Utah CCW Permit: Next Best Thing to National Reciprocity?
The July 21 defeat of the Thune-Vitter Amendment to the National Defense Authorization Bill in the U.S. Senate was a genuine disappointment to many gun-rights watchers and for those who believe strongly in carrying firearms for personal protection.
The amendment, which would have provided interstate recognition of right-to-carry firearms permits for the first time, fell two votes shy of a filibuster-proof 60 votes required for its passage.
Despite the Summer Setback in the Senate, there remains a viable, albeit less-than-national alternative to true interstate right-to-carry legislation. And, it’s being utilized by a growing number of gun owners who wish to legally carry a concealed firearm in multiple states while obtaining a single authorization to do so.
It’s a Utah concealed-weapons permit, and it’s widely known as the most sought-after state CCW. That’s because it is currently accepted by 34 states, well more than any other carry permit in the country.
In addition to its obvious reciprocity advantages, instructors outside Utah are permitted to conduct the required CCW permit training. Presently, 60 percent of its certified instructors are doing business in states other than Utah.
For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009, a total of 71,428 Utah permits were issued, with 35,466 going to residents and 35,962 to out-of-staters—giving non-residents a slight edge with 50.3 percent.
According to data released this week by the Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification (the agency entrusted with issuing the permits), 57,104 CCW applicants have paid a non-refundable $35 permit fee so far this calendar year (through August 31).
The way things are going thus far in 2009, UBCI’s Lt. Doug Anderson says his bureau expects to easily exceed 70,000 applications for the second fiscal year in a row. In spite of adding eight employees to deal with the backlog of paperwork, it still is taking an average of 58 days to issue a permit from the time of application.
“It’s been a really crazy year for us…to say the least,” Anderson said during state senate committee hearings this week.
Utah CCW permits are good for five years and cost $10 to renew. All applicants—regardless of residency—are required to pass a four-hour Weapons Familiarity Certification in addition to routine background checks and fingerprinting. The total cost to apply for a Utah permit is $65.25 (non-refundable), which includes the $35 application and permit fee and $30.25 for FBI fingerprint processing.
J.R. Absher
