This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Utah has recently seen a huge upsurge in concealed weapons permits. My question is, just how well-trained are these people in the proper use of that weapon and are these people really prepared to use that weapon in a crowded, chaotic gun fight?
Are they certain they can remain calm enough to accurately locate the shooter and disable him? Even military and law enforcement occasionally have a difficult time under such conditions, and I believe they have far more training than these folks.
Are they willing to take on such a huge responsibility? Do they think they would have the nerves it would take to hit the shooter and not hit a running, screaming child or other civilian? But most of all are they really prepared to take another life?
I'm guessing this probably isn't something they have done before and it isn't part of their usual job description. Are they going to be able to live with that? I think a lot of people like talking that Chuck Norris and Rambo bravado nonsense but really aren't prepared for the situation.
Daniel Fjeld
Taylorsville