The gun rights crowd is right that state law gives people with concealed-carry permits free rein to bring their guns with them pretty much anywhere. The few exceptions include the secure areas of airports, court houses, prisons and mental health facilities. The law also is clear that the Legislature has reserved to itself the power to make gun laws unless it specifically delegates that responsibility to local governments or state agencies.
So it may be that banning guns in city parks is illegal. As far as we know, however, the question has not been litigated.
Maybe cities and counties should make clear that gun bans in parks don't apply to people with concealed-carry permits.
Otherwise, we think the bans are good public policy. We can't imagine that most Utahns would think it's a good idea to let people bring rifles or pistols to a park for target practice, or for shotgunners to shoot trap there. Young people, especially, should be discouraged from any such notions.
And we don't think it makes much sense for people to carry handguns openly, whether it's in parks or on public transportation. That just makes other people, including peace officers, nervous, and could cause accidents just as readily as it could prevent crime.
Frankly, the Legislature should loosen its grip on gun laws enough to give local governments some leeway. A gun ban in parks is one example. There may be places in rural Utah where the folks want to welcome guns to their parks, but cities along the Wasatch Front may take a very different view. We think that local elected officials have at least as much savvy about such things as legislators do, and they certainly listen to their constituents, who have their ear. Let cities and towns decide.
That said, we're all for obeying the law. That's easier when the law makes sense. In most cases, we think that gun bans in parks meet that test.
