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Senate approves bill barring firearm confiscation during declared emergencies; debate centers on public-safety limits
Summary
The Utah Senate passed SB201, a bill that prevents government actors from confiscating or adding restrictions to legally owned firearms during declared emergencies and creates a civil remedy for violations. Supporters framed it as protecting constitutional rights after Katrina; opponents raised concerns about safety in government-controlled shelters and private venues.
The Utah Senate voted to pass Senate Bill 201 on Feb. 22, 2007, a measure that seeks to prevent state and local government actors from confiscating firearms or imposing new restrictions on lawful firearm possession during declared emergencies and to provide civil remedies for citizens whose rights are infringed.
Sponsor Senator Madsen said the bill is intended to 'freeze in place' the rights Utahns already hold so disasters cannot become a pretext for rollbacks. 'It just stops government entities from constricting gun rights, and especially specifically from confiscating firearms from law-abiding citizens,' he said during remarks on the floor.
The bill drew substantive debate. Senator Dayton supported the legislation as…
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