Utah House approves resolution backing Second Amendment and exploring sanctuary-state status

The Utah House of Representatives passed House Resolution 902 on May 18, 2021, expressing support for the right to keep and bear arms and calling for further conversation about a Second Amendment sanctuary-state policy. Representative Karianne Lisonbee, sponsor of the resolution, cited recent firearm-purchase statistics and urged the House to stand against perceived federal overreach.

"From January to April of this year, '16 million background checks were performed for firearm purchases, constituting a 31% increase over last year's record sales...In Utah, over 180,000 guns were purchased in 2020," Representative Lisonbee said while presenting the measure. She described HR902 as a step toward protecting Utahns' self-defense rights and encouraged colleagues' support.

Representatives Ray and Malloy spoke in support; Ray criticized partisan walk-offs and said he fully supported protecting the Second Amendment, and Malloy said he hoped the policy could be strengthened further and pledged participation in future efforts. After summations the House voted; HR902 passed by a recorded tally of 56 yes votes and 0 no votes and was signed by the Speaker and referred to staff for enrolling.

HR902 is a nonbinding House resolution that urges further discussion of sanctuary-state policy options and expresses the chamber's support for existing gun-rights protections. It does not itself change statute or create binding state policy.