Saturday, March 25, 2017

Utah Expands Concealed Carry Permits to Adults 18-20 Years old



Governor Herbert has signed H.B. 198 into law. The bill provides for adults aged 18-20 to obtain a Utah concealed carry permit. The bill requires that permit holders meet minimum age requirements of other states when in those states. From utah.gov:
This bill:

▸ establishes a provisional permit to carry a concealed firearm;

▸ stipulates that individuals must be at least 18 years of age, but no more than 20 years of age, to obtain the permit;

▸ stipulates that the holder of a provisional permit issued by the state must meet eligibility requirements, including minimum age requirements, to carry a concealed firearm in another state; and

▸ prohibits a provisional permit holder from carrying a concealed firearm on or about an elementary or secondary school premises.
There are a number of states that provide for adults aged 18 to 20 to obtain concealed carry permit or who may legally carry firearms for self defense.

That number is likely to increase. It makes no sense to trust people aged 18-20 to vote, which is much more dangerous than carrying a defensive weapon, but not trust them with the full responsibilities of adulthood.

H.B. 198 passed the House 63-12, and the Senate 23-6. It was signed into law by Governor Gary Herbert on 23 March, 2017.
Herbert, in his monthly KUED press conference held before he signed the bill, said he had heard the arguments for and against the change.
"I understand the arguments again on both sides of that," he said. "Are you mature enough in fact to have a concealed weapon at 18 to 21? You juxtapose that over we have people we put in the military that carry M16s and other weapons with the intent of defending our freedoms and killing people. If they are old enough to do that, they are probably old enough to get some training and carry a weapon."
 
©2017 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

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1 comment:

Anonymous said...

It does nothing for younger people that may want to accompany their dad or an uncle hunting and learn gun safety from an early age. permits or licenses and age requirements are not in the second amendment. if those infringements are not in the second amendment the state has no authority to add them. this law makes criminals out of a father and son going hunting and carrying a rifle and a pistol each. the sooner a son learns gun etiquette the better. many people have served in wars from the age of 14 and younger face reality infringements are infringements.