This is a very interesting proposal. Even more so than the original article suggests, this would be good for Washington. If you look down around Line 45, it also includes a preemption statute that is more widespread than Washington's. We have been talking here about the fact that state agencies are free to create their own rules (Universities and Worksource come to mind), but the Utah bill expands that to "local authority, political subdivision, municipality, or any other state entity". Be nice if ours was written that way.
I think it's time to sit down with some legislators. I am planning on talking to Doug Ericksen soon about the bill he has introduced before to get a renewal notice sent out for CPLs. Maybe we can convince him and some others to introduce this type of legislation.
Here is the full text of the bill.
40 (1) In the absence of additional threatening behavior, the otherwise lawful possession
41 of a firearm or other dangerous weapon, whether visible or concealed, is not a violation of
42 Section 10-8-47 , 10-8-50 , 76-6-206 , 76-8-703 , 76-8-704 , 76-8-705 , 76-9-102 , 76-9-103 ,
43 76-9-104 , 76-9-106 , 76-10-506 , or 76-10-507 .
44 (2) Except where explicit authority to regulate firearms or other dangerous weapons
45 has been granted by the Legislature, a local authority, political subdivision, municipality, or any
46 other state entity may not enact, maintain, or enforce a law, ordinance, rule, regulation, code of
47 conduct, or contractual obligation that limits or prevents the otherwise lawful possession of a
48 firearm or other dangerous weapon, whether visible or concealed.
49 (3) If explicit authority has been granted by the Legislature to a local authority,
50 political subdivision, municipality, or other state entity to regulate firearms or other dangerous
51 weapons, any law, ordinance, rule, regulation, code of conduct, or contractual obligation based
52 on that explicit grant of authority shall:
53 (a) reference the statute that grants the authority to regulate the firearm or other
54 dangerous weapon;
55 (b) detail specifically the conduct involving a firearm or other dangerous weapon that
56 is limited or prohibited; and
57 (c) use the term firearm if the prohibition or limitation only involves a firearm.
58 (4) A firearm or dangerous weapon law, ordinance, rule, regulation, code of conduct,
59 or contractual obligation enacted, made, adopted, or entered into by a local authority, political
60 subdivision, municipality, or other state entity that does not meet the requirements of
61 Subsection (3) is void.
