Utah concealed weapons permits

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leehdavidson

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I am a reporter for the Deseret Morning News in Salt Lake City. We are doing a story looking at a big surge in concealed weapons permits here. Utah has seen permit applications go from about 4,000 a year in 2000 to maybe 30,000 this year. About a third of all permits here go to people from out of state.

We're trying to come up with reasons for that increase, and why so many non-residents seek a Utah permit. Any comments?

For example, have any of you from out of state applied in Utah -- and why did you choose to do so? It's low fee (59)? Because 30 other states recognized it? Is the Utah permit easier to obtain than other states?

Why in general do you think so many more people overall are applying now? Do things like the Virginia Tech shootings make them feel less safe?

Thanks,

Lee Davidson
(Salt Lake City) Deseret Morning News
 
Lee,

I am a SLC, Utah resident who just last month completed my CWP class and applied for a permit.

It's something I've thought of doing for some time now. I recently found out that several of my friends have quietly done so in the last year or two.

The Trolley Square shootings helped me decide to finally do it. The shootings also made it easier for my wife to understand why I'd want to get a permit, even if I don't have plans to carry concealed except on rare occasions.

Hope this helps. I enjoy your column.
 
Lee, I'm a Utah resident, and a Utah CCW instructor. I teach for FBMG in Draper, and I also teach all of Cabelas classes, so I'm one of the busiest instructors in the state.

Here in Utah, Trolley Square spurred a lot of folks who had been sitting on the fence about the issue. I'm sure that Virginia Tech will also have a similar effect, if not even greater.

Nationally, the Utah permit is loved because of the relatively low cost, and the high number of states that honor it. For anyone that travels much, the Utah permit is great. I can drive from here to Florida and not have to take my gun off.
 
Two data points for you.

1. My brother-in-law who lives in Salem, UT just received his permit. I believe the motivating factors were: a) Trolley Square, b) his daughter had gone ahead and obtained her's, c) he had traditionally carried a pistol in his car, now he wanted to do so legally.

2. I visit UT frequently. The Utah permit is reconized in many states that I visit as well. I will take the class and apply for a UT permit next time I visit. I like to support good legislation.

As to your other questions, the UT permit is recognized in many other states and that is useful. It allows a permit holder to obtain one permit as opposed to several. As to the ease of obtaining it, the ND permit is as easy or easier, the OH permit I had when living there was more time consuming, but not harder. I believe the defining characteristic of the popularity of the UT permit is that other states have recognized the quality of the State's permiting process and have chosen to honor that permit. Quite a compliment to Utah.

--usp_fan
 
Lee,

I am not a UT resident (I'm on the East Coast).

FL and UT permits are becoming increasingly sought after because of the number of states that honor them.

Those poor folk processing the UT permit applications would have an easier time if every state had reciprocity with each other, like we have with drivers licenses now.

I just dropped my application for UT in the mail 3 weeks ago.

I would add that I am somewhat late to the scene, as I had to wait to find a UT-approved safety course instructor in my neck of the woods.
 
Utah

I live in VA and am a UT CCW instructor. I get many people to take the class who want the Utah Permit, for it's reciprocity with Delaware (or Washington State) It has recirpocity with more states than any other permit (I think)
 
According to the BCI website, here are the states that honor UT's carry permit:

http://bci.utah.gov/CFP/CFPFAQ/FAQOther.html

UTAH CONCEALED FIREARM PERMIT RECIPROCITY WITH OTHER STATES


Will Utah honor concealed firearm permits from other states?

In accordance with U.C.A. 76-10-523, Utah will honor a permit to carry a concealed firearm issued by another state or county.

Although there are many states that will recognize the Utah concealed firearm permit, the State of Utah has formal reciprocity with the following states: (with a valid UT permit, you can carry concealed in these states, subject to each state's own laws and residency requirements. in turn, citizens with valid permits from these states can carry concealed in UT, subject to UT's carry laws)

Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Texas, Washington State


The following states recognize the Utah concealed firearm permit. (with a valid UT permit, you can carry concealed in these states, subject to each state's own laws and residency requirements)


Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Wyoming


The following states DO NOT recognize the Utah concealed firearm permit.

California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, West Virginia, Wisconsin

So there are 19 states that don't have reciprocity or recognize UT permits.
 
California

I am a California resident, and have had a UT CCW for a couple of years now. Californians have two reasons for applying for a Utah CCW that I know of:

1. California CCW's can be hard to obtain, depending on where in the state you live. Some seek UT CCW's so that they can at least carry legally while on vacation.

2. Probably because California has such unique CCW practices, relatively few states allow reciprocity. So, even if you do have a California CCW, a Utah CCW increases the places out of state you can carry legally.
 
Plan and simple....RECIPROCITY! I am a resident of MN who will often frequent SD and ND. For the price and ease of legally being able to carry in these three states the Utah permit is best fit. Not to mention all the other states you get to use it in.

I would be you would find similiar increases in New Hampshire's permit #'s issued since they have multi-state reciprocity too.
 
I live in GA. I have a GA permit. I also have a UT permit to 'fill in the gaps' that GA's reciprocity agreements leave. My options were FL, which is expensive and annoying to get and expensive to renew, or UT which has a reasonable cost and is inexpensively renewed, yet has a list of reciprocal states similar to FL.

I am also a UT instructor. I don't do it as a mainline business, but I was able to get certified so I did.
 
Lee:

I am currently going to law school in Philadelphia, and I plan in the next few months to apply for a UT permit, because of the greater reciprocity it comes with compared to Pennsylvania's (my Pennsylvania permit is recognized by only 15 other states), and because I'd like to get the required training anyhow, so I'd like to get full advantage of what that will allow. (Pennsylvania has no training requirement, and though I shoot when I can at both public and private ranges, more training can only be a good idea.)

And when I finish law school, a Utah permit is good in all but one (Nevada) of the nine states I'm considering as long-term homes, whereas my PA resident permit will be meaningless then.

(And besides, a Utah permit would make me even happier to visit Salt Lake City, one of the most beautiful cities in the United States -- the public library alone is worth visiting for!)

Cheers,

timothy (Timothy Lord )

Happy to be quoted or to clarify / expand answers; my email is [email protected], where firstname and lastname are my own ;)
 
Lee

Two state CCWs are very popular across the country: Utah and Florida. At last count, Florida had issued more than 30,000 licenses to non-residents (I have one). The principal reason for the popularity is the fact that both are honored by 30 or more additional states.

The plus side of the Florida license is that they accept a wide variety of training courses, including any NRA-approved handgun course or a military discharge certificate (DD-214) that reflects handgun training. The down side is the cost: $117 for five years.

Utah requires a unique, Utah-approved course (which is offered in several states and in Canada -- listed on the BCI web site), but runs half the cost.

For the traveler, both are considered the "never leave home without" card.


Joe Waldron
Exec Dir, CCRKBA
http://www.ccrkba.org
 
Lee,

I work at a gun store in Tooele. Although we've always heard from a good number of people who are interested in concealed carry permits, we had a big jump after the Trolley Square shooting. It diminished very little before the VT shooting, and interest is high again. Probably 1 out of every 2 customers that come in ask me about the concealed carry permit.

Yes, I have my CFP. Since I live here, an answer to the "why do you have a Utah permit" question is probably not necessary. However, it does please me to know that my permit is honored in a majority of the other states. I've debated getting the FL permit to cover the gaps that the UT permit leaves open, but I can't currently justify the cost. As big a pain as getting the UT permit is, getting the FL one is much worse.

Wes
 
Yeesh. FL is nothing compared to other states ... come on, you've probably already taken a course, all you need is fingerprints, photos, and a notary.

As an outsider looking in ... UT was kind of a pain b/c i couldn't find a UT approved instructor nearby (and I had to shell out $100 for it even though I've already taken 3 basic NRA safety courses AND LFI-1).

I mean, it's not like Massachusetts where you (as a non-resident) have to renew EVERY YEAR and pay $100 a pop :barf:
 
Our Texas CHL is recognized by a lot of states but it aint cheap. First time is $140.00 plus the price of the training and testing (usually about $120.00). After that the renewal is $70.00 plus training and testing (usually about $80.00). The license is good for 5 years.
I have had mine since they passed the law in 1996. It's been good just about everywhere I have been except California.
 
Lee,

I am a California Resident. I frequent Utah many times throughout the year either to ski in and around Salt Lake City or camping in your beautiful Bryce & Zion parks. Not to mention I have freinds in St George and can get to Brian Head from Vegas.

FL and UT permits are becoming increasingly sought after because of the number of states that honor them. Also because California has no reciprocity with other states. In Los Angeles County It's nearly impossibel to get a permit unless you're a large political donor or Law Enforcement. Even good cause is denied by sheriff Bacca. But Chief Bratton can get one even though he is not qualified.

I recieved my Utah and Florida permist this year and look forward to spending time in both your beautiful states.
 
Lee,

I have visited your lovely state, and made good use of the Mormon geneological library in SLC. I enjoyed reading your paper while I was there.

IIRC, the Univ of Utah administration got it's panties all in a wad over the state legislature's refusal to allow public universities in Utah to prohibit concealed weapons on campus. Seems the good profs there were worried that they would be shunned, or worse, laughingstocks at academic meetings because students and faculty could legally carry concealed weapons.

Why don't you contrast what happened at Virginia Tech with what might have happened had the incident occurred at the University of Utah? You could use the Trolley Square incident as an alternative possible outcome that might have left considerably less than 32 victims dead!

Be sure to post your article here when it's published! And welcome -- stick around and get to know the culture. :)
 
I got my FL permit because I reside in a "liberal" state where carry permits aren't issued to law-abiding peasants such as myself. (NJ, in case you're interested)

While the permit is useless in NJ, I travel frequently to states where, unlike NJ and other such bastions of socialism, citizens are entrusted with the right to safely bear arms. A carry permit that is recognized in these states is a valuable enough asset to merit the investment of Florida's $117 fee.

It takes no great amount of imagination or historical research to be cognizant of the threats a family with small children faces on the highway, far from home. Car breaks down and you're stuck on the side of the road, hopefully with working cellphone service to call for help...but still immobilized nonetheless. Late-night stops for fuel or restrooms have led to carjackings and worse for others.

I'm greatly appreciative of Utah and Florida making the effort to extend their carry permit process beyond their borders. Sadly, it's the only way those of us in "liberal" Northeastern states have the opportunity to gain access to the right to defend ourselves and our families when we're away from home.
 
The basic reason for the popularity of the Utah permit is as others have noted: many state recognize the Utah permit so it makes a good choice in a non-resident permit for people who travel or live in states that don't issue permits.

I lived in Utah 1996-2001 and I still maintain my Utah permit (now as a non-resident) because it's recognized in more states than is the permit I hold from my home state.

Not all states will honor a non-resident permit, but many do and the Utah permit is a good one to have.
 
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