A Republican legislator who pushed for looser gun laws has now flipped on his own bill in favor of an all-out ban on open carry on public campuses. The states’ loosening restrictions drew nationwide attention after the assassination of right-wing commentator Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University in September.
State Rep. Walt Brooks, who represents St. George, is the chief sponsor of of House Bill 84, which allows an individual 21 or older to carry a concealed firearm on a college campus without a permit. Brooks flipped on the bill, denouncing it during a committee meeting.
“Open carrying does cause a lot of concern with a lot of people, especially on campuses,” he said during a hearing on his measure before the House Public Utilities and Energy Committee. “Working with the higher education commissioner, we removed that piece.”
The new bill will ban open carrying on college campuses, whether or not the person has a permit. A concealed carry firearm would be allowed, whether or not the person has a permit.
Brooks originally drafted the bill to make it clear that both open and concealed carry are legal on the eight public university campuses in Utah. Brooks amended the bill after an effort to recodify the law confused people into thinking open carry was banned on campuses. The University of Utah put out a statement after the initial amendment telling its students that open carry was allowed for the first time, which is also incorrect.
Open carry on college campuses has been legal since 2021 under a bill that was also sponsored by Brooks. This bill made Utah a “constitutional carry” state and allowed the open or concealed carry of a firearm if you are 21 or older without a permit or background check. That includes rifles, shotguns and handguns.
The state also issues provisional permits to those 18-20 years old. People younger than 18 can not open carry or concealed carry.
Author: Andrew Streeter
Photo: Bebeto Matthews, AP News
Editor: Hannah Clove
news@suunews.net
