Sitting Duck Policy

Utah: Firearm Possession Protection Bill Now Goes to House Floor

According to reports, Raymond Davis (22) and two other men tried to rob Rogers Sport’s Pub. The entire attack was caught on surveillance video — but police aren’t releasing it.

A patron, known as “Big Rob”, chased the first robbery suspect out of the bar, then went to his car and retrieved his own firearm. “Big Rob” then re-entered the bar and confronted another robber, shooting him in the process.

After “Big Rob” shot Davis, the third robber emerged from the kitchen area in the back and started shooting his own gun.

“Another guy ran in the back and they were having a shoot off,” Steve Perry, who was next to Davis when Davis was killed, said. The third robber did not hit anyone with his gunfire and fled from the bar.

Police are still looking for the other two suspects.

Source: WAVY, Chesapeake, Virginia, Monday, 09 Jan 2012, 7:20 PM EST

I just wrote the following letter to the members of the House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee. Please feel free to use it, or any part of it you’d like when contacting our Legislators.

If you wish to voice your opinion, please do so quicky. It’s expected that this bill will be heard today, 1/30/2012 at 2pm.

To: coda@le.utah.gov, rgreenwood@le.utah.gov, parent@le.utah.gov, dbutterfield@le.utah.gov, cfrank@le.utah.gov, keithgrover@le.utah.gov, greghughes@le.utah.gov, dipson@le.utah.gov, dlitvack@le.utah.gov, dmccay@le.utah.gov, leeperry@le.utah.gov, jseelig@le.utah.gov, billwright@le.utah.gov

Subject: Please Support HB49, Firearm Possession Protection Bill

Dear Committee Members,

It’s unfortunate that people have worry about assaults of others carrying out unlawful and violent acts.

It’s unfortunate that Law Enforcement cannot prevent these terrible acts from happening. What’s more, courts have found that Police are not responsible to ensure the protection of The People.

What’s left is self-defense. A person not only should, but (given our current legal state and criminal climate) MUST provide for their own defense, and the defense of their family members.

Self-defense is a fundamental right and protected not only by the U.S. Constitution, but by the Utah Constitution as well. Furthermore, it’s clearly provided for in State statute.

It’s generally accepted that the best way to defend oneself or one’s family is by the lawful carry of a firearm — concealed or otherwise.

This lawful carry does not — and cannot by any logic — be considered a violation of Disorderly Conduct statutes. If simply carrying a sidearm on one’s hip was “Disorderly Conduct” all of our Police Officers would be in jail, would they not? But the Police are “the good guys” right? Statistics have shown (overwhelmingly) that those who choose to lawfully carry a firearm for self-defense are ALSO “the good guys”. Statistically speaking, the crime rates for those who choose to take on the added responsibility and liability of carrying a firearm for self-defense are SIGNIFICANTLY lower than that of the general populous.

Yet there is a problem in Utah that Law Enforcement in some jurisdictions are harassing and even ARRESTING people for openly carrying a sidearm —  when it is clearly NOT prohibited in statute.  These jurisdictions have sought creative ways to harass law-abiding firearm owners who are legally carrying unconcealed firearms for self-defense.

HB 49 bill would remove one of the ploys (charging the person with Disorderly Conduct) being used by some jurisdictions within Utah to circumvent State law and the Utah Constitution in an attempt to go after these law-abiding firearm owners.

Put simply, these jurisdictions are IGNORING YOU. They are ignoring the legislative process. They are violating the very Law they are sworn to uphold and defend — because of an ambiguity and someone’s misplaced definition of “Disorderly Conduct”.

HB 49 is your chance to tell these runaway Law Enforcement  jurisdictions that they are out of line and that the bills you pass are the Law — Law that, by definition they MUST enforce.

Please support HB 49 as it is written, and oppose any amendments or substitutions that would water down the fundamental Right of The People to defend themselves and their families.

With respect,

• Joe Levi, SY08 Precinct Vice Chair & State Delegate