Controversial Gun Background Check Bill Passed by Legislature

The past years had been witness to several attempts by both gun control advocates and their second amendment counterparts. Now a new bill has been passed by Utah state legislature that has caused much controversy. The proprietor and sponsor of the controversial gun bill, Senator Margaret Dayton, claims that the purpose of the Bill is to limit the federal government's control over the states and its citizen's right.

The bill proposes that all firearms stored, manufactured or constructed in the state should be exempt from any federal regulations. This means that dealers will not be required to acquire licenses for firearms bought and made within the state, this also may mean that buyers will no longer go through background checks using the FBI Instant Criminal Background Check System, allowing anyone; include convicted felons to freely purchase firearms.

The bill was passed and won by a vote of 56 for it and 17 against it. Representative Stephen Sandstorm, one of the representatives who voted for the bill, expressed his support and said that the focus of the bill is to protect the state's rights and to keep the power of the federal government in check. According to Representative Sandstorm, there are also 20 other states that are currently also preparing bills that are similar in purpose.

There is only one more obstacle for the bill to become a law, first it must be approved by the office of Utah Governor Gary Herbert, and there has yet to be an announcement of a decision from Governor Herbert's office, and even with recent interview the Governor has yet to reveal his stance towards the bill.