Articles
Utah Concealed Carry Class A Big Success
- Category: Education
- Published on Tuesday, 16 August 2011 00:48
- Written by Gary Witt
Close to 200 people who have Ohio concealed handgun licenses gathered on Saturday August 13 at the Columbus Baptist Temple in North Columbus to take four hours of additional training that will allow them to apply for a Utah concealed carry license. The course was taught by Bobby Diaz. Three OFCC volunteers, Mark Rodgers, Mike Schmieg and Gary Witt volunteered their time to help with administrative matters.
Upon signing in, students received a packet with an application, fingerprint card, CD, an OFCC wallet card and several other items. Fingerprints are required to be submitted with the application and students had the choice of being fingerprinted by an independent service there or taking the card to a police department for fingerprints. Most people opted to have their fingerprints taken there and the line moved quickly.
Obtaining and keeping a Utah CHL, known in Utah as a concealed firearm permit and good for five years, is considerably different than it is in Ohio. Grounds for denying, suspending or revoking it, in addition to conviction of a felony, crime of violence, offenses involving the use of alcohol, narcotic or other controlled substances, includes conviction of an offense involving moral turpitude. Background checks are more intense with expunged records being reviewed. One of the reasons a person’s permit will be suspended is if he/she is charged with a crime of violence in any state and will be reinstated with notice of acquittal or notice of charges being dropped. Individuals applying for a Utah concealed firearm permit are not required to have range time prior to applying but during the course, the instructor emphasized the need to go to the range and practice, practice, practice.
OFCC member and General Counsel Derek DeBrosse Esq. reviewed Ohio law with students including subjects such as vehicle carry, castle doctrine and the three conditions that the Ohio Supreme Court has established as necessary to prove self defense. There was a very good question and answer dialog between students and Derek during his presentation and he emphasized to everyone that we NEVER EVER SHOOT To KILL. We shoot to stop the threat.
Having a CHL issued by a county in Ohio allows the holder to travel to twenty-nine states that recognize Ohio’s CHL. These states are listed for Ohio here. Having a Utah CHL adds five additional states (according to the handgunlaw.us website) that will allow you to carry, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Pennsylvania and Texas. Be aware that when in a different state, you are subject to the laws of that state.
The Utah CHL class has been so popular that, before today’s class was held, a second class was scheduled for October 8th this year. Information and registration, $35.00 individual or $25.00 if you bring a friend, can be found on OFCC’s web store here. Fifty percent of registration fees are donated to a food pantry and fifty percent is donated to OFCC for its work in protecting Ohioans gun rights. Both organizations, the food bank and OFCC, are non-profit. The instructor and his staff receive no income from this event.