Rep. Candice Pierucci says if venues take public funds, there should be a \u201cdiscussion\u201d about allowing patrons to be armed.<\/p>\n
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Jazz fans as the Utah Jazz host the Houston Rockets, NBA basketball in Salt Lake City on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025.<\/p>\n
A Utah lawmaker wants to allow concealed firearms permit holders to take their guns to Utah Jazz and Utah Mammoth home games, as well as concerts and other events held at the Delta Center and a host of other venues around the state.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re a Second Amendment state,\u201d said Rep. Candice Pierucci, R-Herriman, \u201cand we have a really robust concealed carry permit. \u2026 The idea would be that if you\u2019re going to accept state dollars, we should at least have a discussion on if you\u2019re going to prohibit someone\u2019s Second Amendment rights while you\u2019re there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pierucci\u2019s HB452<\/a>, which was unveiled Monday, would require any private entity, business or venue that has received more than $1 million in public funding to allow concealed firearms permit holders to bring their guns to events. <\/p>\n Two years ago, the Legislature appropriated nearly $1 billion in subsidies to Salt Lake City\u2019s sports and entertainment district<\/a> to help attract an NHL team to Utah, renovate the Delta Center and pay for other improvements to the area. <\/p>\n Currently, the NBA<\/a> explicitly prohibits firearms at all games and NHL arenas, including the Delta Center, have policies prohibiting weapons of any kind<\/a>. The Delta Center has metal detectors when entering the building.<\/p>\n A spokesperson for Smith Entertainment Group, which owns the Jazz and the Mammoth, did not respond to a request for comment. <\/p>\n (Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Rep. Candice Pierucci, R-Riverton, in the House Chamber at the Utah Capitol in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026.<\/p>\n Pierucci said she is working on the bill on behalf of a constituent who was prohibited from bringing their gun to games.<\/p>\n \u201cThey had tried to go in and, I think, given the safety climate, they would have felt better with their family had they been able to pack along their concealed [firearm] while walking around downtown,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd said Monday that he hadn\u2019t seen Pierucci\u2019s bill and would have to study it to understand the potential impact. <\/p>\n Since 2021, Utah has allowed individuals to carry concealed firearms in most locations<\/a> without a concealed weapons permit, but some locations, like schools, churches, daycares and college campuses, remained off-limits. <\/p>\n Last year, the Legislature enacted a new law that allows concealed carry permit holders to take their guns on public university campuses<\/a>. <\/p>\n As of June 30, 2025, there are 657,271 people with active Utah concealed firearms permits<\/a>, according to the Department of Public Safety, but more than 400,000 of them live outside of Utah and got a permit because the state\u2019s permit is recognized in at least 37 other states.<\/p>\n To obtain a concealed firearms permit<\/a>, an individual must pass a background check, complete a firearms familiarity course and pay a fee, among other qualifications.<\/p>\n If Pierucci\u2019s bill passes, the impacts go beyond the Jazz and the Mammoth. It would upend bans on firearms at Real Salt Lake soccer matches<\/a>; Major League Baseball games<\/a>, if a team is lured to the state; and the Utah State Fair<\/a>.<\/p>\n She does not think the bill would apply to events at Brigham Young University.<\/p>\n It would not impact the Salt Lake City International Airport, Pierucci said, because it is under federal regulations.<\/p>\n For the same reason, the 2034 Winter Olympic venues may be exempt from the proposed change. The federal government traditionally designates the Olympics as a \u201cnational security special event\u201d and takes over many of the security functions.<\/p>\n The International Olympic Committee does not have any express rules against firearms in Olympic venues, a spokesperson said in an email. Instead, they said, \u201cSecurity arrangements for the Olympic Games are the responsibility of local authorities.\u201d<\/p>\n Neither Utah 2034 organizers nor the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee immediately returned a request for comment.<\/p>\n The bill could, however, apply to some private hospitals if they have received public money. <\/p>\n Pierucci said she expects the bill will be refined in the coming days.<\/p>\n Reporters Julie Jag and Andy Larsen contributed to this story.<\/p>\n Correction, 10:15 a.m. \u2022 The story has been updated to correct the description of Utah\u2019s firearms laws. <\/p>\n Note to readers \u2022 This story is available to Salt Lake Tribune subscribers only. Thank you for supporting local journalism.<\/p>\n For over 150 years, The Salt Lake Tribune has been Utah\u2019s independent news source. Our reporters work tirelessly to uncover the stories that matter most to Utahns, from unraveling the complexities of court rulings to allowing tax payers to see where and how their hard earned dollars are being spent. This critical work wouldn\u2019t be possible without people like you\u2014individuals who understand the importance of local, independent journalism.\u00a0 As a nonprofit newsroom, every subscription and every donation fuels our mission, supporting the in-depth reporting that shines a light on the is sues shaping Utah today.<\/p>\n You can help power this work.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Rep. 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