Gun buys, permits too easy?

At least two people who are blind have been granted concealed weapons permits in the state of Utah.

The Utah Department of Public Safety's Bureau of Criminal Identification said it issued the permits because legally it can't discriminate.

"Right now, there is no provision in the state statute that says a blind person cannot have a state firearms permit," DPS spokesman Jeff Nigbur said Wednesday.

In Utah, mental illness is one of the few barriers to obtaining a concealed weapons permit.

The controversy flared up after a North Dakota man challenged a decision by a Minnesota sheriff and a judge to deny him a concealed permit in that state. Carey McWilliams already has concealed weapons permits in Utah and North Dakota.

"I'm trying to prove a point that people without sight can carry (a gun) because brains are more important than eyesight in securing public safety," McWilliams said.

McWilliams obtained his gun permit in Utah after attending a "firearms familiarity course."

State officials acknowledged the situation is unusual.

"Should someone visually impaired be allowed to carry a handgun? We understand people's concern," Nigbur said. "The other side of the argument is this country was founded on the Constitution and a Second Amendment right to bear arms. Disabled people are no different."

Nigbur said BCI is not a policymaking body and will operate under state law. Any changes in the law would be made through the Utah State Legislature.

A Deseret Morning News analysis of concealed weapons permits published last month revealed that about one in every 43 people in Utah has a permit.

Utah's concealed weapons permits are also favored by many people outside the state, because they are recognized by 30 other states. In fact, the newspaper's analysis revealed 84,849 permits are held by non-Utahns. An inexpensive $59 permit fee and class that requires only three hours are also incentives.

During a Wednesday meeting of the Legislature's Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Interim Committee, lawmakers discussed ways to keep funding the program. BCI asked for $653,000 to be dedicated to concealed weapons permits to help clear away a backlog of permit applications.

"The statutory time to issue permits is 60 days. Right now, because of a lack of funding, they're running about 100 days into the issuing process," said Rep. Curtis Oda, R-Clearfield.

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Contributing: The Associated Press

E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com