Gun Ban at State Offices Likely to Be Rescinded

A long-standing ban on guns in state offices is at odds with Utah law and probably will be tossed out in the next few months.

The Utah attorney general’s office has told state lawmakers the ban was effectively negated in 1999 by changes the Legislature made to the state’s gun laws. The attorney general’s opinion said state employees who hold concealed-weapon permits will probably be able to carry guns on the job.

State officials plan to abandon the gun prohibition, possibly as soon as Jan. 1.

The workplace gun ban began about eight years ago in response to concerns about workplace safety, said Con Whipple, spokesman for the Human Resources department.