Kevin Jensen
State Researcher
imported post
:celebrate Thank you to SecondAmendmentStudentsand all others who hepled bring this to Midvale's attention. :celebrate
http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_12939391
Midvale to modify firearms law
State precedent » Second Amendment supporter targets ordinance.
By Jennifer W. Sanchez
The Salt Lake Tribune
Updated:07/29/2009 04:58:30 PM MDT
After a gun-rights advocate brought the issue to city officials' attention, Midvale is working on amending its firearms ordinance in an effort to comply with state law.
Midvale is among a handful of local governments -- including Salt Lake County, Salt Lake City, Sandy and Draper -- that should "clean up (their) laws" when it comes to firearms, said Brent Tenney, a recent University of Utah graduate.
Tenney has called and written to city officials about changing their local ordinances, which are more restrictive than state law.
"They have all these gun laws but they have no authority to have them," Tenney said.
Most importantly, Tenney said Utah's firearm laws supersede local government. He wants residents and law enforcement to know which rules to follow.
"It creates confusion when cops are trying to enforce rules that infringe on people's rights," Tenney said.
For example, Midvale's ordinance makes it illegal to carry a concealed weapon or loaded weapon. Sandy's ordinance prohibits firearms in parks.
Midvale attorney Craig Hall said he's glad the issue came to the city's attention.
Hall said certain sections of the ordinance, such as prohibiting concealed weapons in public, will be deleted to comply with state law. He expects Midvale City Council to approve an updated ordinance at its Aug.11 meeting.
Last week, Draper City Council approved amendments to "clean up" its old city firearm ordinance to comply with state law, said city attorney Doug Ahlstrom. The former Draper ordinance, for example, prohibited silencers on firearms which it could not enforce, he said.
In 2004, Utah law was changed, giving the state the power to enhance firearm regulation.
Tenney, 26, started the Second Amendment Students at the U. in 2006 to advocate for students to have the right to carry a concealed weapon on campus and educate people on gun safety.
In June, Tenney started making a map of Salt Lake County to see where shooting is allowed. Under state law, he said cities can ban shooting but counties cannot.
That's when Tenney began identifying changes cities should make to their ordinances.
jsanchez@sltrib.com
:celebrate Thank you to SecondAmendmentStudentsand all others who hepled bring this to Midvale's attention. :celebrate
http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_12939391
Midvale to modify firearms law
State precedent » Second Amendment supporter targets ordinance.
By Jennifer W. Sanchez
The Salt Lake Tribune
Updated:07/29/2009 04:58:30 PM MDT
After a gun-rights advocate brought the issue to city officials' attention, Midvale is working on amending its firearms ordinance in an effort to comply with state law.
Midvale is among a handful of local governments -- including Salt Lake County, Salt Lake City, Sandy and Draper -- that should "clean up (their) laws" when it comes to firearms, said Brent Tenney, a recent University of Utah graduate.
Tenney has called and written to city officials about changing their local ordinances, which are more restrictive than state law.
"They have all these gun laws but they have no authority to have them," Tenney said.
Most importantly, Tenney said Utah's firearm laws supersede local government. He wants residents and law enforcement to know which rules to follow.
"It creates confusion when cops are trying to enforce rules that infringe on people's rights," Tenney said.
For example, Midvale's ordinance makes it illegal to carry a concealed weapon or loaded weapon. Sandy's ordinance prohibits firearms in parks.
Midvale attorney Craig Hall said he's glad the issue came to the city's attention.
Hall said certain sections of the ordinance, such as prohibiting concealed weapons in public, will be deleted to comply with state law. He expects Midvale City Council to approve an updated ordinance at its Aug.11 meeting.
Last week, Draper City Council approved amendments to "clean up" its old city firearm ordinance to comply with state law, said city attorney Doug Ahlstrom. The former Draper ordinance, for example, prohibited silencers on firearms which it could not enforce, he said.
In 2004, Utah law was changed, giving the state the power to enhance firearm regulation.
Tenney, 26, started the Second Amendment Students at the U. in 2006 to advocate for students to have the right to carry a concealed weapon on campus and educate people on gun safety.
In June, Tenney started making a map of Salt Lake County to see where shooting is allowed. Under state law, he said cities can ban shooting but counties cannot.
That's when Tenney began identifying changes cities should make to their ordinances.
jsanchez@sltrib.com