H.B. 190

1

GUN SHOW BACKGROUND CHECK
2 2003 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Sponsor: Scott Daniels
5 This act modifies provisions related to criminal background checks for firearm
6 purchases. The act requires a background check for a firearm purchase at a gun show
7 and provides a criminal penalty.
8 This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
9 AMENDS:
10 76-10-527, as last amended by Chapter 187, Laws of Utah 1998
11 ENACTS:
12 76-10-526.5, Utah Code Annotated 1953
13 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
14 Section 1. Section 76-10-526.5 is enacted to read:
15 76-10-526.5. Gun shows or events -- Background check for any firearm purchase
16 or transfer -- Fee.
17 (1) For purposes of this section:
18 (a) "Firearm exhibitor" means an exhibitor who displays at least one firearm, not
19 including an antique firearm, and offers the firearm for sale or trade at a gun show or event.
20 (b) (i) "Gun show or event" means an activity:
21 (A) held at a temporary location at which firearms, firearm accessories, and related
22 items may be bought, sold, traded, and displayed in accordance with federal, state, and local
23 laws;
24 (B) sponsored for profit or not, by an individual, national, state, or local organization,
25 association, or other entity to foster the collecting, competitive use, sporting use, or any other
26 legal use of firearms; and
27 (C) where the gun show or event has:

28 (I) 20% or more firearm exhibitors out of all exhibitors; or
29 (II) ten or more firearm exhibitors.
30 (ii) "Gun show or event" does not include a person selling firearms from the person's
31 own residence.
32 (2) Any person selling or transferring a firearm at a gun show or event shall make the
33 sale or transfer through a licensed firearm dealer.
34 (3) A licensed firearm dealer shall conduct a background check on a prospective buyer
35 at a gun show or event in accordance with Sections 76-10-526 and 76-10-527 .
36 (4) Records of receipt and disposition of firearms transactions conducted at a gun show
37 or event shall:
38 (a) include the location of the sale or other disposition;
39 (b) be entered in the permanent records of the licensed firearm dealer; and
40 (c) be retained at the location premises specified on the license of the licensed firearm
41 dealer.
42 (5) In addition to the fee established under Section 76-10-526 , a licensed firearm
43 dealer may charge a handling fee to the seller or the prospective buyer to perform a background
44 check on behalf of an unlicensed firearm dealer at a gun show or event.
45 Section 2. Section 76-10-527 is amended to read:
46 76-10-527. Penalties.
47 [(1) This section shall apply only to a handgun until federal law requires the
48 background check in Section 76-10-526 to extend to other firearms at which time this section
49 shall also apply to those firearms.]
50 [(2)] (1) A dealer is guilty of a class A misdemeanor who willfully and intentionally:
51 (a) requests, obtains, or seeks to obtain criminal history background information under
52 false pretenses; or
53 (b) disseminates criminal history background information.
54 [(3)] (2) A person who purchases or transfers a firearm is guilty of a felony of the third
55 degree who willfully and intentionally makes a false statement of the information required for a
56 criminal background check in Section 76-10-526 .
57 [(4)] (3) A dealer is guilty of a felony of the third degree if the dealer willfully and
58 intentionally sells or transfers a firearm in violation of this part.

59 [(5)] (4) A person is guilty of a felony of the third degree who purchases a firearm with
60 the intent to:
61 (a) resell or otherwise provide a firearm to any person who is ineligible to purchase or
62 receive from a dealer a firearm; or
63 (b) transport a firearm out of this state to be resold to an ineligible person.
64 (5) Unless a higher penalty in another subsection applies, a person, other than a
65 licensed dealer, who sells, transfers, purchases, or receives a firearm in violation of Section
66 76-10-526.5 is guilty of:
67 (a) a class A misdemeanor upon the first conviction; and
68 (b) a third degree felony upon any subsequent conviction.




Legislative Review Note
as of 12-2-02 5:27 PM

A limited legal review of this legislation raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel