The following two bills are scheduled to be voted on very soon by the Utah Senate. Your state Senator needs to hear from you TODAY.
House Bill 276, sponsored by state Representative Curt Oda (R-14), would provide that the mere carrying or possession of a holstered or encased firearm, without some additional incriminating behavior, does not constitute a violation of the Disorderly Conduct statute. As previously reported, House Bill 276 would remove one of the ploys (charging the person with disorderly conduct) being used by some local jurisdictions in Utah to circumvent state law and the Utah Constitution in an attempt to harass law-abiding firearm owners who are carrying a firearm in otherwise compliance with state law. However, there will likely be amendments proposed to gut HB 276 or even turn it into an anti-gun bill. HB 276 passed in the state House by a 54 to 17 vote, without amendment.
House Bill 373, sponsored by state Representative Ryan Wilcox (R-7), would require that certification by a chief law enforcement officer (CLEO), when a signoff is required for the transfer of a firearm or other item regulated by the National Firearms Act (NFA), be provided within fifteen days as long as the applicant is not prohibited by law from receiving the firearm or other item. Representative Wilcox has proposed an NRA-supported amendment to improve and strengthen the language in HB 373 and ensure its effectiveness. House Bill 373 passed unanimously in the House.
It is crucial that you contact your state Senator TODAY and urge him or her to SUPPORT HB 276 WITH NO AMENDMENTS and HB 373 WITH SPONSOR’S AMENDMENT. Contact information for your state Senator can be found here.
Utah Senate:
Switchboard - (801) 538-1035