A bill challenging federal gun laws and asserting states' rights continued to roll through the Utah Legislature on Monday.
Already passed by the Senate, the proposal to exempt from federal control Utah-made guns that don't leave the state glided through a House committee on a nearly unanimous vote.
SB11 now goes to the full House.
"This bill addresses our state's immutable right to establish rules and regulations," said Sen. Margaret Dayton, R-Orem, the bill's sponsor.
She acknowledged that precedent-setting cases at the U.S. Supreme Court take a broad view of the federal government's authority over commerce, creating a potentially costly legal fight if the bill passes. But Montana and Tennessee already have passed versions, and Dayton argues a national groundswell, including the Utah measure, will help present a new "emerging consensus" to the court.
"This is not rogue action," she said.
No one from the public or the panel spoke against the bill at Monday's hearing. Only Rep. Phil Riesen, D-Holladay, voted against it.
Senate Democrats previously objected to setting up a potentially expensive legal fight.
Rep. Mike Noel, R-Kanab, said testing the federal government on states' rights, including gun regulation, is important.
"These are absolutely critically important rights to each of us as individuals," Noel said.
Don Peay of Sportsmen for Fish & Wildlife said asserting the state's right to manage its affairs is an economic-development issue and worth investing "some millions" in a legal fight.
Clark Aposhian of the Utah Shooting Sports Council said the bill would not be more lenient on gun owners because Utah requires background checks for firearm sales.
"This is not about making firearms available to currently restricted persons in any way," he said.
