House permits open carry of loaded guns

The House passed a bill Monday allowing a person with a valid concealed weapons permit to openly carry a loaded gun in some public places.

The measure, HB473, was amended, however, to forbid a person from openly carrying a loaded gun on school campuses. Legislators declined to support a second amendment requiring a concealed weapon to be concealed in all places, saying it was an affront on the Second Amendment.

"We're talking about the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and this is a direct attempt to bring gun controls to the state of Utah," Rep. Kenneth Sumsion, R-American Fork said in response to the failed amendment. "This is a slippery slope for all of us in this body. If we give an inch, the people who would take away our rights would take a mile."

Rep. David Litvack, D-Salt Lake City, said he worried that clarifying the law to allow a person with a concealed weapons permit to openly carry their loaded gun would be a safety hazard and a source of fear to the public.

At present, it is illegal for most people to openly carry their gun on a school campus. Concealed weapons are legal, however.

Members of the House passed the bill 60-11. It now moves to the Senate for debate.