HB0267 | Voluntary Lethal Means Restrictions Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill creates a voluntary process for an individual to restrict the individual's ability to purchase a firearm.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill requires the Bureau of Criminal Identification to create a process and forms to allow a non-restricted individual to voluntarily become a restricted individual for a limited period of time;

Bill Details
Year: 
2021
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 16, 2021
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 45
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

This innovative suicide prevention approach gives people the option to voluntarily suspend their ability to buy guns, acknowledging they may experience a future mental health crisis and don’t want to impulsively buy a firearm that could cause fatal harm. The goal is to help people stay alive and safe if a crisis were to occur—while respecting Second Amendment rights.

Over the past two years, the bill was designed with the direct input and consultation of Utah mental health and suicide prevention leaders who feel that this is an important tool in the toolbox of suicide prevention.

Commission: 
Safety
Utah PTA Public Policy Program
National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions: 

That Utah PTA and its constituent associations support evidence-based suicide prevention programs focused on improving mental health including, but not limited to, teaching students, teachers, and parents mindfulness skills, coping skills, decision making skills, and helping them to build connections and improve dispositions;

Utah PTA Legislative Policy: 

To promote the welfare of children and youth in home, school, community, and place of worship.
To secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth.

Utah PTA Legislative Priorities: 

5. Support measures to promote safe and healthy environments and behaviors for children to prevent suicide, sexual exploitation, and human trafficking,

National PTA Public Policy Agenda

Enact Legislation to Protect Youth, Families and Communities From Gun and Other Violence