The legislature meets again on the 27th and we are already seeing new bills attacking our rights to self-defense, including guns.
HB 109, Rep Brian King (D-Salt Lake) would essentially end private sales of guns and make Gov Herberts dream of universal background checks a reality.
HB 115, Rep Andrew Stoddard (D-Sandy) would make lawful gun owners liable for the illegal actions of others that some how get access to the individuals’ guns and would make the gun owner literally guilty until proven innocent.
HB 136, Rep. Elizabeth Weight (D-Salt Lake) is similar to HB115 with the difference being the gun owner would be liable if they didn’t have their gun locked away.
SB 33, Senator Karen Mayne (D-Salt Lake) makes it a third degree felony if they are in the possession of a gun that has had identifying (whatever that means) markers removed. Doesn’t matter if they knew the gun had been modified or if they did the modification. Individuals will now be tasked with investigative duties regarding the property of friends and family to avoid prison.
Then an unnumbered bill from Rep Steven Christiansen (R-West Jordan) which (after speaking with Christiansen) appears would strip property owners of their rights of association re guns.
Sadly, this is not unusual for Utah, though we have a reputation for being “wild west” and gun friendly. Until the late 1990s you couldn’t even get a conceal carry permit. In
2013 the legislature passed, with a veto proof majority, constitutional or permit less carry which governor Herbert vetoed. Though the legislature had the votes to override the veto, they refused to do so. A reasonable person might suspect the legislature knew the governor would veto and used it as cover with their constituents. That same year, Herbert revealed his anti-gun extremism when on the Rod Arquette show he said he supported background checks for all guns, including BB Guns.
The lesson we need to learn here is that just because our legislators are “Republican”, doesn’t mean they support the platform of the party, nor the constitutions they’ve sworn to uphold. Therefore, the people must be ever vigilant and not allow the legislature to continue to get away with their criminal behavior.
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