Bman505
09-25-2009, 10:34 AM
Out-of-state applicants » Herbert is for tightening rules
By Robert Gehrke
The Salt Lake Tribune (http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_13414251)
Updated: 09/24/2009 07:09:19 PM MDT
Gov. Gary Herbert said Thursday that he is open to tightening up Utah's concealed weapons permits to potentially give the state more oversight of those who receive a state permit to pack a gun.
"I think we need to protect the Second Amendment, that's for sure, and Utah should stand tall in that regard," Herbert said during his monthly KUED news conference. "That said, I don't want to be a wholesale clearinghouse for anyone who comes to Utah who we don't have the ability to track ... and then they go outside our borders and conduct themselves inappropriately."
So far this year, the Bureau of Criminal Identification has received more than 57,000 applications for concealed weapons permits, and is on pace for a roughly five-fold increase from 2006.
And, for the first time, the state issued more permits to out-of-state residents than to Utahns in the last budget year.
Utah's concealed weapons permit is honored in 33 states, although Nevada recently stopped recognizing Utah's permit because Utah does not require a live-fire test in order to receive a permit.
Herbert said in an interview he doesn't have a specific plan for dealing with the issue, but wants to hear from both sides. It is an issue, he said, that each state should have the authority to address.
"I'm not much into reciprocity, whether it's real estate licenses or gun licenses," said the former real-estate agent. "I think Utah needs to find out what we think is
important for Second Amendment issues and do what we think is right."
Asked specifically if that meant he was open to tightening rules for those from outside the state getting a Utah permit, the governor said that he was.
Clark Aposhian, chairman of the Utah Shooting Sports Council, said he hopes to discuss the topic with the governor.
"We have no pattern whatsoever of out-of-state or in-state permit holders committing crimes. They are the most law-abiding people in the nation," Aposhian said. "Personally, I don't think the right of lawful self-defense should stop at the border."
Last session, Rep. Curt Oda, R-Clearfield, a certified concealed weapons instructor, sponsored a bill that would have ended Utah's practice of certifying instructors who teach Utah's concealed firearms courses in other states, but Oda dropped the effort after opposition from the National Rifle Association.
In 2009, there were 516 certified instructors outside of Utah and 346 inside the state. Since 2006, there have been 451 out-of-state applicants to become concealed firearms instructors -- nearly twice as many as from inside the state. There were 183 renewals from out-of-state instructors, about the same number as from in Utah.
-- Donald W. Meyers contributed to this report
By Robert Gehrke
The Salt Lake Tribune (http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_13414251)
Updated: 09/24/2009 07:09:19 PM MDT
Gov. Gary Herbert said Thursday that he is open to tightening up Utah's concealed weapons permits to potentially give the state more oversight of those who receive a state permit to pack a gun.
"I think we need to protect the Second Amendment, that's for sure, and Utah should stand tall in that regard," Herbert said during his monthly KUED news conference. "That said, I don't want to be a wholesale clearinghouse for anyone who comes to Utah who we don't have the ability to track ... and then they go outside our borders and conduct themselves inappropriately."
So far this year, the Bureau of Criminal Identification has received more than 57,000 applications for concealed weapons permits, and is on pace for a roughly five-fold increase from 2006.
And, for the first time, the state issued more permits to out-of-state residents than to Utahns in the last budget year.
Utah's concealed weapons permit is honored in 33 states, although Nevada recently stopped recognizing Utah's permit because Utah does not require a live-fire test in order to receive a permit.
Herbert said in an interview he doesn't have a specific plan for dealing with the issue, but wants to hear from both sides. It is an issue, he said, that each state should have the authority to address.
"I'm not much into reciprocity, whether it's real estate licenses or gun licenses," said the former real-estate agent. "I think Utah needs to find out what we think is
important for Second Amendment issues and do what we think is right."
Asked specifically if that meant he was open to tightening rules for those from outside the state getting a Utah permit, the governor said that he was.
Clark Aposhian, chairman of the Utah Shooting Sports Council, said he hopes to discuss the topic with the governor.
"We have no pattern whatsoever of out-of-state or in-state permit holders committing crimes. They are the most law-abiding people in the nation," Aposhian said. "Personally, I don't think the right of lawful self-defense should stop at the border."
Last session, Rep. Curt Oda, R-Clearfield, a certified concealed weapons instructor, sponsored a bill that would have ended Utah's practice of certifying instructors who teach Utah's concealed firearms courses in other states, but Oda dropped the effort after opposition from the National Rifle Association.
In 2009, there were 516 certified instructors outside of Utah and 346 inside the state. Since 2006, there have been 451 out-of-state applicants to become concealed firearms instructors -- nearly twice as many as from inside the state. There were 183 renewals from out-of-state instructors, about the same number as from in Utah.
-- Donald W. Meyers contributed to this report