Title 76
Chapter 11
Part 2
Section 211
| Index | Utah Code |
| Title 76 | Utah Criminal Code |
| Chapter 11 | Weapons |
| Part 2 | General Weapons Violations |
| Section 211 | Possession of a dangerous weapon by a minor.
(Effective 5/7/2025)
|
Effective 5/7/2025
76-11-211.
Possession of a dangerous weapon by a minor.
| (1) |
| (a) | As used in this section, "responsible adult" means an individual:
| (i) | who is 18 years old or older; and |
| (ii) | who may lawfully possess a dangerous weapon. |
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| (2) | An actor commits possession of a dangerous weapon by a minor if the actor:
| (b) | possesses a dangerous weapon. |
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| (3) |
| (a) | Except as provided in Subsection (3)(b), a violation of Subsection (2) is:
| (i) | a class B misdemeanor for a first offense; and |
| (ii) | a class A misdemeanor for each subsequent offense. |
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| (b) | A violation of Subsection (2) is a third degree felony if the dangerous weapon is:
| (ii) | a short barreled rifle; |
| (iii) | a short barreled shotgun; |
| (iv) | a fully automatic weapon; or |
| (v) | a machinegun firearm attachment. |
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| (4) | For an actor who is younger than 14 years old, this section does not apply if the actor:
| (a) | possesses a dangerous weapon; |
| (b) | has permission from the actor's parent or guardian to possess the dangerous weapon; |
| (c) | is accompanied by the actor's parent or guardian, or a responsible adult, while the actor has the dangerous weapon in the actor's possession; and |
| (d) | does not use the dangerous weapon in the commission of a crime. |
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| (5) | For an actor who is 14 years old or older but younger than 18 years old, this section does not apply if the actor:
| (a) | possesses a dangerous weapon; |
| (b) | has permission from the actor's parent or guardian to possess the dangerous weapon; and |
| (c) | does not use the dangerous weapon in the commission of a crime. |
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| (6) | This section does not apply to the following minors who are otherwise complying with Subsection (4) or (5):
| (a) | a minor who is a patron at an amusement park, pier, or similar location and is possessing a firearm to participate in lawfully operated target concessions if the firearm to be used is firmly chained or affixed to the counters; |
| (b) | a minor attending a hunter's safety course or a firearms safety course and possessing a weapon as part of the course; |
| (c) | a minor using a firearm at an established range or other area where the discharge of a firearm is not prohibited by state or local law; |
| (d) | a minor participating in an organized competition involving the use of a firearm, or practicing for the competition; |
| (e) | a minor who is on real property with the permission of the owner, licensee, or lessee of the property and who has the permission of a parent or legal guardian or the owner, licensee, or lessee of the property to possess a firearm not otherwise in violation of law; |
| (f) | a minor who has a valid hunting license and is possessing a firearm to lawfully engage in hunting; or |
| (g) | a minor traveling to or from an activity described in Subsections (6)(a) through (f) with an unloaded firearm in the minor's possession. |
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Renumbered and Amended by Chapter
173, 2025 General Session
Renumbered and Amended by Chapter
208, 2025 General Session