Senate approves amended firearms-safety training bill after adding adult-consent provision

The Utah Senate considered first substitute Senate Bill 59, a measure addressing firearms-safety training. Senators adopted an amendment that broadened who may meet the bill’s consent requirement.

Senator Taylor moved the amendment to change the phrase following 'guardian' to read, in part, 'or a person over 21 years of age who has the written consent of the parent or legal guardian.' "I'm only proposing the first amendment ... after parent, delete 'or' and insert a comma, and after guardian, insert 'or a person over 21 years of age who has the written consent of the parent or legal guardian,'" Taylor said while offering the text.

The amendment was called, there were no questions recorded on the floor copy, and the presiding officer ruled it passed and the bill advanced as amended.

Senator Moran later opposed the overall approach, saying the emphasis should be on immediate school-based education rather than imposing a statewide punitive component. "If we would spend our time and efforts in working with the school people ... that kind of education ... could very well have avoided that accident," Moran said, arguing that hunter-safety-style or school-delivered education could have more immediate impact than the bill’s statewide mechanics.

Senator Montgomery, identified as the bill sponsor earlier in discussion, and other supporters said the measure aimed to expand safety training, and amendments were intended to clarify who could qualify for consent-based exceptions.

The Senate passed the amendment on the floor and advanced the substitute bill for further action later in the session.