In Huge Victory For 2A Advocates, Utah Trashes Gun-Permit Requirement
Michael Cantrell
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Residents in the state of Utah will soon be able to carry their guns concealed beneath clothing without needing to have a permit.
Gov. Spencer Cox is due to sign a piece of legislation into law this week that will get rid of the permit requirement. This bill will enable any law-abiding citizen to conceal a gun under clothing while they are in the state.
However, convicted felons, those adjudicated mentally ill, and others who are already prohibited from owing a gun will be excluded from the policy.
Clark Aposhian, chairman of the Utah Shooting Sports Council, said his group has been pushing for the change since 2013, when a previous attempt was vetoed by then-governor Gary Herbert (R.). He said the bill becoming law is a win for law-abiding gun owners and will cut down on potential wait times for those in danger, noting that getting a permit can “take up to 90 days.”
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.
If you listen closely, you can hear the founders cheering from beyond the grave. We need to see something like this happen in every state in the Union, as that would mean a true return to the spirit of the Second Amendment.
Our right to own a firearm comes from God. The Bible, in Exodus 22, mentions justified self-defense and speaks of having a sword. The general principle is that every person has the right to having the weapon of its era to protect themselves, their property, and their freedom.
Government cannot infringe upon such a right. And they have. Quite frequently. It’s time to put pressure on legislators who claim to be pro-gun to stand up for bills like this and follow Utah’s lead.
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