On Tuesday, March 10, Senate Bill 78 was passed by the Utah House 61-11. Also yesterday, the Utah Senate passed House Bill 357 by a vote of 25-3. Both bills now return to their originating chambers for concurrence.
SB78, sponsored by State Senator Mark Madsen (R-13) would protect your right to lawfully transport and store firearms in your privately-owned locked motor vehicle while parked in publicly accessible parking lots controlled by your employer or a business you frequent.
HB357, authored by State Representative Steve Sandstrom (R-58), would make it easier for law-abiding citizens to defend themselves without the need to obtain a concealed weapon permit. HB357 does the following:
- It fixes the clearly unintended aspect of existing law that makes it illegal to carry a concealed firearm in or on a person’s residence, property or a business under the person’s control without a concealed weapon permit.
- It would clarify and simplify the currently vague and inconsistent law by allowing law-abiding citizens to choose how they carry a handgun for self-defense (open, concealed, unloaded or loaded) in a vehicle without the need to obtain a permit.
Fifteen states, including Arizona, Colorado, Montana, and Nevada permit the carrying of concealed, loaded firearms for self-protection in vehicles without a concealed weapon permit. An additional nine states, including Idaho and Wyoming, allow loaded firearms to be carried openly for self-protection in vehicles.
Please continue to check your email and www.NRAILA.org for updates on SB78 and HB357.
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