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H.B. 372 Enrolled

                 

AMENDING REQUIREMENTS FOR CONCEALED FIREARMS

                 
2000 GENERAL SESSION

                 
STATE OF UTAH

                 
Sponsor: Gary F. Cox

                  AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY; AMENDING REQUIREMENTS FOR A
                  CONCEALED FIREARM PERMIT AND FOR INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATION; AND
                  MAKING CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.
                  This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
                  AMENDS:
                      53-5-704, as last amended by Chapters 120 and 366, Laws of Utah 1999
                  Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
                      Section 1. Section 53-5-704 is amended to read:
                       53-5-704. Division duties -- Permit to carry concealed firearm -- Certification for
                  concealed firearms instructor -- Requirements for issuance -- Violation -- Denial, suspension,
                  or revocation -- Appeal procedure.
                      (1) The division or its designated agent shall issue a permit to carry a concealed firearm for
                  lawful self defense to an applicant who is 21 years of age or older within 60 days after receiving an
                  application and upon proof that the person applying is of good character. The permit is valid
                  throughout the state, without restriction except as provided by Section 53-5-710 :
                      (a) for two years; or
                      (b) for five years for permits issued or renewed on or after May 1, 1998.
                      (2) An applicant satisfactorily demonstrates good character if he:
                      (a) has not been convicted of a felony;
                      (b) has not been convicted of any crime of violence;
                      (c) has not been convicted of any offenses involving the use of alcohol;
                      (d) has not been convicted of any offense involving the unlawful use of narcotics or other
                  controlled substances;
                      (e) has not been convicted of any offenses involving moral turpitude;
                      (f) has not been convicted of any offense involving domestic violence;


                      (g) has not been adjudicated by a court of a state or of the United States as mentally
                  incompetent, unless the adjudication has been withdrawn or reversed; and
                      (h) is qualified to purchase and possess a dangerous weapon and a handgun pursuant to
                  Section 76-10-503 and federal law.
                      (3) (a) The division may deny, suspend, or revoke a concealed firearm permit if the licensing
                  authority has reasonable cause to believe that the applicant has been or is a danger to self or others
                  as demonstrated by evidence including, but not limited to:
                      (i) past pattern of behavior involving unlawful violence or threats of unlawful violence;
                      (ii) past participation in incidents involving unlawful violence or threats of unlawful violence;
                  or
                      (iii) conviction of any offense in violation of Title 76, Chapter 10, Part 5, Weapons.
                      (b) The division may not deny, suspend, or revoke a concealed firearm permit solely for a
                  single conviction for an infraction violation of Title 76, Chapter 10, Part 5, Weapons.
                      (c) In determining whether the applicant has been or is a danger to self or others, the division
                  may inspect:
                      (i) expunged records of arrests and convictions of adults as provided in Section 77-18-15 ;
                  and
                      (ii) juvenile court records as provided in Section 78-3a-206 .
                      (d) (i) If a person granted a permit under this part has been charged with a crime of violence
                  in Utah or any other state, the division shall suspend the permit.
                      (ii) Upon notice of the acquittal of the person charged, or notice of the charges having been
                  dropped, the division shall immediately reinstate the suspended permit.
                      (4) A former peace officer who departs full-time employment as a peace officer, in an
                  honorable manner, shall be issued a concealed firearm permit within five years of that departure if the
                  officer meets the requirements of this section.
                      (5) In assessing good character under Subsection (2), the licensing authority shall consider
                  mitigating circumstances.
                      (6) Except as provided in Subsection (7), the licensing authority shall also require the

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                  applicant to provide:
                      (a) address of applicant's permanent residence;
                      [(a)] (b) letters of character reference;
                      [(b)] (c) two recent dated photographs;
                      [(c)] (d) two sets of fingerprints;
                      [(d)] (e) a five-year employment history;
                      [(e)] (f) a five-year residential history; and
                      [(f)] (g) evidence of general familiarity with the types of firearms to be concealed as defined
                  in Subsection (8).
                      (7) An applicant who is a law enforcement officer under Section 53-13-103 may provide a
                  letter of good standing from the officer's commanding officer in place of the items required by
                  Subsections (6)[(a)](b), [(d),] (e), [and] (f), and (g).
                      (8) (a) General familiarity with the types of firearms to be concealed includes training in:
                      (i) the safe loading, unloading, storage, and carrying of the types of firearms to be concealed;
                  and
                      (ii) current laws defining lawful use of a firearm by a private citizen, including lawful
                  self-defense, use of force by a private citizen including use of deadly force, transportation, and
                  concealment.
                      (b) Evidence of general familiarity with the types of firearms to be concealed may be satisfied
                  by one of the following:
                      (i) completion of a course of instruction conducted by any national, state, or local firearms
                  training organization approved by the division;
                      (ii) certification of general familiarity by a person who has been [approved] certified by the
                  division, which may include a law enforcement officer, military or civilian firearms instructor, or
                  hunter safety instructor; or
                      (iii) equivalent experience with a firearm through participation in an organized shooting
                  competition, law enforcement, or military service.
                      (9) An applicant for certification as a Utah concealed firearms instructor shall:

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                      (a) be at least 21 years of age; and
                      (b) be currently eligible to possess a firearm under Section 76-10-503 and federal law.
                      (10) Each certified concealed firearms instructor shall provide for his students the required
                  course of instruction outline approved by the division.
                      (11) All concealed firearms instructors are required to provide a signed certificate to persons
                  completing the course of instruction, which certificate shall be provided by the applicant to the
                  division.
                      (12) The division may deny, suspend, or revoke the certification of a concealed firearms
                  instructor if the licensing authority has reason to believe the applicant has:
                      (a) become ineligible to possess a firearm under Section 76-10-503 or federal law; or
                      (b) knowingly and willfully provided false information to the division.
                      (13) A concealed firearms instructor has the same appeal rights as set forth in Subsection
                  (16).
                      [(9)] (14) In issuing a permit under this part, the licensing authority is not vicariously liable
                  for damages caused by the permit holder.
                      [(10)] (15) If any person knowingly and willfully provides false information on an application
                  filed under this part, he is guilty of a class B misdemeanor, and his application may be denied, or his
                  permit may be suspended or revoked.
                      [(11)] (16) (a) In the event of a denial, suspension, or revocation by the agency, the applicant
                  may file a petition for review with the board within 60 days from the date the denial, suspension, or
                  revocation is received by the applicant by certified mail, return receipt requested.
                      (b) The denial of a permit shall be in writing and shall include the general reasons for the
                  action.
                      (c) If an applicant appeals his denial to the review board, the applicant may have access to
                  the evidence upon which the denial is based in accordance with Title 63, Chapter 2, Government
                  Records Access and Management Act.
                      (d) On appeal to the board, the agency shall have the burden of proof by a preponderance of
                  the evidence.

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                      (e) Upon a ruling by the board on the appeal of a denial, the division shall issue a final order
                  within 30 days stating the board's decision. The final order shall be in the form prescribed by
                  Subsection 63-46b-5 (1)(i). The final order is final agency action for purposes of judicial review under
                  Section 63-46b-15 .
                      [(12)] (17) The commissioner may make rules in accordance with Title 63, Chapter 46a, Utah
                  Administrative Rulemaking Act, necessary to administer this chapter.

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