(KCPW News) A state lawmaker’s bill to eliminate gun-free zones around schools, daycares and universities was jammed this morning in the Utah House of Representatives. Under Democratic Representative Jen Seelig’s amendment, if a school goes into lockdown because someone is recklessly displaying a gun, that person would have to reimburse the school for that cost.
“Just because we have a right to bear arms doesn’t mean we have a license to act like a fool and impact everyone else,” she said.
Like many other lawmakers, Seelig has a concealed weapons permit.
But Republican Representative Curt Oda, who’s sponsoring the bill, called her proposal an “extremely unfriendly” amendment.
“If someone is out in front of a school waving his gun and making threats and things like that, he deserves what he gets, but to just have someone be walking by, making no action or not making any threatening comments or anything of that nature, that’s not disorderly,” said Oda.
Seelig’s amendment passed on a narrow 37-to-35 vote. The House didn’t vote on the bill itself this morning after another Republican lawmaker suggested it shouldn’t be considered. Currently in Utah, only those who have a concealed weapons permit can openly carry within 1,000 feet of school grounds.
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