill called it a victory for gun owners and said it will be another layer of protection for people who are in danger because the current permitting process can take as long as 90 days, the Beacon said.
Pro-gun groups celebrated the soon-to-be law as evidence of the growing influence of Second Amendment advocates. More from the Beacon:
The repeal of permit requirements for concealed gun carry has accelerated over the past decade in a show of the increasing influence of gun owners and Second Amendment groups, especially at the state level. Utah is the 17th state to adopt a permitless carry system. While Vermont has used a permitless system since its founding, most states effectively banned any form of concealed gun carry until the mid-1990s. As recently as 1986, 16 states banned concealed gun carry while another 25 had laws allowing state officials to reject permit applications for any.
Now, no states outright ban concealed carry, and only eight states still allow officials to reject permit applicants who otherwise comply with training and background-check requirements.
Experts said the relaxation of concealed gun carry restrictions in recent years after concerted efforts from groups such as the National Rifle Association is proof of how influential politically active gun owners can be.
Of course, anti-gun groups claimed that loosening any gun laws will lead to increased gun violence.
But the bill’s sponsor, state Sen. David Hinkins (R), countered those typical talking points, noting that the safest states in the union — Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine — all have permit-less carry laws, the Beacon noted.
The law will go into effect on May 5.
22697 843924Just a smiling visitant here to share the enjoy (:, btw outstanding style . 432422
552862 969486so facebook recommended me the pages food and eating ,,, yeah Im obese|HasmAttack| 780214
986308 145016Directories such given that the Yellow Websites need not list them, so unlisted numbers strength sometimes be alive much more harm than financial assistance. 922073
16162 972958Hey! Im at work surfing around your blog from my new apple iphone! Just wanted to say I love reading by way of your blog and look forward to all your posts! Maintain up the outstanding work! 699034
780004 891117Great post will probably be linking this on a couple of internet sites of mine maintain up the excellent function. 390982
207693 301254This was an incredible post. Actually loved studying your web site post. Your data was extremely informative and useful. I feel youll proceed posting and updating often. Looking forward to your subsequent one. 602798
506527 173277Normally I do not read post on blogs, nevertheless I would like to say that this write-up very forced me to take a look at and do so! Your writing taste has been surprised me. Thank you, quite fantastic post. 88394
286952 962037You must indulge in a contest for among the greatest blogs more than the internet. Ill suggest this web internet site! 135724
228878 742129What a lovely weblog. I will undoubtedly be back once more. Please maintain writing! 427773
926953 419383Hi there for your private broad critique, then once more particularly passionate the recent Zune, and moreover intend this specific, not to mention the beneficial feedbacks other sorts of every person has posted, will determine if is it doesnt answer you are searching for. 58144
507651 845179Thank you for this. Thats all I can say. You most definitely have made this into something thats eye opening and important. You clearly know so significantly about the subject, youve covered so several bases. Wonderful stuff from this part of the internet. 169783