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Gun permits shoot up

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Tony | 1:13 a.m. May 22, 2008
I can easily think of many shared values held by Utah residents that we hope would be respected by people outside Utah.

It is easy to imagine laws that could be passed by other states allowing Utah residents to run businesses or sell products that we, as a society, find objectionable.

So why would we undermine the efforts of other states to control gun ownership?

This seems to violate the "golden rule" -- and I would hope that we, as a state, would set the example on such moral issues.
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Bob G | 5:39 a.m. May 22, 2008
For Curt Oda and his why not? Because the state has no control on who is getting them and who is asking for the license. We have no way to verify citizenship or identity of those seeking out of state gun permits. People seeking gun permits should be in accordance with the persons state laws as laws vary from state to state. States could invalidate licenses issued from one state to residents living in another state. How is our state issueing board going to verify out of state residents? Being too lienent on issuing permits to aliens and foreign nationals is very logical to happen. Then who is going to be responsible and liable for an unauthroized permit being issued? The state they live in or the state that issued it? Although I believe in gun carrying and haveing guns and our freedoms, it only makes sense that gun permits only be issued to residents of the state they live in. It should not be the intention of the current law to be an international licensing bureau for gun permits. Besides, can our state law be legal in other states as acceptable in other states? Seems theres a conflict there.
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Liberal larry | 6:40 a.m. May 22, 2008
How can DN publish an entire article with explaining why all these people are coming to Utah, to get firearm permits?
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Anonymous | 6:40 a.m. May 22, 2008
Private gun ownership is a joke. Only government agents (FBI, CIA, UHP, local PD) should be allowed to have guns.

Imagine no handguns
I wonder if you can
Nothing to kill or die with
And no ammo too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace
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avengeance | 7:05 a.m. May 22, 2008
Yea, if there were no handguns, people would just stop throwing rocks, stabbing each other with knives, setting fires, and hitting each other with baseball bats.

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CC | 7:07 a.m. May 22, 2008
Look at the states of where the out of state permits are issued. California probably tops the list - because permits are practically impossible to get there. By getting an out of state permit, the California resident can carry in Utah as well as those states that Utah has reciprocity with. That's better than nothing!

Anonymous - Now imagine the Supreme Court - finding a person's right to a concealed arms permit. Kind of like the way they found a "right" to abortion, with the exception that the right to keep and bear arms actually occurs in the Constitution!
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New Yorker | 7:15 a.m. May 22, 2008
To: Anonymous,
Guns are the only cause of death? Cars,knives, strangulation, battery,drugs, smoking, alcohol and on and on. I guess you believe criminals will turn in their guns too. You truly are a dreamer! Wake up and smell the postum, oh, that's right, they don't make it anymore....then try coffee.
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Bob , New York. | 7:17 a.m. May 22, 2008
New York does not recognize out of State handgun permits. It sounds like a revision of the State law is over due for the safety of all who are involved, the $ going into the State fund sounds great but at what cost to the public. What is the motivation of out of State individuals seeking Utah handgun permits?
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Annymous | 7:25 a.m. May 22, 2008
It is not a joke when you go shopping and are staring down the barrel of a gun of a disturbed young man who didn't follow the the rules of ownership. A legal concealed weapon would have been something appreciated at that moment, not a joke. It was not a joke that this country was founded with the right to bear arms.

That being said . . . why are we issuing concealed weapon permits in the State of Utah to non Utahns?? The likely hood of abuse of the system is much greater, especially concerning guns, than say . . hunting or fishing permits. With hunting and fishing permits, you still have to come to Utah to use the permit.
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Kevin | 7:27 a.m. May 22, 2008
Every person who gets a Permit, goes through a training class and has to pass a FBI stile background check. I feel a lot better with people like that having guns than the CRAZY that has a gun and just starts to shoot people. The truth is that if any of us were in a place where a CRAZY with a gun started shooting people, we all would want one of these people who had gone through the class and background check their to protect us.
It doesn't mater to me what State they came from, I'm just glad they took the time to get it.
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Zulu Cowboy | 7:46 a.m. May 22, 2008
Quote: "Private gun ownership is a joke. Only government agents (FBI, CIA, UHP, local PD) should be allowed to have guns."

You sir...are ignorant! And I mean that in the most polite way. You are 'obviously' ignorant regarding our U.S. Constitution, you are ignorant regarding human nature, and how evil mankind can be to his fellow man. You live in a dream world, where no human being would ever dream of taking advantage of his fellow man. Well...WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE, BROTHER!!!

It's a violent world out there, and sometimes a man or woman has to defend themselves against those who would cut short their life, for a mere few bucks!

What color is the sky...in that dream world of yours?

Get a clue!
Zulu Cowboy
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Paul | 7:50 a.m. May 22, 2008
I don't see what advantage there is to Utah to have Out of State people using our permits. How does that improve my way of life? If someone outside of Utah commits a crime while in possession of such a permit, does that somehow make it better for Utahns? People should petition their own Government if they want rights or privileges. If Utah isn't making money off the program and if it is impacting the ability for Utahns to get a CCW in any way (by slowing down processing), then the out-of-state program should be stopped. Take care of Utahns first before worrying about the rest of the World.
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common sense | 7:50 a.m. May 22, 2008
Anonymous,
If ordinary citizens were not allowed to own and bear arms, why would police and federal agents need to carry guns for protection? There would be no threat right? Nobody, not even criminals, would have guns right? Well, I wish you well there in your dream world. It must be great living in fantasy land and avoiding/denying reality. As for me, I must live in the real world, where, unfortunately, there is an ever growing element of crime and evil perpetrated by those who have no respect or regard for life, liberty, or property. While you stick your head in the sand and pretend all is well, I'll exercise my God given Constitutional right to keep and bear arms in defense of my life, my family's lives, and our liberty. I will admit that it would be nice to live in your fantasy world, but in the world I live in there are evil people with evil intent and I will do all in my power to prevent them from harming my family.
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Geno | 8:05 a.m. May 22, 2008
I flew to Utah, rented a car obtained my out of state permit, bought a handgun, and returned back to Texas. Why? The class is shorter, and no firing of the handgun is required in Utah. I think it is great that Utah sets the example of those who believe in 2nd amendment rights, and not just for Utahns but also for those of us who used to live in the state and may again.
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To Anon | 8:28 a.m. May 22, 2008
Once again you show why you don't want to say who you are. Yes the world would be a better place if everyone lived in peace, but as long as there are creeps in the world I want to be able to defend myself.
When I can read the Des News and not see a story about drug dealers, gang activities and violence, then I'll think about putting away my gun.
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bergstro | 8:45 a.m. May 22, 2008
I am a Californian with a Utah permit. Granted, I first applied for my permit while I was still a full time Utah resident seven years ago, but I have since renewed it from out of state. Curt Oda is exactly right asking the question "why not issue permits to out of state residents?" Utah suffers no liability because these other reciprocity states choose to recognize the permits and could easily change their minds if they wanted to. It is not Utah's job to set the policy in other states by restricting permits without any good reason.

It sounds from the article like the deparment is self sustaining, pulling in more than $1 million per year. As long as it is a money maker, why in the world would you not give permits to (qualified) out of state applicants?

To the "private gun ownership" is a joke guy, you are too dumb to live. I'll trade you places; you come here to San Fransisco with the rest of the gun- hating naked nutballs, and I'll take your spot in Utah...
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Mom, wife & proud to carry | 8:55 a.m. May 22, 2008
I'm in the process of getting my permit in a few different states at this very moment. Those of you who are against out of state permits seem to be pretty ignorant. Do you know about the process? The criminal background check through the FBI? Do you know of the finger printing? Do you know the content of the class? There's a lot more to it than just going to a class and the state handing you a permit. Trust me. The government knows ALL about those who get the permits, no matter what state it was issued in. Before my permit, I would wear my hand gun in it's shoulder holster in plain sight. I did only do this when I would go trail running alone. My point is that I have a right to bear arms. I have a right to feel safer by carrying my gun(s). I have a right to protect myself and my family. I have these rights, and I exercise them freely.
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Anonymous | 8:56 a.m. May 22, 2008
I received my concealed permit about two months ago. I am a Utah resident for about 17 years now. I agree with the gentleman that out of state fee increases should apply. People come to Utah for a permit because it is accepted in a lot of other states and the cost is minimal. We should make a bit more money off the out-of-staters.
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Nevadan (former Utahn) | 9:13 a.m. May 22, 2008
Any one suggesting that Utah should cease issuing out of state ccw permits is shortsighted and ignorant. 1) The program makes money from the fees it charges and Utah loves to charge fees and tax anything it can. 2) Florida and many other states issues ccw permits to non residents and Utah recognizes those permits issues from other states therefore the fees now going to utah would then go to other states. 3) CCW permit holders are not the ones committing crimes as suggested by paul, they are more likley to stop a crime than commit one. Permit holders go through an background check, attend classes and are finger printed. This issue is a no brainer Utahans!
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a method to the madness | 9:28 a.m. May 22, 2008
With society in free-fall decline and populations exploding everywhere, it's probably a good idea for everyone to pack heat.

Then go out into the streets and do their NRA thing on each other and the herd will automatically become thinned.
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No. Utah sees a major earthquake every 350 years. Last one? 350 years ago.