cuchulainn
July 3, 2003, 01:27 PM
from the Salt Lake Tribune
http://www.sltrib.com/2003/Jul/07032003/utah/72136.aspGun control group takes fight to Utah justices
By Rebecca Walsh
The Salt Lake Tribune
Gun control advocates trying to keep concealed weapons out of schools and churches have appealed their case to the Utah Supreme Court.
The Utah Safe to Learn-Safe to Worship Coalition is challenging five new rules for citizen lawmaking. Third District Judge J. Dennis Frederick last month rejected the group's arguments that the restrictions burden the initiative process and therefore violate the Utah Constitution.
Coalition attorneys filed notice of their appeal Wednesday. Attorney John Pearce will ask the justices to expedite the case.
Under the new guidelines, adopted by state lawmakers during the 2003 Legislature, the group has just one year to collect signatures from 10 percent of registered voters in 26 of 29 state Senate districts.
"We really want to know what rules we're going to be held to," Pearce said. "We're kind of planning around the process right now."
Last summer, the justices threw out the old requirement that initiative supporters gather signatures from 10 percent of voters in 20 of 29 counties. Legislators tinkered with the Utah Election Code and added more rules. In addition to the signature requirements, initiative proponents must hold seven meetings around the state and cannot file similar initiatives for two years.
The coalition, also known as Safe Havens for Learning, filed an initiative petition with Lt. Gov. Olene Walker's office March 21. Walker concluded the coalition, as well as nine other groups circulating initiative petitions, will have to comply with the one-year time limit. The rest of the rules are on hold.
© Copyright 2003, The Salt Lake Tribune.
http://www.sltrib.com/2003/Jul/07032003/utah/72136.aspGun control group takes fight to Utah justices
By Rebecca Walsh
The Salt Lake Tribune
Gun control advocates trying to keep concealed weapons out of schools and churches have appealed their case to the Utah Supreme Court.
The Utah Safe to Learn-Safe to Worship Coalition is challenging five new rules for citizen lawmaking. Third District Judge J. Dennis Frederick last month rejected the group's arguments that the restrictions burden the initiative process and therefore violate the Utah Constitution.
Coalition attorneys filed notice of their appeal Wednesday. Attorney John Pearce will ask the justices to expedite the case.
Under the new guidelines, adopted by state lawmakers during the 2003 Legislature, the group has just one year to collect signatures from 10 percent of registered voters in 26 of 29 state Senate districts.
"We really want to know what rules we're going to be held to," Pearce said. "We're kind of planning around the process right now."
Last summer, the justices threw out the old requirement that initiative supporters gather signatures from 10 percent of voters in 20 of 29 counties. Legislators tinkered with the Utah Election Code and added more rules. In addition to the signature requirements, initiative proponents must hold seven meetings around the state and cannot file similar initiatives for two years.
The coalition, also known as Safe Havens for Learning, filed an initiative petition with Lt. Gov. Olene Walker's office March 21. Walker concluded the coalition, as well as nine other groups circulating initiative petitions, will have to comply with the one-year time limit. The rest of the rules are on hold.
© Copyright 2003, The Salt Lake Tribune.