WHEREVER YOU LIVE, GET A UTAH GUN PERMIT

I’d like you to join me in applying for a Utah concealed carry permit.

Let me explain why.

In Utah, they believe in the Second Amendment. So much so that they repeat
it and expand it in their state constitution. And their laws reflect that.

For example, if you have a concealed carry permit from anywhere in the
country, it’s honored in Utah. And that openness has resulted in an
interesting phenomenon – Utah’s concealed carry license is itself accepted
in most parts of the country.

Specifically, 30 states will honor a Utah pistol permit. If you have a Utah
permit, you can carry in those states.

Now here’s the interesting thing. You don’t have to live in Utah to get
a
Utah permit. You don’t even have to visit Utah. You can do it all through
the mail. You will have to take a class, but you can probably do that where
you live, and the rest can be done long distance.

And two months later – if your background is clean – you will have the
closest thing there is to a national concealed carry permit. Ironically, it
may even be quicker and easier to get a Utah permit to carry in your state
than if you went directly through your state government itself.

I currently have a pistol permit from my state of legal residence – New
York. The problem is, New York doesn’t accept any other state’s permit.
And,

consequently, few other states accept New York’s permit – even though it is
one of the most difficult and time-consuming to get.

And the odd thing is, a New York permit isn’t even good in all of New York.
If you go into or through the New York City area, your permit is no good. If

you cross a county line you stop being a law-abiding citizen and become a
felon.

So my New York permit is good for driving back and forth to work and for
around home. But if you’re taking any sort of a road trip, or going on
vacation to another state, it’s useless. For me, the Second Amendment ends
at the Pennsylvania state line.

Because of the foolishness of my state legislature.

Fortunately, I can be saved by the Utah legislature. And so can you. A Utah
license will instantly create 30 more states where the Second Amendment will

apply to me. I won’t be free in all of America – we haven’t won that battle
for liberty yet – but I’ll be 60 percent of the way there.

And while I’m grateful for that, I’m disappointed with a Congress that has
failed to protect either my constitutional right to keep and bear arms or my

state’s right to have its licenses and permits respected by other states.

Here’s what I mean.

My New York drivers license is honored in all 50 states. Ditto for my
marriage license and birth certificate. A divorce decree, or a name change,
authorized by one state would be recognized by the others. Virtually all
state-issued licenses and documents are honored by the other states -
there’s
a clause in the Constitution about that – but not my pistol permit.

It is ironic that the only one of those things specifically protected by the

Constitution is the only one of them not recognized.

What America needs is a national concealed carry permit. It is a keen
disappointment that the Republican-controlled and NRA-backed Congress has
not supplied that, and we will keep working on eventually getting one.

But until then, Utah is the next-best thing.

It doesn’t cover the entire country, but it covers most of it.

And it covers a whole lot more than the one my own state gave me.

Some will see this as a gun-nut loophole, that somehow Utah is opening the
door to handgun ownership and carry to a slew of goofballs from all across
the country. Some will see this as taking advantage of Utah.

I don’t see it that way at all.

I see this as a situation in which the legislature of Utah has a keener
understanding of American freedom and a greater regard for the American
people than the legislatures of most other states. I see it as a service
being provided the country by this freedom-loving state. I’m not taking
advantage of it, I’m celebrating it.

I’m holding it up as a good example. I am applauding the politicians and
government of Utah for doing what their counterparts across the country
should do.

I feel the federal government – and my own state government – have failed to

honor the Constitution. Where they have failed, however, Utah has not.

And I am grateful for that.

And I’m going to get a Utah concealed carry permit.

And I’m going to be grateful to that state and its leaders for helping me be

a freer American.

- by Bob Lonsberry C 2006