{"id":376746,"date":"2016-03-31T21:37:00","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:37:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/utah-law\/utah-gun-control-laws.html"},"modified":"2024-11-10T10:41:24","modified_gmt":"2024-11-10T15:41:24","slug":"utah-gun-control-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/utah-law\/utah-gun-control-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Utah Gun Control Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Utah Gun Control Laws<\/h1>\n
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\n By John Mascolo, Esq.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by John Mascolo, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

In the United States, people have the right to keep and bear arms for self-defense. This guarantee appears in the Second Amendment<\/a> of the U.S. Constitution and caselaw interpreting the Second Amendment. Many states also have the right to bear arms in their state constitutions.<\/p>\r\n

Lawmakers in the U.S. Congress and state legislatures must balance the right to own guns with the public need to prevent gun violence. Firearm laws in Utah strike that balance by placing fewer restrictions on gun ownership and possession than in many other states.<\/p>\r\n

Federal firearms law derives from the federal government’s ability to regulate the interstate commerce of firearms. It applies across all 50 states. Federal law allows the legal manufacture, sale, and possession of firearms. It requires registration of certain dangerous weapons like machine guns and short-barreled shotguns and rifles. It also prohibits possession of firearms by several categories of people based on risks to public safety. For example, federal law bans possession of a firearm by felons, those addicted to or using illegal drugs, and those convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence.<\/p>\r\n

Gun transactions that happen through federally licensed firearms dealers are subject to a criminal background check through the FBI. This helps prevent guns from falling into the wrong hands.<\/p>\r\n

Utah Gun Statutes<\/h2>\r\n

The Beehive State has statutes in place that are consistent with its views on public safety and the rights of gun owners. State gun control laws<\/a> can restrict the purchase and use of firearms within the state.<\/p>\r\n

In 2021, Utah enacted a law allowing "permitless carry" of firearms. This law allows law-abiding citizens the right to carry a loaded concealed handgun in public without requiring them to get a permit, pass a background check, and complete firearm safety training. In Utah, you must be at least 21 years old to carry a loaded firearm without a permit. Those who are 18-20 must get a concealed firearm permit to carry.<\/p>\r\n

Effective May 1, 2024, Utah’s Educator-Protector Program<\/a> allows teachers to securely carry firearms on school grounds to enhance safety. Such teachers must complete annual response training and hold a concealed carry permit. Firearms must be stored in biometric safes within classrooms. Participants are shielded from civil liability when acting in good faith. This initiative aims to empower teachers with the means to protect their classrooms responsibly.<\/p>\r\n

Like other states, Utah maintains its process of issuing concealed weapon permits to assist Utah residents with reciprocity. More than 35 states recognize Utah concealed carry permit holders. You can apply for a Utah concealed firearm permit in person or by mail with the Bureau of Criminal Identification<\/a> (BCI), a Department of Public Safety division. BCI will issue a standard permit to those 21 or older and a provisional permit to those between 18 and 20. Applicants must pass a background check. They must provide a copy of their driver’s license, a color photograph of themselves, a fingerprint card, and a certificate of weapon familiarity. The certificate comes from your firearms safety instructor. You must also meet all other eligibility qualifications. Utah also issues non-resident concealed firearm permits.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Utah does ban the use or possession of firearms in certain locations. There are certain exceptions for state permit holders (*) and others. These include:<\/p>\r\n