Kevin Jensen
State Researcher
imported post
My family and I went to the Utah County Fair in Spanish Fork tonight. When we parked there was a volunteer sheriff directing traffic. He saw my wife and I carrying our Glocks, and said "Off Duty?" I replied, "I am always off duty." As soon as I said that, he got on his radio and reported us.
Not a minute later, we were confronted by three Utah County Sheriffs. They asked us why we were carrying sidearms. We answered with the typical "self protection" responses. They informed us that a lot of people called and said that we were causing alarm. I replied that we had just barely arrived, and the only person that could have called so far was the volunteer in the parking lot.
The asked us if we had concealed firearm permits. My wife acknowledged that she had one, and when asked, she presented it. I told them that I may or may not have a permit, and that open carry did not require any permit. After a few minutes of debate, a Sergeant came over to see us.
He said that since we alarmed the volunteer and possibly others, that we could be charged with disorderly conduct. I politely disagreed, and informed the Sergeant that intent was required, and that peaceably carrying a holstered firearm does not constitute disorderly conduct. After some more debate, he got on his cell phone and made a call.
While he was on his phone, one of the three sheriffs informed us that we had a choice to make. We were to either conceal our sidearms, or they would order us to leave the fairgrounds. I told them that I believed they were issuing us an unlawful order, and that our activity was protected by Utah law. They continued to ask us to conceal or leave, and we continued to resist.
A few minutes later, the Sergeant returned. He informed us that he realizes that our activity is completely lawful, but since there were so many families and children around, he asked if would consider concealment. I politely declined his request, and he told us that we were free to go.
Overall, they handled the situation professionally. The encounter took way too long in my opinion. We talked to them for about 15 minutes total. We were never disarmed, or detained. The conversation never got awkward enough for me to ask if I was being detained, so I let the situation play itself out. I have left out a lot of details, but I will post more if anybody cares.
My family and I went to the Utah County Fair in Spanish Fork tonight. When we parked there was a volunteer sheriff directing traffic. He saw my wife and I carrying our Glocks, and said "Off Duty?" I replied, "I am always off duty." As soon as I said that, he got on his radio and reported us.
Not a minute later, we were confronted by three Utah County Sheriffs. They asked us why we were carrying sidearms. We answered with the typical "self protection" responses. They informed us that a lot of people called and said that we were causing alarm. I replied that we had just barely arrived, and the only person that could have called so far was the volunteer in the parking lot.
The asked us if we had concealed firearm permits. My wife acknowledged that she had one, and when asked, she presented it. I told them that I may or may not have a permit, and that open carry did not require any permit. After a few minutes of debate, a Sergeant came over to see us.
He said that since we alarmed the volunteer and possibly others, that we could be charged with disorderly conduct. I politely disagreed, and informed the Sergeant that intent was required, and that peaceably carrying a holstered firearm does not constitute disorderly conduct. After some more debate, he got on his cell phone and made a call.
While he was on his phone, one of the three sheriffs informed us that we had a choice to make. We were to either conceal our sidearms, or they would order us to leave the fairgrounds. I told them that I believed they were issuing us an unlawful order, and that our activity was protected by Utah law. They continued to ask us to conceal or leave, and we continued to resist.
A few minutes later, the Sergeant returned. He informed us that he realizes that our activity is completely lawful, but since there were so many families and children around, he asked if would consider concealment. I politely declined his request, and he told us that we were free to go.
Overall, they handled the situation professionally. The encounter took way too long in my opinion. We talked to them for about 15 minutes total. We were never disarmed, or detained. The conversation never got awkward enough for me to ask if I was being detained, so I let the situation play itself out. I have left out a lot of details, but I will post more if anybody cares.