Fix gun law inconsistency

There's a conflict in state law with respect to people carrying dangerous weapons into public schools. In the event they need to file criminal charges, prosecutors say they need to resolve the apparent confusion between the criminal code and the public school law.

This conflict is easily remedied: Add public schools as an exemption to Utah's concealed weapons permit law.

Sen. Mike Waddoups, R-Taylorsville, aims to resolve the conflict by amending the law that bans dangerous weapons from schools. School administrators have interpreted the law to include legally concealed firearms.

Waddoups views his bill as a clarifying measure. It, instead, eliminates a measure in the law that some school administrators rely upon to enforce school district policies that prohibit school employees from carrying concealed weapons to work. School districts, attune to their patrons' strong feelings on this issue, have legitimate reasons to enact such policies.

Utah's concealed handguns law is exceedingly liberal, which should give Utahns pause. Utah's permit is relatively inexpensive and easy to obtain, if you pass the background check. Texas, for instance, requires applicants to complete a 10- to 15-hour class, which includes a range test. The permit costs $140. Permit holders are restricted from carrying their guns into schools, courts and court offices, race tracks and secured areas in airports. Concealed weapons are also prohibited from hospitals, nursing homes, amusement parks, places of worship or at government meetings if signs are posted prohibiting them.

Contrast that to Utah's requirements, which requires about a half-day of instruction, no range test and has relatively few prohibitions on where a concealed weapon can be carried. Public schools are fair game, as are places of worship unless signs are posted to prohibit weapons. All this at the bargain price of $59.

Utahns need to ask lawmakers how Utah arrived at its law. Public opinion polls have repeatedly told us that Utahns don't want concealed weapons in schools. Yet, here we are with one of the most liberal laws in the country.

So we must again ask lawmakers to justify this position. Does this law exist because there is a legitimate threat in schools that can only be rectified by permitting people to carry concealed weapons into schools? Or is it because because legislators are afraid of the vocal gun lobby that works hard to elect and defeat lawmakers?

Utahns would really like to know.