News & Updates

H.B. 17 Firearm Violence and Suicide Prevention Amendments

Section Affected:
U.C.A. 53-5-707. Concealed firearm permit — Fees — Concealed Weapons Account.
U.C.A. 62A-15-103. Division — Creation — Responsibilities.
U.C.A. 62A-15-1101. Suicide prevention — Reporting requirements.
U.C.A. 63I-1-262. Repeal dates, Title 62A.
U.C.A. 63I-1-276. Repeal dates, Title 76.
U.C.A. 63I-2-262. Repeal dates, Title 62A.
U.C.A. 76-10-526. Criminal background check prior to purchase of a firearm — Fee — Exemption for concealed firearm permit holders and law enforcement officers.

Section Created:
U.C.A. 53-5-707.6, Utah Code Annotated 1953
U.C.A. 57 62A-15-103.1, Utah Code Annotated 1953

Section Repeals:
U.C.A. 53-10-202.3. Suicide Prevention Education Program — Definitions — Grant requirements.

This Bill would;
Require the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health, in consultation with the Bureau of Criminal Identification, to implement and manage a firearm safety program and a suicide prevention education course by:
• producing a firearm safety brochure and firearm safety packet;
• procuring cable-style gun locks;
• distributing firearm safety packets;
• administering a program in which a Utah resident who has filed an application for a concealed firearm permit receives a redeemable coupon toward the purchase of a firearm safe and receives a firearm safety brochure; and
• creating a suicide prevention education course.

Require a federal firearm dealer to provide a cable-style gun lock supplied by the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health to an individual purchasing a certain firearm.

Require the Bureau of Criminal Identification, in conjunction with the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health, to create a firearm safety and suicide prevention video that:
(a) is web-accessible;
(b) is no longer than 10 minutes in length; and
(c) includes information about:
(i) safe handling, storage, and use of firearms in a home environment;
(ii) at-risk individuals and individuals who are legally prohibited from possessing firearms; and
(iii) suicide prevention awareness.
(2) Before renewing a firearm permit, an individual shall view the firearm safety and suicide prevention video and submit proof in the form required by the bureau.
(3) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the bureau shall make rules that establish procedures for:
(a) producing and distributing the firearm safety and suicide prevention video; and
(b) providing access to the video to an applicant seeking renewal of a firearm permit.

Utah-based nonprofit organization with expertise in the field of firearm use and safety that represents firearm owners, to:
(i) produce and periodically review and update a firearm safety brochure and other educational materials with information about the safe handling and use of firearms that includes:
(A) information on safe handling, storage, and use of firearms in a home environment;
(B) information about at-risk individuals and individuals who are legally prohibited from possessing firearms;
(C) information about suicide prevention awareness; and
(D) information about the availability of firearm safety packets;
(ii) procure cable-style gun locks for distribution pursuant to this section;
(iii) produce a firearm safety packet that includes the firearm safety brochure and the cable-style gun lock described in this Subsection (3); and
(iv) create a suicide prevention education course that:
(A) provides information for distribution regarding firearm safety education;
(B) incorporates current information on how to recognize suicidal behaviors and identify individuals who may be suicidal; and
(C) provides information regarding crisis intervention resources;
(b) distributing, free of charge, the firearm safety packet to the following persons, who shall make the firearm safety packet available free of charge:
(i) health care providers, including emergency rooms;
(ii) mobile crisis outreach teams;
(iii) mental health practitioners;
(iv) other public health suicide prevention organizations;
(v) entities that teach firearm safety courses;
(vi) school districts for use in the seminar, described in Section 53G-9-702, for parents of students in the school district; and
(vii) firearm dealers to be distributed in accordance with Section 76-10-526;
(c) creating and administering a redeemable coupon program described in this Subsection (3) and Section 76-10-526 that includes:
(i) producing a redeemable coupon that offers between $10 and $200 off the purchase price of a firearm safe from a participating firearms dealer or a person engaged in the business of selling firearm safes in Utah, by a Utah resident who has filed an application for a concealed firearm permit; and
(ii) collecting the receipts described in Section 76-10-526 from the participating dealers and persons and reimbursing the dealers and persons;
(d) in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, making rules that establish procedures for:
(i) producing and distributing the suicide prevention education course and the firearm safety brochures and packets;
(ii) procuring the cable-style gun locks for distribution; and
(iii) administering the redeemable coupon program; and
(e) reporting to the Health and Human Services Interim Committee regarding implementation and success of the firearm safety program and suicide prevention education course at or before the November meeting each year.

First of all, there are already many firearm safety courses and suicide prevention education is already provided by BCI in the class required to obtain a concealed firearm permit. We also go beyond what other permit instructors provide and make sure all of this information is available at any time to every person that attends our concealed carry class.

Firearm dealers (and police departments) can already provide FREE information:
Project ChildSafe is the largest, most comprehensive firearm safety education program in the U.S. It was developed by the National Shooting Sports Foundation® (NSSF®), the trade association for the firearms industry, and is committed to promoting genuine firearm safety through the distribution of safety education messages and free firearm Safety Kits to communities across the U.S.
Securely storing firearms when not in use is a key element of responsible gun ownership and the #1 way to help prevent firearm accidents, thefts, and misuse. As a firearms owner, you have lots of options for storage devices to fit your lifestyle and home circumstances. The kits include a cable-style gun-locking device and a brochure (also available in Spanish) that discusses safe handling and secure storage guidelines to help deter access by unauthorized individuals.
Their Safe Storage Options infographic, Gun Lock Safety brochure, 10 Tips for Firearm Safety in Your Home fact sheet, and Firearm Safety In Vehicles documents are packed with helpful resources to help you explore storage options and determine what will work best for you.
Project ChildSafe is supported through greatly appreciated contributions from diverse public sources to the Project ChildSafe Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Join Project ChildSafe in promoting safe firearm handling and storage education – Make a tax-deductible contribution.

There is no way to provide all the information they are requiring in a 10-minute video. This is also an unnecessary requirement for individuals to renew their concealed firearm permit. Suicide prevention will always be VERY important, but there are better ways to provide information to the public instead of requiring firearm dealers to provide it.
Giving a discount coupon that offers between $10 and $200 off the purchase price of a firearm safe is great. Who doesn’t like discounts, but it depends on the quality of the safe, the company providing the safes and what companies would even participate in it.

Because this Bill requires firearm dealers to provide information and cable locks that are already available to everyone and having a coupon for a discount on a firearm safe that would only be available to a person who has filed an application for a concealed firearm permit, we oppose this Bill.

 We Oppose This Bill