Utah Doubles Concealed Carry Permit Fees

Members of Utah’s Administrative Rule Review Committee began reviewing a recent fee increase by the Bureau of Criminal Identification regarding fees associated with concealed carry permits in the state. The fee went into effect on August 1^st, 2017.

The addition to the cost for fingerprinting and background checks as part of the permit process effectively doubles the cost of these checks, adding $20 to what was previously a $25 fee.

The Bureau of Criminal Identification believes that the increase is within their authority based on a law based in 2015 regarding fee increases for background checks for school teachers. However, critics claim that stretches the meaning of the law and oversteps the bounds of the bureau.

Under review is the “legislative intent” of the 2015 law, which legal review by the bureau claims includes the ability to increase the costs of background checks for concealed carry as well as teacher checks.

Only recently did the bureau realize that the law could be applied to both. And while they agree that the original bill’s author may not have meant for the law to be used this way, the language doesn’t preclude it. In fact, according to Sen. Jim Dabakis, D-Salt Lake City, the law explicitly allows for a concealed carry fee increase.

Opponents, on the other hand, claim that Rep. Steve Handy, R-Layton, who originally authored the bill, only meant to give the bureau the power to increase the fee for teacher’s background checks.

Rep Brian Greene, R-Pleasant Grove, spoke with other lawmakers about the original law and said that despite being sympathetic to the bureau’s financial needs, this isn’t the correct interpretation of the law.

NRA lobbyist Brian Judy also opposes the hike. Judy said that the NRA would be interested in working with the bureau to ensure the correct fees are paid, but not more. “If the fees are necessary, we will pay the fee that is required to conduct the entire process,” he said.

But according to Lt. Ryan Van Fleet, the fees will be put to good use. The additional funds will help pay for the bureau to place background information in a multi-state identification system known as the Western Identification Network.

The article Utah Doubles Concealed Carry Permit Fees originally appeared on Clipdraw

Concealed Carry Reciprocity Agreement Reached Between Wisconsin and West Virginia

In an announcement made over the weekend, West Virginia and Wisconsin now have concealed carry reciprocity for permit holders from both states.

In a statement released on August 20^th, 2017 from West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, the states have agreed to recognize concealed carry permits from the other. This is an extension of the existing recognition, whereby West Virginia permit holders were allowed to carry in Wisconsin, but Wisconsin residents did not enjoy the same privilege when visiting West Virginia.

“I take protecting the Second Amendment rights of legal gun owners seriously,” Attorney General Morrisey said. “Residents of West Virginia and those who visit here should be able to exercise their right to bear arms.”

The two states recently began talks to consider a reciprocal agreement for concealed carry permit holders. Statutory notice was provided to West Virginia from Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, formalizing the request for reciprocal recognition of permits.

The agreement points to the importance of a concealed carry permit, even in states which do not require permits for residents. Residents of West Virginia are allowed to carry a concealed weapon within the state without a concealed carry permit. Similar legislation is currently being considered by Wisconsin lawmakers.

Both states, however, still have an optional permitting process specifically for residents that desire to bring their weapon with them while visiting other states.

West Virginia has had a progressive stance on allowing residents of other states to carry within their borders. The state has full reciprocity agreements with Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wyoming, and now Wisconsin.

In addition, West Virginia residents can carry their weapons in Montana, but a mutual agreement does not exist between those states. Some residents may also carry without a permit in Maine and Vermont.

Wisconsin, however, is catching up to West Virgina’s 37 states, with a current total of 32 states with permits honored in Wisconsin. Those states include Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. Permits from Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands are also recognized.

The article Concealed Carry Reciprocity Agreement Reached Between Wisconsin and West Virginia originally appeared on Clipdraw

The Fastest Growing Group of Concealed Carry Permit Owners May Surprise You

A recent study conducted by the Crime Prevention Research Center had some interesting data on the subject of concealed carry in the United States. Of the statistics the CPRC reported was the rate at which Americans are applying for concealed carry permits and the crime statistics associated with CCP holders.

Possibly the most surprising and enlightening part of the report is which group is quickly growing as those seeking CCP permits. The study found that women, and in particular, black women, were far outpacing other gender and ethnic groups in their interest in acquiring permission to carry a concealed weapon.

Continued Increase in Permit Applications

Despite recent reports that concealed carry permits are declining in places like Illinois, the CPRC study showed a continuing increase in permit applications across the country. From 1999 to 2007, permits increased by close to a quarter of a million a year. But from 2008 to 2011, there was a huge surge in issued permits, increasing to roughly 850,000 a year.  The years following saw record increases in permits, with 1.69 million in 2015 and 1.73 million in 2016.

Demographics and Speed of Permitting

Because some states have moved to permit-less concealed carry, while others don’t record demographic information from CCP applicants, the study was able to extrapolate the groups who are seeking permits in greater numbers than before.

The study found that women, and in particular black women, are applying for concealed carry permits in greater numbers than ever before. According to the study, today women account for roughly 36 percent of permit holders. From 2012 to 2016, women were obtaining permits 326 percent faster than men.

In the same time period, states that record race as part of the permit process showed blacks obtaining permits 30 percent faster than white applicants in areas where permits were not up to the discretion of a politician.

In these discretionary regions, some were noted to show bias based on race or gender.

“There are also significant differences in not only the number of permits issued but also who gets them when politicians have discretion in granting them,” CPRC President John Lott Jr said. “Los Angeles County provides a vivid example of how women and Hispanics are given few permits when politicians decided who can defend themselves.”

Crime Rates Among Concealed Carry Permit Holders

The study also revealed that concealed carry permit holders were an exceptionally law-abiding group. The CPRC study reported that the number of permit holders charged with felonies or convicted fell even further than the previously recorded data. In 2015, a mere 0.0123 percent of CCP holders were charged or convicted. That number dropped further in 2016, down to 0.0092 percent.

The article The Fastest Growing Group of Concealed Carry Permit Owners May Surprise You originally appeared on Clipdraw

Concealed Carry on Campus Begins in Two States

Both Ohio and Texas saw the expansion of concealed carry last week as universities and community colleges in both states began allowing weapons on campus.

Ohio – Cedarville University

In December of 2016, Ohio Governor John Kasich signed into law a bill that allows college campuses to permit concealed carry on their campuses. The law leaves up to the college’s board of trustees whether or not the campus will allow weapons, where they can be carried, and who can carry them.

As of August 1^st, 2017, faculty, staff, and trustees of Cedarville University who have a concealed carry permit will be allowed to bring their weapons with them on campus, after being granted permission from the college’s president, Thomas White.

Many public universities in Ohio have come out against allowing weapons. Cedarville, a small, private university of 3,300, was the first in the state to grant access to any part of its population.

While administration members with concealed permits can carry their weapons, students cannot. The college isn’t ready for that step according to White, especially since permit requestors must be 21 or older. The trustees and White have a concern with only half of the students being allowed the opportunity to carry, while the other half wouldn’t have access to equal measures.

Texas – Community Colleges

Following in the footsteps of their 4-year university brethren, students, staff, and faculty of community colleges across the state of Texas can carry their permitted weapons with them on campus as of August 1^st, 2017.

Texas Senate Bill 11, also known as the Campus Carry Law, was extended last week to include the 2-year institutions. The law went into effect for universities one year ago, in August 2016. The law allows private universities to opt out of allowing weapons on campus.

The institutions are allowed certain gun-free zones, specifically places like science labs, patient care facilities, individual offices, intercollegiate athletic events, and child care centers. Libraries may be gun-free during children’s events.

A valid concealed carry permit is required to be able to carry on the campuses, meaning only those 21 and over are allowed to do so. However, weapons must be concealed, placed in a backpack, purse, or under clothing. Openly displaying a handgun anywhere on a campus will remain illegal.

 

The article Concealed Carry on Campus Begins in Two States originally appeared on Clipdraw