I was in the audience in this committee yesterday and Dee Rowland while nice, was completely ignorant. As her argument against concealed weapon permits, she cited Trolly Square. Rep. Whimmer was absolutely correct, when he informed her that almost every mass shooting in the past decade has been done by someone who did not have a permit. In addition, everytime anther state implements the CCW, the opposition say that "blood will run in the streets," it never happens. Why would a criminal go through the hoops of getting a permit? duh.

***more than 12,0000 nonresidents***

Is that 12,000, 120,000, 12.000 or just a bunch?

Utah is nuts for issuing permits to non residents. If you can't monitor it then they shoul dnot have any permits issued to non residents. I agree Utahns should have the right to carry a permit, but this should not be extended to issuing permits to non residents. Absolutely insane.

In the concealed carry class I took the officer teaching the class said that seven percent of violent crimes involved the use of handguns. Another statistic says that 100 percent of violent crimes involve the use of criminals. we need to control criminals, not guns.

Utah is getting to be known as a "permit mill," issuing thousands of concealed firearms permits to people who neither live in Utah nor visit Utah. The gun manufacturers must love it because people who don't qualify for a permit in their own state can usually get one from Utah. Isn't there something wrong with this picture?

What does it matter if we issue permits to non (state) residents? That's just extra cash in our pockets and more gun carriers in other states. When they move to Utah they can be monitored more closely...but who really cares what someone in New Jersey does?

Utah should be issuing them off the hook. Give anyone who wants a permit a permit, so long as they don't live in Utah.

Utah is not an island in itself.
Check out Arizona, Orygun, Washington, Idaho and more.
RECIPROCITY and NO problems.
Join the real world, please.

Since it has been proven that there are relatively few problems with Utah residents with permits, perhaps we should just eliminate the need for law abiding UTAH RESIDENTS have a permit to carry legal self defense weapons within UTAH, and end non-resident permits. This will greatly reduce the workload for the state agency. They can then chase criminals rather than waste time scrutinizing the good guys.

Since UTAH RESIDENTS would still need a permit to carry when travelling to other states, keep the option of making permits available to UTAH RESIDENTS ONLY.

End of problem (or at least the perceived problem).

Of course, Utah should continue to honor all permits issued by other states.

Vermont does not require a permit for their residents, and several years ago Alaska adopted the policy of no permit required for state residents, but making them an available option for their residents travelling out of state. No problems with these policies in either state.

I loved the comment about just following what the Second Amendment says and let people carry weapons without the infringement of having to get a permit.

Regardless if someone lives in Utah or not they still have to go through the SAME FBI background check that Utah residents have to so why is everyone so up in arms about it? I'm all in favor of raising the fee for out of state applicants by 20% to increase revenue but don't stop issuing permits to good law abiding citizens based on their location.

I'm not totally decided on the issue yet. But to clarify for "hello" -- if you had been at the meeting or listened to the recording, you would have learned that this does not generate any income for Utah. The permit fees only cover the cost of issuing. We break even. That is not extra cash in our pockets. The question keeps coming back to what benefit does Utah get by issuing the permit. Opponents say, "Why do this?" Proponents say, "Why not?" I have not heard any clear, convincing answers yet.

This is the REAL John. One of my friends has a concealed weapons permit and has a gun all the time.

This is the REAL gay John. One of my friends doesn't have a concealed weapons permit and has a gun all the time.

What benefit does Utah get? Being known as a leader in the restoration of 2nd Amendment rights.

Besides, if they live in a state like CA, they still can't carry while in CA -- whether or not they have a Utah permit. They can only carry in Utah and states that have reciprocity.

As someone that is going to be forced to move out of state soon, I applaud Utah for making it so that I can still have my Utah permit. Thank goodness that Utah is such a leader.

Now if we can just get our so-called "family values" to take a long, hard look at the abomination that is our family courts...

Law breakers by the very definition of the word have no regard for the law. So our shallow-minded legislators think that by passing gun control laws, law breakers are somehow going to follow them?

Law abiders do not need to have their constitutional right of self and family protection infringed by illogical legislation that is based on emotion, not reason.

The concealed carry permit program is just another warm and fuzzy waste of time and money. No honest citizen should be denied his God-given right to defend him or herself or forced to have a state-approved and condoned permit. The U. S. Constitution is their permit. Who are these socialist types who think they have the right to determine what your rights are when they have been spelled out clearly in "The Supreme Law of the Land"?

And because felons may not protect themselves, the idea is to create as many new felonies as possible.