A clash between senators Friday Feb. 7 ended with the Senate Judiciary Committee passing an amended version of Senate Bill 108, which allows concealed carry permit holders to have concealed weapons on public school campuses.

Sen. Patrice Arent, D-Salt Lake, proposed a substitute bill that would prohibit concealed weapons on school campuses, completely reversing the outcome of the original version of the bill proposed by Sen. Michael Waddoups, R-Salt Lake.

After debating the issue and hearing public testimony, the substitute version by Arent failed and an amended version of Waddoups' bill was approved 4-2.

"I believe this bill protects children," Waddoups said. "This bill clarifies the intention of the legislature that all concealed permits are valid anywhere except certain noted areas."

The bill does not change the ban on concealed firearms in any secure area in which notice of prohibition is posted, secure areas of airports and any courthouse, mental health facility or correctional facility.

Sen. Arent said her legislation accomplished the same goal without putting children in danger.

"There are certain places where guns just don't belong," she said.

Parents, gun owners and representatives from education organizations and gun associations voiced their opinions about the bill.

"I don't see why airports deserve more protection than schools," said Marla Kennedy, executive director of the Gun Violence Prevention Center in Utah.

Schools are not secured areas, like airports, Waddoups' supporters said. A gun owner knows that no one else has a concealed weapon at an airport.

Many of Waddoups' supporters said they needed guns to feel safe at schools.

"People who work at schools have a right to protection," said Gayle Ruzicka, president of the Utah Eagle Forum. "Just because they chose the profession of a teacher doesn't mean they lose that right."

She said victims tend to be easily overpowered when attacked, "but when they are armed, they have a great equalizer."

Children would also be safer if responsible adults could carry guns at schools, Waddoups' supporters said.

"I wonder if a janitor at Columbine would have had a gun, how many children's lives would have been saved?" Sen. James Evans, R-Salt Lake, said.

Supporters of Arent's version said a concealed weapons permit does not guarantee that the gun owner is a good shot.

"I am not sure that I want a neighbor with a concealed weapon to pull out his gun to take care of the situation," Arent said.

Sen. Evans pointed out that no one could show a time when an individual carrying a concealed weapon had used their weapon at a school.

"There is a false conclusion that has been drawn that safety equals no guns in schools," he said. "I have heard no proof."

Opponents to the bill said the bottom line was that children's rights were being sacrificed for the rights of concealed carry permit holders.

"We want to see children protected over the rights of gun owners to take their guns places that they don't belong," Kennedy said.

Gun purchases in 2002 totaled more than 64,000 in Utah, almost double the total in 1997, according to the Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

Utah's concealed weapons permits belonging to Utah County residents total 6,701, about 13 percent of the total permits in the state. The bureau reported Utah County had more permits than any other county except Salt Lake.

Permits can be revoked if the bureau determines the holder to be a danger to self or others, as indicated by current or past criminal activity.

From October to November of 2002, the bureau revoked 27 permits, primarily because the permit holder had a restraining order filed against them.

The date for the Senate hearing for the bill has not been set.



Copyright Brigham Young University 10 Feb 2003