This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Sandy • If you were looking for people who oppose a bill that would make it easier to carry a concealed weapon almost anywhere in America, the Crossroads of the West Gun Show wasn't the place to search.
It was, after all, a place where people go to buy and sell guns. Where there are signs proclaiming "Freedom is not free. Join the NRA today." Where you could actually take a concealed-carry permit certification class.
So, not surprisingly, there was overwhelming support for a bill that recently passed the U.S. House and would allow anyone with a Utah concealed-weapons permit to carry in 48 of the other 49 states.
"It would be really good for me," said Lane Gould, of Layton, who was there with his wife, two daughters and a 12-gauge tactical shotgun he was looking to sell. "I'm getting my [concealed-weapons permit] next week, and I travel a lot for business.
"I think everybody here would be in favor of that."
The bill, which was supported by all three Utah congressmen, would require all states that issue concealed-weapons permits to accept permits issued in other states. Only Illinois and Washington, D.C., prohibit concealed weapons.
Each state could continue to enforce its own restrictions on where and how weapons could be carried, and out-of-state permit holders would have to comply. But one state could not refuse to recognize a permit issued by another.
Utah currently has a reciprocity agreement with 32 other states, but 16 states (plus Illinois and Washington, D.C.) do not recognize Utah permits.
Tim and Shaila Thirkill, of Ogden, said they were strongly in favor of the bill.
"I think it would be nice to not have to worry about it," said Shaila Thirkill, who added that she would feel safer on vacation if her husband could carry his weapon.
Tim Thirkill has had a Utah-issued permit for four years and said he's never been in a situation where he's needed his gun.
"No, but I wouldn't want to be in that situation and not have it," Tim Thirkill said.
Clearly, this was a guns-rights crowd. But not everyone thought the bill was a great idea.
"I don't think it's even necessary," said Ralph Schamel, of Salt Lake City, who was manning the National Rifle Association booth. "I don't know chapter and verse, but it's in the Constitution of the United States."
He pointed out that marriage licenses and driver licenses issued in Utah are recognized in the rest of the country.
"That's the way carry permits should be," said Schamel, who clearly isn't overly concerned about the House bill.
"I don't think we need it. And I don't think it's going to pass the Senate, either," he said with a laugh.