Selective listening is a rampant issue in our Utah Legislature, especially with the Republican members of the Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee.
A clear majority (88%) of Utahns support universal background checks, which would close the private sales loophole that allows criminals to easily purchase firearms from private sellers at gun shows and through internet outlets like the Utah Gun Exchange.
Around 80% of firearms acquired for criminal purposes are obtained through transfers from unlicensed sellers without a background check, and yet the Republican committee members voted to shelve this bill without even giving it a debate on the House floor. Clearly, they are listening to a different group of voices – those of the moneyed interests of the gun lobby.
Is it any surprise that the T-shirts of those among the 12% speaking against this bill were bought and paid for by the Utah Gun Exchange?
Nancy Farrar Halden, Sandy