Guns-in-cars bill arrives, late for action

A bill to allow Utahns to carry loaded guns in their vehicles without a concealed weapons permit has finally surfaced. But its sponsor says SB175 probably arrives too late to be considered before the session ends March 2.

"My expectation is it'll just go to interim," Sen. Mark Madsen, R-Lehi, said Tuesday, calling it "virtually impossible" that his bill could be heard.

Still, Madsen said he wasn't disappointed and will chalk up his experience to being a freshman lawmaker. Although he filed a bill title weeks ago, a draft wasn't ready until Tuesday.

His bill would allow a "loaded and/or concealed firearm in or on a vehicle" as well as "at a business under the person's control."

Such weapons are already permitted at a person's place of residence, including any temporary residence or camp. Madsen said a vehicle should be considered an extension of a person's home for purposes of self-protection.

While he was waiting for his bill to be drafted, Madsen said he learned that 24 other states allow loaded guns in vehicles. "I did my research," he said. "It all argues in favor of my bill."

Studying the bill during the break between legislative sessions will give his colleagues more time to look at the information he's collected, Madsen said. "I see that as a definite upside."

Legislative leaders had made it clear they didn't want to deal with gun bills this session given the controversy surrounding the issue in recent years. But Madsen said he was not pressured to withhold his bill.

He called the criticism his bill has received "pretty predictable." Among the concerns raised is whether there would be more serious instances of road rage and how safe children would be in a vehicle with a loaded gun.

Another gun bill will be heard by lawmakers in committee on Wednesday. That bill, HB332, would allow Utahns with a concealed weapons permit to leave their guns in their cars if they're someplace that doesn't allow guns to be brought in, including work.

The sponsor of the House bill, Rep. Michael Morley, R-Spanish Fork, drafted it in response to an incident involving employees at the America Online calling center in Ogden, who were fired in 2000 for transferring guns among their vehicles in the company's parking lot.

Last year, the Utah Supreme Court ruled the AOL employees didn't have the right to bring guns onto company property if there was a policy prohibiting weapons.

---

E-mail: lisa@desnews.com