State of Utah Archives: on Gun Control
Austin Searle:
Require licensing, registration, training
A more effective way of reducing gun violence in communities would require every buyer of any age to obtain a license that includes the registration of all purchases and at least a modest training program. Those who plan to buy a gun of any type should p
Source: 2021-2022 Utah Senate race website AustinForSenate.com
Jun 27, 2021
Craig Bowden:
No gun restrictions except on convicted felons
Q: Do you agree or disagree with the statement, "Absolute right to gun ownership"?A: Agreed.
Q: Does that right extend to fully-automatic weapons? Bump stocks? Age 21 or age 18? What restrictions?
A: The only restrictions I believe in would be against individuals who have already used violence against others (assault, rape, murder, etc.) or those who have been adjudicated as unstable through due process in a court.
Source: OnTheIssues follow-up with 2018 Utah Senate candidate
Mar 1, 2018
Danny Drew:
Ridiculous to have guns at school in case of bears
Drew also scoffed at [Trump's Secretary of Education nominee] DeVos' argument that teachers need guns to defend classrooms from grizzly bears. "This is what you get in someone who has given millions of dollars to one party," he said.
The DeVos family has given an estimated $200 million to the Republican party.
Source: Good Men Project on 2018 Utah Senatorial race
Jun 21, 2017
Gary Herbert:
Vetoed concealed carry of guns without a permit
Legislative Summary: HB76: Exemption for a person, who may lawfully possess a firearm, from certain criminal provisions related to the carrying of an unloaded concealed firearm.Analysis of support by Deseret News: Rep.
Curt Oda said the bill simply allows those who can legally carry a gun to put a jacket on over their firearm, "It's not gun control, it's jacket control." Oda said the bill had overwhelming support from pro-gun organizations.
Analysis of veto
message by Deseret News: Herbert vetoed the controversial "constitutional carry" bill. Herbert said his veto decision was supported by much of the law enforcement community. While he was passionate about Second Amendment rights, Utah needs gun
policy that "sends a message that we have a quality of life that is sophisticated, and that we're not the wild and woolly West."
Legislative Outcome: Passed House 51-18-6 on 3/1/13; Passed Senate 22-7-0 on 3/13/13 ; Vetoed on 3/22/13
Source: The Deseret News on Utah voting record HB76
Mar 22, 2013
Greg Hughes:
2nd Amendment guarantees right to bear arms
The Founders made it very clear what the Second Amendment means, and I have been a strong supporter and defender throughout my public service. We must fight against any & all attempts to infringe upon our right to keep and bear arms.- I am a gun
owner
- I have a strong voting record defending the 2nd Amendment
- I have already proven this by voting FOR constitutional carry legislation
- As Governor I will encourage the passage of Constitutional Carry and/or Common-Sense Carry legislation.
Source: 2020 Utah gubernatorial campaign website GregHughes.com
Apr 15, 2020
Jeff Burningham:
Gun owner who supports the Second Amendment
- I am a gun owner and support the second amendment.
- I believe that people should be able to live their lives as they see fit, without unnecessary government intrusion.
- I will represent all Utahns because we are one
Utah--no matter their gender, sexual orientation, race, or creed.
- I support religious freedom and other First Amendment rights such as free speech and freedom of association.
Source: 2020 Utah gubernatorial campaign website JeffBurningham.com
Jan 6, 2020
Jonathan Johnson:
Protect right to own and carry guns
I support the second amendment and
will protect your right to own and carry guns.
Source: 2016 Utah Gubernatorial campaign website, HireJJ.com
Dec 10, 2015
Mia Love:
Ardent supporter of the Second Amendment
Americans have a constitutional, fundamental, and individual right to keep and bear arms. I believe the Second Amendment is essential to the preservation of our American way of life and that it guarantees the protection of all the other freedoms listed
in the Bill of Rights. Furthermore, the Second Amendment preserves our ability to protect ourselves, our families, and our homes. Unfortunately, too many politicians are willing to infringe upon this right by making it more difficult for law-abiding
Americans to purchase and possess firearms.As an ardent supporter of the Second Amendment, I will oppose all efforts to restrict our gun rights. I am a concealed carry permit holder and a proud gun owner.
As your Representative in Congress, you can count on me to vigilantly protect and defend your Second Amendment rights and all of our other rights enshrined in the Constitution. I refuse to compromise away our fundamental rights as citizens.
Source: 2014 Utah House campaign website, Love4Utah.com
Aug 8, 2014
Misty Snow:
More background checks; no guns to violent criminals
Currently background checks are required by federally licensed firearm retailers, but background checks are not required by private dealers, including at gun shows. We must ensure that there is a thorough background check completed at every point of
sale for every gun.People who have a history of violence should not be able to buy a firearm. People who have committed a violent crime should not own a firearm. People who have been abusive to their partners, children, or other family members
should not own a firearm. People who have history of mental illness and who are likely to do harm to themselves and others should not own firearms.
Additionally, our country needs to start seriously investigating the root causes of gun violence.
In 2013, President Obama issued an executive order calling for the CDC to resume studying the causes of gun violence. Three years later, those studies have not resumed due to a lack of funding.
Source: 2016 Utah Senate campaign website MistyKSnow.com
Aug 8, 2016
Mitt Romney:
Prevent school shootings with state and local action
Romney called the school shooting [at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on February 14, 2018, in which 17 people were killed] "senseless, debased evil." "We must take action to prevent this again," he said,
adding that this would best be accomplished at the state and local levels, not in Washington.
Source: The Metro on 2018 Utah Senate race
Feb 16, 2018
Spencer Cox:
Supports concealed carry of guns without a permit
HB76: Exemption for a person, who may lawfully possess a firearm, from certain criminal provisions related to the carrying of an unloaded concealed firearm.Analysis of support by Deseret News: Rep. Curt Oda said the bill simply allows
those who can legally carry a gun to put a jacket on over their firearm, "It's not gun control, it's jacket control." Oda said the bill had overwhelming support from pro-gun organizations.
Analysis of veto message by Deseret News:
Herbert vetoed the controversial "constitutional carry" bill. Herbert said his veto decision was supported by much of the law enforcement community. While he was passionate about Second Amendment rights, Utah needs gun policy that "sends a message that
we have a quality of life that is sophisticated, and that we're not the wild and woolly West."
Legislative Outcome: Passed House 51-18-6 on 3/1/13; State Rep. Spencer Cox voted YES; Passed Senate 22-7-0 on 3/13/13 ; Vetoed on 3/22/13
Source: The Deseret News on Utah voting record HB76
Mar 1, 2013
Phil Lyman:
Give nonviolent offenders access to guns after three years
A Utah bill that would automatically reinstate nonviolent offenders' access to firearms three years after the end of their sentence passed favorably out of a House committee. The bill's sponsor, Rep. Phil Lyman, told the House Law Enforcement and
Criminal Justice Committee on Thursday afternoon that passing HB507 would result in fewer people prosecuted for firearm-possession offenses, and fewer people going through the expungement process.
Source: Salt Lake Tribune on 2024 Utah Gubernatorial race
Feb 24, 2023
Brian King:
Sponsored bill calling for universal background checks
King unveiled a bill that would enact universal background checks on gun sales in Utah, with some exceptions. To King, who cited mounting public pressure and surveyed support for a universal background check law, said it's only a matter of time before
Utah passes its own law."This is not a question of if this kind of bill passes," King said. "It's only a question of when. And how many lives are we going to lose between now and then because we don't have these effective laws?"
Source: Deseret News on 2024 Utah Gubernatorial race
Dec 17, 2019
Brian King:
Opposed concealed carry of guns without a permit
HB76: Exemption for a person, who may lawfully possess a firearm, from certain criminal provisions related to the carrying of an unloaded concealed firearm.Analysis of support by Deseret News: Rep. Curt Oda said the bill simply allows
those who can legally carry a gun to put a jacket on over their firearm, "It's not gun control, it's jacket control." Oda said the bill had overwhelming support from pro-gun organizations.
Analysis of veto message by Deseret News:
Herbert vetoed the controversial "constitutional carry" bill. Herbert said his veto decision was supported by much of the law enforcement community. While he was passionate about Second Amendment rights, Utah needs gun policy that "sends a message that
we have a quality of life that is sophisticated, and that we're not the wild and woolly West."
Legislative Outcome: Passed House 51-18-6 on 3/1/13; State Rep. Brian King voted NO; Passed Senate 22-7-0 on 3/13/13 ; Vetoed on 3/22/13
Source: The Deseret News on Utah voting record HB76
Mar 1, 2013
Brad Wilson:
Led the fight to bring Constitutional Carry to Utah
- Fight every attempt to restrict our constitutional rights to keep and bear arms.
- Lead conservatives in advancing the gun rights of law-abiding citizens.
- Expanded Second Amendment rights and led the fight to bring Constitutional Carry to Utah.
Source: 2024 Utah Senate campaign website ElectBradWilson.com
Apr 19, 2024
Trent Staggs:
Those wanting to take guns are responsible for crime wave
As crime has increased, so has the desire for Americans to defend themselves. The only thing that's gone up more than crime is gun ownership. Given Americans' clear desire to protect themselves, I reject the idea that the Second Amendment is outdated.
Every dictator who has seized power from a free society has first seized their weapons. The people who want to take our guns are the same people responsible for our crime wave. I will fight for your ability to defend yourself and your family.
Source: 2024 Utah Senate campaign website TrentStaggs.com
Mar 1, 2024
Allen Glines:
Ban assault weapons; pass universal background checks
- Designate flamethrowers as weapons and ban them.
- Ban the private ownership of tanks or any other heavy duty military vehicles.
- Pass Extreme Risk legislation to temporarily remove guns from individuals in crisis.
-
Close the gun show loophole.
- Streamline the process of domestic abusers surrendering their firearms.
-
Pass legislation to mandate the use of universal background checks.
- Ban high capacity magazines and assault weapons.
-
Develop programs to provide comprehensive safety training to gun owners.
Source: 2021 Utah Senate campaign website AllenGlines.com
Jul 21, 2021
Mike Kennedy:
Supports concealed carry of guns without a permit
HB76: Exemption for a person, who may lawfully possess a firearm, from certain criminal provisions related to the carrying of an unloaded concealed firearm.Analysis of support by Deseret News: Rep. Curt Oda said the bill simply allows
those who can legally carry a gun to put a jacket on over their firearm, "It's not gun control, it's jacket control." Oda said the bill had overwhelming support from pro-gun organizations.
Analysis of veto message by Deseret News:
Herbert vetoed the controversial "constitutional carry" bill. Herbert said his veto decision was supported by much of the law enforcement community. While he was passionate about Second Amendment rights, Utah needs gun policy that "sends a message that
we have a quality of life that is sophisticated, and that we're not the wild and woolly West."
Legislative Outcome: Passed House 51-18-6 on 3/1/13; State Sen. Kennedy voted YES; Passed Senate 22-7-0 on 3/13/13 ; Vetoed on 3/22/13
Source: The Deseret News on Utah voting record HB76
Mar 1, 2013
Page last updated: Feb 07, 2026