Ms. Graham,
I apologize for using the 'Ms.' honorific since there's only a slim chance that it's your chosen one.
I am emailing you to hopefully get some signs corrected that I found over the weekend. While visiting the North Fork campground (East Bowery), I saw a sign, attached, that has language that concerns me.
Rule #3 on the sign says "Absolutely no fireworks, guns, or projectiles."
This rule is contrary to state law. Specifically, the UC 76-10-500 says:
(1) The individual right to keep and bear arms being a constitutionally protected right, the Legislature finds the need to provide uniform laws throughout the state. Except as specifically provided by state law, a citizen of the United States or a lawfully admitted alien shall not be:
(a) prohibited from owning, possessing, purchasing, selling, transferring, transporting, or keeping any firearm at his place of residence, property, business, or in any vehicle lawfully in his possession or lawfully under his control; or
(b) required to have a permit or license to purchase, own, possess, transport, or keep a firearm.
(2) This part is uniformly applicable throughout this state and in all its political subdivisions and municipalities. All authority to regulate firearms shall be reserved to the state except where the Legislature specifically delegates responsibility to local authorities or state entities. Unless specifically authorized by the Legislature by statute, a local authority or state entity may not enact or enforce any ordinance, regulation, or rule pertaining to firearms.
As the Weber County Parks and Recreation department is a county agency, the authority to enact or enforce laws pertaining to the possession of firearms lies outside of the authority of your office.
The possession of firearms is regulated in only a few manners by the state. A person may not conceal a firearm without a Concealed Firearm Permit (UC 76-10-504). A person may not carry a statutorily loaded firearm on a public street without a Concealed Firearm Permit (UC 76-10-505). A person may not carry a firearm into a Utah school unless they have been issued a Concealed Firearm Permit from Utah (UC 76-10-505.5). The legislature has not addressed the unconcealed carrying (or open carrying) of firearms and as such, it is a permitted act in all but a few secure areas (Courts, Law Enforcement, Jails, Mental Health Institutions) provided that the firearm is statutorily unloaded as defined in UC 76-10-502.
The sign, being an attempt to enact one of these rules, is contrary to state law and therefore illegal. I would like to request that the signs be altered to remove the language that indicates all guns are forbidden.
Thank you in advance for your time.
[UtahJarhead]
Ogden resident
Email: <redacted here>
Cell: <redacted here>