This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
On Feb. 8 the Utah House Judiciary Committee gave a favorable recommendation to House Bill 198 which would enable 18-, 19- and 20-year-olds to get provisional permits to carry concealed weapons. What were they thinking? Is this to expand the market for gun sales? Utah teens and young adults have a high suicide rate already and guns are the most successful method of committing suicide.
Many 18-year-olds are still in high school. Will they forget and carry their weapons to school as apparently so many adult concealed carriers "forget" and take their guns to the airport? (Yes, I know, the next step could be to allow guns on high school campuses as they are currently allowed on public college campuses). There's a reason Utah does not allow those under 21 to buy liquor. Shouldn't that reasoning be applied to legally carrying concealed lethal weapons?
Please contact your state representative and ask them to stand up to the corporate gun lobby's push for the proliferation of hand guns.
Dee Rowland
Cottonwood Heights