This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated.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.
Rep. Carl Wimmer, R-Herriman, proposes that any person over the age of 21 be allowed to carry a loaded deadly weapon almost anywhere in the state for "self defense" ("Gun permits, who needs 'em?" Tribune, Jan. 13). Now, this just may be political posturing by Wimmer to score political points with his conservative base in his bid for Utah's new 4th Congressional seat in 2012.
However, Wimmer's proposal is a poor policy idea. He claims to believe in personal liberties, freedoms and rights, but fails to realize that his proposal jeopardizes not only the safety, but the rights of many citizens of our great state.
The framers of the Constitution's Second Amendment granted the people the right to keep and bear arms under "well regulated" conditions, but Wimmer fails to realize that when the "well regulated" part is ignored, it infringes on the rights of those of us who choose not to carry guns and wish to avoid them.
Wimmer may think he has the right to carry a loaded deadly weapon anywhere he pleases, but I also have the right to know that those around me wielding deadly force have been required to display at least a modicum of proficiency, responsibility and sanity in being able to exercise that right.
Isaac Higham
Logan