A recently passed Utah law allowing firearms to be carried openly on college campuses has come under fresh scrutiny following the fatal shooting of far-right activist Charlie Kirk at a university in the state. The legislation, HB 128, permits individuals with a concealed-carry permit to openly carry weapons on campus, a change from previous rules requiring firearms to be concealed.
Utah has allowed permitless open and concealed carry of firearms since 2021, but the new law, passed in August, specifically lifted the requirement for firearms to be hidden on college grounds. The suspect in the shooting, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, reportedly used a hunting rifle, though it remains unclear whether he was legally permitted to carry it on campus.
University staff have expressed concerns about the implications of open carry in classrooms and laboratories, particularly where hazardous chemicals are stored. The law builds on Utah's already permissive gun legislation, which includes no red-flag laws and allows concealed carry without a permit. Instead of restricting gun access, the state has focused on 'school hardening' measures such as automatic locks and surveillance cameras.
Local attorney Johnny Richardson noted that Utah's approach reflects a broad interpretation of the Second Amendment, arguing that gun control laws can impede law-abiding citizens. However, Brandon del Pozo, a former police chief and now academic, warned that the deterrence effect of carrying firearms is ineffective against politically motivated or grievance-driven violence, which often involves irrational actors.
The shooting has reignited debates over campus safety, with some advocating for armed responses and others highlighting the limits of such measures in preventing extremist attacks.
