Utah gun laws are among the most lenient in the nation. They protect Second Amendment rights, but some say they go too far and can also prevent the enactment of public safety.
Utah gun laws recently made international news after an emailed death threat to a feminist speaker at Utah State University led to the cancellation of the event. The speaker did not feel safe because the school was prevented by the state's gun laws from conducting gun searches on attendees.
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Here are quotes from the uproar over that event and other gun rights issues in the state:
• "Utah’s affection for firearms in public places has made the state look a right fool in the global mass media over the last couple of days. It will pass. But it is a black eye we — or, at least, our elected officials — richly deserve." – Oct. 15, 2014,
editorial in the Salt Lake Tribune following the cancellation of a speaking event by feminist Anita Sarkeesian.
• "I feel like the organizers of previous events had my safety as a top priority and keeping me informed was a top priority. I didn’t feel that way in this case. ... There were other things that made me feel uncomfortable too, but allowing concealed weapons made me cancel." –
Feminist Anita Sarkeesian to CNN following the Utah State speech cancellation over after a death threat.
• "I think there are places where people that have concealed carry should not be able to carry, and that would be churches and schools. I believe in the Second Amendment, but there are limits to the Second Amendement because there are limits to other constitutional amendments." – Dee Rowland, Chairwoman of the Gun Violence Prevention Center of Utah,
to The Herald Journal in November 2014
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• "I have yet to receive any credible evidence that Utah's current permit process constitutes a hardship." – Utah Gov. Gary Herbert in a veto letter to legislative leaders concerning why he did not approve of a law that would have eliminated the need to have a permit to carry a handgun in the state.
• "I think it showed courage on the governor's part, and good sense. The governor has said all along that he didn't like the bill and that he didn't see a reason to change the existing system. So his action is consistent with his words, which is refreshing in a politician." – Gun Violence Prevention Center board member
Steve Gunn to the Salt Lake Tribune about Herbert’s veto.
• "We can’t ask them about it and they don’t have to tell us about it. Our policy will adhere to state law." – The response of Provo City School District spokesman
Caleb Price to the Daily Herald concerning the right of teachers to conceal carry in the classroom.
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