|
"In
Utah, legislators have "exempted places of worship from the state's
wide-open concealed-carry laws, but required pastors to notify parishioners
that pistols aren't welcome. Local Mormon leaders have called guns 'inappropriate,'
without enforcing the ban" (Newsweek, 1999).
"Utah religious leaders are urging Gov. Mike Leavitt to call
a special legislative session to tighten the state's permissive gun laws.
In the wake of shooting sprees in Salt Lake City and Littleton, Colo., they
met Saturday to draft the 'Salt Lake City/ Littleton Memorial Resolution,'
which asks the governor to immediately call legislators into session 'to
hold hearings regarding the needed changes in Utah's gun laws and to take
such action as might be needed'" (Michael Vigh, The Salt Lake Tribune,
April 25, 1999).
"During Saturday's meeting at the Episcopal Diocesan Offices
in Salt Lake City, the assembled religious leaders asked lawmakers and the
governor to change gun laws in the following ways: 'Restrict where weapons
may be carried; Place more restrictions on gun sales and purchases; Punish
people who do not store their guns safely'" (Michael Vigh, The Salt
Lake Tribune, April 25, 1999).
"'The Episcopal Church welcomes you' read the denomination's
familiar roadside greetings. But in Utah, Episcopalians are adding door-side
signs with a new postscript: 'but not your guns'" (Newsweek, 1999).
This summer, Gov. Mike Leavitt will call a special legislative session
to address outright prohibition. But Episcopal Bishop Carolyn Tanner Irish
isn't willing to wait. 'After Littleton,' she says, 'no more nice lady'"
(Newsweek, 1999).
Tanner "said legislators need to address the issue while the
Littleton school massacre and the shootings in the LDS Church's Family History
Library are fresh in the minds of Utahns. 'We can't wait for another tragedy
to happen before we act,' Tanner said. 'I want to take care of our kids
and our communities'" (Michael Vigh, The Salt Lake Tribune, April
25, 1999).
|
