HB204 » The bill would eliminate out-of-state concealed firearm instructors.
Utah's gun rights activists are breaking ranks with the National Rifle Association for the first time in recent memory and instead are joining forces with gun-control advocates such as Sen. Scott McCoy.
They have come together over problems with out-of-state concealed firearm instructors rubber stamping permits instead of properly instructing applicants.
"This is an unfortunate but necessary step we in the gun rights community are supporting in order to maintain the integrity and credibility of the Utah permit," said Charles Hardy, policy director for Gun Owners of Utah.
McCoy, a Salt Lake City Democrat who supports gun control measures, agrees with the bill.
"I'm happy they want to tighten up the program," he said of Utah's gun rights activists. "Good on them for pursuing a problem and working to fix it."
Utah has about 1,000 instructors, and two-thirds of them aren't Utahns, said Lt. Doug Anderson, program manager at the Bureau of Criminal Identification, which oversees the permit. He estimates complaints at between 20 and 30, mostly about out-of-state instructors.
Brian Judy, Utah state liaison for the National Rifle Association, said Utah needs more concrete evidence that states want to stop recognizing its permit before taking such a drastic step. Instead he'd like to see licenses revoked on a case-by-case basis.
However, Clark Aposhian, chairman of the Utah Shooting Sports Council and of BCI's weapons review board, says he already has legislators from around the country saying they are ready to stop recognizing Utah's permit because of concerns with some instructors.
"I will fight hard now to keep reciprocity with all 35 states rather than fight hard for the next 10 years to get it back, and maybe never get it back," he said.
He recognized that out-of-state permits could decrease slightly, but said the fact it's so widely recognized and inexpensive will draw people to Utah to get the permit or have groups pay for a Utah instructor to fly out to them. Currently, about half of Utah's 142,000 permits are carried by nonresidents.
Rep. Curt Oda, R-Clearfield, a strong gun rights supporter, is sponsoring the proposed change in HB204. He said he's willing to work with the NRA as long as it addresses the problem.
"We're the most valuable permit in the country because of the training we require both for instructors and permit holders," Oda said. "It bothers me there are some instructors out there who say 'Pay me the money and I'll certify you.'"
The NRA's Judy said he would like more feedback from students so BCI can watch nonresident instructors better.
BCI, though, has three investigators, only two of whom spend time in the field. Anderson said he simply doesn't have the manpower to police nonresident instructors.
"These people have a permit but don't have any knowledge of state law," he said. "It's a big responsibility to carry a concealed, loaded weapon, and we want to make sure permit holders understand laws regulating use of force."
Source: SLTrib
Utah's gun rights activists are breaking ranks with the National Rifle Association for the first time in recent memory and instead are joining forces with gun-control advocates such as Sen. Scott McCoy.
They have come together over problems with out-of-state concealed firearm instructors rubber stamping permits instead of properly instructing applicants.
"This is an unfortunate but necessary step we in the gun rights community are supporting in order to maintain the integrity and credibility of the Utah permit," said Charles Hardy, policy director for Gun Owners of Utah.
McCoy, a Salt Lake City Democrat who supports gun control measures, agrees with the bill.
"I'm happy they want to tighten up the program," he said of Utah's gun rights activists. "Good on them for pursuing a problem and working to fix it."
Utah has about 1,000 instructors, and two-thirds of them aren't Utahns, said Lt. Doug Anderson, program manager at the Bureau of Criminal Identification, which oversees the permit. He estimates complaints at between 20 and 30, mostly about out-of-state instructors.
Brian Judy, Utah state liaison for the National Rifle Association, said Utah needs more concrete evidence that states want to stop recognizing its permit before taking such a drastic step. Instead he'd like to see licenses revoked on a case-by-case basis.
However, Clark Aposhian, chairman of the Utah Shooting Sports Council and of BCI's weapons review board, says he already has legislators from around the country saying they are ready to stop recognizing Utah's permit because of concerns with some instructors.
"I will fight hard now to keep reciprocity with all 35 states rather than fight hard for the next 10 years to get it back, and maybe never get it back," he said.
He recognized that out-of-state permits could decrease slightly, but said the fact it's so widely recognized and inexpensive will draw people to Utah to get the permit or have groups pay for a Utah instructor to fly out to them. Currently, about half of Utah's 142,000 permits are carried by nonresidents.
Rep. Curt Oda, R-Clearfield, a strong gun rights supporter, is sponsoring the proposed change in HB204. He said he's willing to work with the NRA as long as it addresses the problem.
"We're the most valuable permit in the country because of the training we require both for instructors and permit holders," Oda said. "It bothers me there are some instructors out there who say 'Pay me the money and I'll certify you.'"
The NRA's Judy said he would like more feedback from students so BCI can watch nonresident instructors better.
BCI, though, has three investigators, only two of whom spend time in the field. Anderson said he simply doesn't have the manpower to police nonresident instructors.
"These people have a permit but don't have any knowledge of state law," he said. "It's a big responsibility to carry a concealed, loaded weapon, and we want to make sure permit holders understand laws regulating use of force."
Source: SLTrib