Comments about ‘Gun bill would make concealed weapons permit unnecessary’

Welcome to the wild west of Utah, I guess, if this bill passes. I don't want people carrying weapons in the open, just like I don't want people carrying AR-15 into my local JC-Penny.

Let's be honest. Bad guys always carry guns now without bothering to get a permit, and will continue to do so, including felons, druggies, gang members, etc, so this law will NOT increase the number of bad guys with guns.

What it does is eliminate the need for law abiding citizens to get a "permission slip" to exercise their right to self defense. Noting at all wrong with that.

Should they have some sort of training? That is strongly recommended, but should not be required.

For the inevitable elite media editorials aghast at the idea, let's see if they want to have to get a "journalist permit" and pass spelling and grammar tests, and not be allowed to write in churches or schools without their "journalist permits."

But, "guns are dangerous and someone might get hurt!" Yeah, that was what the critics all said in 1995 when it was made easier to get a concealed carry permit, and several years ago when permitless "car carry" was passed. Even critics must admit that their dire predictions of bloody streets and shootouts over parking spots never happened.

Pass the bill! Remove one more infringement on Constitutional rights!

Trust the good guys!

The idea that criminals will always have guns regardless of any effort at restriction is false. Making guns easier to carry and conceal is just backward (well I guess that's Utah for you).

Other countries that prohibit or restrict gun ownership have far lower gun deaths than the USA. Japan only had 11 gun homicides last year, so the criminals there must have had a difficult time finding their weapons.

Laws, licensing and registration work well in many aspects of life from driving, flying, practicing medicine, construction, so what is the big hangup with guns.

Machine guns were outlawed in 1934 and you don't see any gunman using a Tommy gun now.

Criminal or not, why on earth would you want to make it easier for ANYONE to carry a concealed weapon?? I have voted GOP my whole life and am so angry and disappointed at the "no limits" gun people on the far right who everyone seems to be thoughtlessly following. You will rue the day you pass this kind of legislation.

Everyone with common sense and whoever wants to live in a gun-free society had better become more vocal or this very loud group will create a situation we cannot undo.

Wonder what this will do to UT tourism industry. Maybe it will attract all those longing to return to the Wild West?

However, not the place where i want my grandchildren raised.

Mormons are the majority in UT. Is this the kind of society they want to create?

DN Subscriber 2,

Nothing you say has any logic or fact behind it. And then you say people probably don't need any training to carry a concealed weapon.

Even WITH training, I don't want people popping up to start shooting at whoever they think is the perpetrator in a shooting incident. Battle-hardened veterans will tell you how difficult it is to tell what is going on in a firefight and quickly they lose their edge. And they have friendly fire. Imagine how it would be in a situation like Trolley Square where everyone is shooting. I don't want to live in that kind of society. Tourists should be warned before they come to Utah that a good portion of the citizens have decided to take the law into their own hands. I already know Europeans who don't want to visit (including many LDS).

Maybe you don't trust your police. Maybe you are afraid of an imminent home invasion. Perhaps you are afraid of the government. Go see a shrink. If you are that paranoid, you should not be packing a weapon.

In these dark times of misery and woe, we must have greater love for our fellow man. We must show greater compassion, understanding, and genuine love. As a society, we must teach our children the values of piety, devotion, and respect. With more civility. With more thoughtfulness. These things would go a long way towards ending the epidemic of violence that is sweeping the land.

@Perfice
Based on the number of felons (it is against the law for a felon to possess a firearm), who are found carrying firearms and convicted of these offenses, it is obvious that gun laws do not matter to felons, just as other laws don't have the desired influence on them.

"Driving, flying, practicing medicine, construction" are not constitutional rights, the right to bear arms is. For many of us who love and respect the Constitution this is the crux of the matter, not the gun itself. While many may not care about about the right to bear arms, the erosion of one Constitutional right opens the door for the government to curtail other rights as they might find expedient to a particular purpose. It would be wise to remember the words of Benjamin Franklin "Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." (Benjamin Franklin, Historical Review of Pennsylvania, 1759).

In a few years you will see big ego guys walking around with low hanging holsters with handguns tied to their leg. It will be Marshall Dillon and Dodge City all over again. Unlike the old west it will probably be alot of "tough guys" in skinny jeans with their underwear showing. This is a bad idea that we will wish never materialized. We will have more accidental shootings by untrained people who think the buck stops here and want to be heroes.

Right On nrajr

and, "A free people ought not only to be armed and disciplined, but they should have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a status of independence from any who might attempt to abuse them, which would include their own government." George Washington (A Speech to Congress in 1790).

and to the Utah Sheriffs Association...Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

My last comment about violence in this country was denied. So I will leave out my comments about violence against unborn children as compared to guns violence; and simply say, there seems to be a bit of hypocrisy in this country on the left side of the isle!

@ ThomasJefferson: The actual Washington quote is, "A free people ought not only to be armed, but disciplined; to which end a uniform and well-digested plan is requisite; and their safety and interest require that they should promote such manufactories as tend to render them independent of others for essential, particularly military, supplies." It was part of his first State of the Union address on January 8, 1790.

The meaning is quite different.

Maudine

That is one version. The version that the anti Second Amendment lobby espouses and has for years to promote the concept that the Second Amendment was ONLY in reference to an armed militia, meaning "military," and not a right given to "the people." Sorry, like my version better. It fits more with his character and the times.

Once again the "Blood in the streets" cry and Wild west quotes... Vermont has had constitutional concealed carry for decades with out issues (except for very little crime). Three more states have added freedom to their laws and no blood is flowing. Concealed carry laws have show a reduction in crime.

Please cut the baloney about Japan. You can die by blunt force as easier than with a gun, and in fact blunt force murders out number gun violence in this country. Also, last I checked, suicides in Japan are higher than here. They just don't use a gun.

Guns are not the sole instrument of violence. Start looking at violent crimes in Australia sense their gun ban and you may think again... Yes, it gone UP. No one can defend themselves and the criminal are having a hayday.

Survival of the fittest (biggest fist) is a crappy game plan in a civilization. The possiblity of resistance lowers crime.

So, DN Suscriber 2, should we do away with training when it comes to driving a car? Or can we just "trust" the good drivers?

there are several states that restrict guns that those of you that dislike them can move to, I like my guns , my state and my bill of rights.

Give that congressman a raise

So, more guns will protect lives, right?

How'd that work in NM? Where a 15 year old boy took his families gun and killed them.

How'd that work for Gabriel Giffords, where she had armed guards, x3 men with guns, and she was shot?

x9 people died.

This is passing laws due to rhetoric, not reality.

And when it's your child killed by someone who purchased 6,000 rounds of ammo legally before they go on a killing spree, I hope you remember today.

How many Utahns are in such peril that they need to carry a gun around with them everywhere they go? Where are they going and who are they hanging out with? Utah is just not that dangerous.

More guns do not keep us safe.

My examples are:

Columbine.

Gabriel Giffords.

New Mexico shooting.

Ft. Hood.

Trolley Square.