HB 198: Allowing Adults Under 21 to Conceal Carry a Firearm

This Bill passed the House 63-12 and the Senate 23-6.

Libertas Institute supports this bill.

Utah law allows adults age 21 and over to obtain a concealed carry firearm permit. This means that legal adults between the age of 18 and 21 may not enjoy these legal benefits of firearm ownership and use.

House Bill 198, sponsored by Representative Karianne Lisonbee, establishes a process whereby these adults can obtain a provisional permit to legally carry a firearm concealed.

Unlike with the general permit, applicants for the provisional permit must provide “evidence of general familiarity with the types of firearms to be concealed.” It is unclear what type of evidence will be considered satisfactory for this purpose.

A key difference between the general permit and this provisional one is that the possessors of this permit “may not carry a concealed firearm on or about school premises.” In other words, while an 18-year-old high school senior may obtain a provisional permit, he or she will not be allowed to carry while at school.