A really ridiculous idea from my otherwise 2nd amendment friendly state

[JHansenAK47]

The idea that we are somehow "Subsidizing" non residents is a slap in the face to anyone who supports the right to bear arms.

I don't know how it is now, but back when I was living in Utah and got my permit, they weren't charging the actual amount that it cost to process. They were using Utah tax dollars to fund the difference, so basically subsidizing permits.
If the majority of your permits were nonresident and therefore not paying taxes, what benefit is derived from subsidizing them? Why not at minimum charge the actual cost?

 

[Schwing]

I am not arguing that the state should subsidize out of state permits. The point I am making is that this idea is being proposed by the far left in our state to promote their anti-gun agenda. As with most liberals, those in our state seem hell bent on finding any avenue of increased revenue. I will not support any revenue generating ideas that force anyone to pay additional $ to exercise 2nd amendment rights... I don't care if they live here or not.

It is a fact that the state does not lose money from their permit system. In fact, there are checks in place to prevent them from running a surplus and permits can go up in price if needed to pay for the program. Some time back, they actually decreased the price of permits and renewals because they were running a surplus.

Any time an anti-gun politician comes up with an idea for new legislation that has ANYTHING to do with 2nd amendment issues, I cannot support it.

 

[JHansenAK47]

It is a fact that the state does not lose money from their permit system. In fact, there are checks in place to prevent them from running a surplus and permits can go up in price if needed to pay for the program. Some time back, they actually decreased the price of permits and renewals because they were running a surplus.

That is good to see. When I got mine back in 2007 they were losing money on permits.

I don't support subsidizing and don't care for "gun-grabbing politicians attempting to influence behaviors through precision taxation".

 

[medalguy]

I have no problem with Utah charging actual cost for a permit. I have one and yes I do travel to Utah pretty often. More so now that I won't spend my $$$ in Colorado.

The unintended consequences of this would be that if Utah raises the fee to $500 or more, very few people would obtain them, likely thus greatly reducing the overall total revenue they received.

 

[Twiki357]

Another factor that was not addressed in the article. If Utah’s permit fees are actually supposed balance out to the cost to process the applications and they increase the non-resident fees to high, how much is it then going to cost Utah residents when they lose volume income from the out-of-state applications?

 

[mljdeckard]

I will question the statement that the current fee leaves us at a loss. We just dropped fees because we were making money on them, and the law actually states that fees collected must be used for the cost of running the department. I am pretty sure this is all you will hear about this.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

I'd still like opinions on why there is an outrage when a fee is charged but no outrage when most states don't even give non residents the option at all.

 

[Sam1911]

Most states? How many won't grant an out of state permit? Five? Ten?

Just because some places happen to suck worse doesn't mean we have it be cool about it when a good place starts to head south.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Sam, I was thinking it was more than that.
I'm only familiar with 2 states, Arkansas and Mississippi and both do not issue permits to non residents. I was under the mistaken assumption that most states were like this.

I did a little research and according to handgunlaw.us there are currently 28 states that allow non residents to acquire concealed carry permits. A little over half.
And some (Colorado for example) you have to own property or a business in the state and have a good reason for having a permit, and even then it is a "may issue" situation.

Your last sentence is absolutely correct. It kind of threw me because of all the pro gun arguments I've heard, I've never heard one that addressed CHL permits for non residents. I never even thought of it as an issue.

 

[Sam1911]

I'm surprised it is that low. Thanks for looking it up.

 

[hfl73]

I just renewed my Utah non-resident permit $15 for five years. All in all pretty reasonable considering the return. I travel to Florida each winter from upstate NY and having the Utah/Florida non-residents permits I can carry legally in all but two states (Maryland and S.Carolina). I would hate to see the fee increased and wouldn't mind paying a bit more if need be, but $500 I'll pass.