Utah won't ban out-of-state instructors from qualifying people for a concealed weapon permit despite worries from the gun-rights community about abuses that could erode the value of a Utah permit in other states.
Rep. Curt Oda, R-Clearfield, originally was going to push an outright prohibition, but substituted his bill after speaking with lobbyists from the National Rifle Association. Now, his HB204 creates a formal complaint process to address issues with nonresident instructors. An instructor who has complaints is entitled to a hearing, and if found guilty, could lose his or her teaching license and concealed weapon permit for up to seven years.
Clark Aposhian, chairman of the Utah Shooting Sports Council, worries states, such as Nevada, that have expressed concerns about nonresident instructors may now stop accepting Utah's permit.
Charles Hardy, Gun Owners of Utah policy director, said he is "deeply concerned" about the new bill.
"We support the right to legally defend ourselves, but unfortunately an outside entity disregarded what was best for Utah," Hardy said. "We usually agree with the NRA, but on this one they didn't do us any favors."
The substitute bill passed a House committee and goes to the full House for further debate.
