State Gun Laws

Convictions for many crimes make it illegal for someone to have a gun. Utah state law says that a person cannot have a firearm or other dangerous weapon if s/he:

1. has been convicted of committing or attempting to commit assault or aggravated assault against:

• someone with whom s/he was involved in a dating relationship within the last five years - however, if this would not disqualify the person from having a firearm if:
  • it has been five years or more since the conviction was entered or since s/he was released from incarceration following the conviction; and
  • the person has a single conviction for misdemeanor assault;
• a current or former spouse, parent, guardian, someone with whom s/he has a child in common;
• someone with whom s/he is or was living together (“cohabitating”) as if the person were a spouse, parent, or guardian; or
• someone who is “similarly situated” to a spouse, parent, or guardian; 

2. has been convicted of:
   • a violent felony;
   • a domestic violence offense that is a felony;
   • a felony or multiple felonies that are part of a single criminal episode that are not a domestic violence offenses or a violent felonies and within seven years after completing the sentence for the conviction, has been convicted of or charged with another felony or class A misdemeanor;
   • multiple felonies that are not part of a single criminal episode;
3. has completed a sentence for any of the following within the last seven years:
   • a conviction for a felony that is not a domestic violence offense or a violent felony; or
   • convictions for multiple felonies that are part of a single criminal episode and are not domestic violence offenses or violent felonies; 
3. is on probation or parole for a felony;
4. is on parole from a juvenile secure care facility;
5. within the last ten years, has been adjudicated delinquent for an offense, which if committed by an adult would have been a violent felony;
6. is on probation for a conviction of possessing a controlled substance;
7. has been found “not guilty by reason of insanity” for a felony offense; or
8. has been found “mentally incompetent to stand trial” for a felony offense.¹

In addition, the state can deny, suspend, or revoke a permit to carry a concealed firearm if the person:

• has been convicted of:
  • a felony;
  • a crime of violence;
  • an offense involving the use of alcohol;
  • an offense involving the unlawful use of drugs or other controlled substances;
  • an offense involving moral turpitude, which is an act or behavior that gravely violates the sentiment or accepted standard of the community;
  • an offense involving domestic violence;
  • an offense involving domestic violence; 
• is a danger to himself/herself or others, as evidenced by past behavior of violence, threats of violence, or a prior conviction involving weapons; or
• falls under one of the other categories listed above in numbers 1 - 8.²

Also, federal laws, which apply to all states, restrict a person’s right to have a gun under certain circumstances such as when the abuser has been convicted of a felony or certain domestic violence-related crimes or if you have a protective order against the abuser that meets certain requirements. Go to Federal Gun Laws to get more information.

¹ UT Code §§ 76-10-503(1)-(3); 76-10-501(6)(a)
² UT Code § 53-5-704(2)(a), (3)(a)