GOP convention in Utah will allow guns, despite liberal media's reports to the contrary

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will be speaking at the Utah Republican Party State Convention in Orem, Utah, on April 22. Various mainstream media outlets initially reported that the Utah GOP had banned guns at the event; however, this is not the case.

Americans with concealed carry permits will be allowed to pack heat, although those in attendance will be required to pass through metal detectors.

The Salt Lake Tribune and The Hill reported Tuesday morning that on account of security concerns, guns had been forbidden, particularly during DeSantis' speech.

It appears that the initial reports claiming there had been a prohibition on guns were packaged to intimate a hypocrisy on the part of the Republican governor and his Utahan peers.

Salt Lake Tribune reporter Bryan Schott originally set his original claim (i.e., that guns were forbidden at the convention) in contrast with with the Utah GOP's stated support of the "constitutionally-protected right of the people to keep and bear arms" for self-defense.

He also noted (and continues to note in his updated piece) that guns were prohibited at previous conservative events featuring DeSantis.

Regardless of whether Schott — who has been highly critical of DeSantis in the past — intended to intimate Republicans were hypocritical, that appears to have been the takeaway from many of those who ultimately commented on his article on Twitter.

AlterNet amplified the Tribune's claim, stating, "DeSantis' allies, like many other MAGA Republicans, have been quick to accuse Democrats of being anti-2nd Amendment. But according to Salt Lake Tribune reporter Bryan Schott, guns are being banned from the April 22 event 'as part of enhanced security for DeSantis' appearance.'"

Schott later provided an update on Twitter, claiming that the Utah GOP had softened its stance on guns at the state convention.

Utah GOP Chairman Carson Jorgensen had reportedly corrected the record, informing the Tribune that magnetometers will be in use at the Utah Valley University's UCCU Center for the convention, but those legally able to carry their firearms into the venue can still do so. Additionally, delegates will not have to bother with such security measures.

To acquire a concealed permit in Utah, applicants must be 21 years old and undergo a criminal background check.

When clarifying the decision on Tuesday, Jorgensen told the Tribune, "We felt the best practice is to err on the side of caution."

Jorgensen had previously told the paper, "In the current political climate, we felt the need to be thorough in our security for this event."

Hours after the The Hill similarly revised its initial report, AlterNet still had an article up entitled, "Utah GOP bans guns from state convention where Ron DeSantis will give keynote speech."

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