Governor Herbert Continues to Block Utah Constitutional Carry in 2016

Ammoland ^ | 8 February, 2016 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

Governor Herbert of Utah continues to be the main blocking force preventing the passage of Constitutional carry in Utah.  Utah is a gun friendly state.  There are open carry rights; the state constitution is strong.

Utah Constitution, Art. I Section 6, enacted 1984:

The individual right of the people to keep and bear arms for security and defense of self, family, others, property, or the state, as well as for other lawful purposes shall not be infringed; but nothing herein shall prevent the legislature from defining the lawful use of arms.

Utah also has one of the lowest crime rates in the United States.  It compares favorably with many European countries.  The Utah legislature is conservative, and willing to restore more of Utah's Constitution and Second Amendment protections, into law.  In 2013, they passed a weak constitutional carry law, as a compromise.  Still, it was an improvement.  It had veto proof margins. Governor Herbert vetoed it, anyway.  It was late in the session, and the legislature failed to override the veto.  In 2015, SB256 passed the Senate with veto proof margins, but did not pass the House.  Governor Herbert had threatened to veto the bill. Now, in 2016, Constitutional carry is once again being introduced. From thespectrum.com:

The bill's sponsor, Republican Sen. David Hinkins of Orangeville, said his constituents want to be able to cover their weapon when they bring it into public places, so they don’t make other patrons nervous about seeing a firearm.
"If you have it on your body and it's out in the open, you're OK," he said. "But the minute you put it in your scabbard to protect it, you're breaking the law."

Senator Hinkins states that the bill has a good chance

[marktwain]

Often, it is just one man that blocks progress on restoring Second Amendment rights. In Utah, that one man is Governor Herbert.

What a contrast. Governor Walker in Wisconsin signs Constitutional carry for knives; Governor Herbert of Utah blocks a weak Constitutional carry for pistols.

[ecomcon]

Republican Governor Herbert

[rjsimmon]

Why does there need to be a State law providing for a Constitutionally protected right?

[556x45]

Why doesnt the legislature simply override the veto? Does UT law not allow for that?

[marktwain]

Republican legislators are often loathe to override vetos from Republican Governors.

To some extent, the veto gives cover to legislators who want to tell constituents “I voted for the bill, but the Governor vetoed it”.

[556x45]

‘To some extent, the veto gives cover to legislators who want to tell constituents “I voted for the bill, but the Governor vetoed it”.’

I wondered if that was the case. If true they really do need to consider what theyre about.