The Utah concealed firearm permit is valid in 30 states as a non-Utah resident. It’s a nice addition to your home state permit, particularly if you plan on doing any traveling into “free America.” But the Utah permit just got better!
OK… Not really by much. But starting January 1, 2025, the Utah Bureau of Criminal Investigation is charging $62 for a nonresident permit. It’s down by $1.25. Last week, the Utah BCI sent letters to Utah certified instructors telling them the FBI is charging less money for fingerprinting. And Utah is passing this on to the end user.
Unfortunately, I do not think states like Massachusetts or New Jersey are going to make these changes to the expense of getting a license to carry or a permit to carry, respectively. This is the second time Utah has dropped prices, that I recall, since I’ve been offering the class.
In 2013, I went out to Salt Lake City for a very quick weekend to become a Utah certified instructor. I flew in on a Friday, took the class on Saturday, and flew out Sunday morning. In 2016, when I had to renew as a certified instructor, I flew in on a Friday and out on a Saturday afternoon after the course was done.
I do not remember the exact cost or the exact years, but when I started teaching the Utah class, it was about $53. At one point, they dropped it down to $51. I remember this because one of my colleagues at a shooting school I used to teach at sent a check in for $53 after the price dropped. The Utah BCI sent everything back to him so he could resubmit everything with a $51 check. That is absolutely something that would never happen in Massachusetts!
Over the years, the price went up to around $55, then around $57. For the last several years, it’s been $63.25 for a non-resident Utah concealed firearm permit. As of January 1, 2025, the price is dropping to $62 for non-residents and $52 for Utah residents.
In 2002, I pursued getting a Massachusetts License To Carry (LTC), Class A. I remember the (anti-gun) chief of police in my town only accepted the course that the town police offered. The LTC Class A allowed someone to possess large capacity and non-large capacity rifles, shotguns, and handguns. But the chief of police could put “restrictions” on the LTC. My first LTC was for “target/sport” shooting. I could only bring guns back and forth to the range with me.
Back then, the Massachusetts LTC was valid for four years and cost $25. By the time I had to renew in 2006, I moved to a different town. And the price skyrocketed to $100 every six years. If I remember correctly, the Gun Owners Action League fought to extend the license to six years because the cost had gone up 300%. There is no way they were going to do the same thing with the length of time the license would be valid.
As I’ve documented here on News2A, I started the process to get my New Jersey Firearm Purchaser Identification Card. It cost me about $150 and only took seven months. And even then, I had to prod the state to find out how long it was going to take for them to send me the digital FID card and information. After spending $275 on a CCARE qualification, I spent another $200 to apply for the New Jersey Permit To Carry. And of course, I’m currently waiting for that as well. The grand total for the FID & PTC and all the expenses for it cost me over $600. Not including 6 hours of driving time back and forth for the qual.
The Florida permit is very similar to the Utah permit. Both states are currently considered Constitutional carry or permitless carry. I know there’s a difference between the two, and I have covered it here on News2A. But I still think the Utah permit gives you more bang for your buck.
According to handgunlaw.us, the Florida permit and the Utah permit have a lot of the same states. However, Utah gives you Washington state but not New Mexico. Florida gives you New Mexico, but not Washington state. The Utah permit is now $62 and valid for five years. The Florida permit is $97 and valid for seven years. When you go to renew the Utah permit, you can do all of it online, and it will cost you about $25. When you renew the Florida permit, it’s going to cost you $87.
When I teach the Utah class, I set everyone up with the application or “weapon familiarity certification,” stamped and signed by me. I give them two sets of fingerprint cards, in case one does not go through. I give them a CD with the Utah laws and codes pertaining to firearms. Instructors are required to give their clients a hard copy of the Utah laws and codes. The CD is less expensive than a thumb drive. And easier than printing out 73 pages to give to each student.
Some other great stuff about the Utah permit is they’ve got the process down to a science. They’re processing thousands of applications every week. They process applications within 60 days. After taking the course, you have one year to send in the application. They contact you 90 days before your license expires. If it does expire, they give you one year to renew it online.
Another great thing about the Utah permit, which also gets a little confusing, is that if your home state has reciprocity with Utah, you must have your home state carry permit before you apply for the Utah permit. If your state does not have reciprocity with Utah, you do not need your home state permit. For example, if a husband and wife go shooting, but the wife does not have her FID/LTC/PTC, she can still apply for a Utah permit and carry in all the states she can carry in with the Utah permit. But, in a state like Mass, she may not purchase or carry in her home state.
I hate to sound like I’m off my rocker, but I do believe that in the states that filed Bruen-response laws, they’ve been making it more difficult and expensive for people to be able to exercise their Second Amendment rights. It’s almost as if the liberals don’t want people to have their Rights or to be able to exercise them. But they will say that it’s OK and you have your Second Amendment right, you just have to do things to make them happy. Those things include anywhere between 8 to 18 hours of training. Pass several background checks. Pay exorbitant fees. But in states like Utah, where they respect someone’s Rights, they make it easier and more affordable.
I also understand $1.25 is not enough to get you a coffee at Dunkin’ Donuts or the Wawa. But it is a step closer towards making America armed again. I do not think this is something President Donald Trump can take credit for doing. But if it is less money going towards the government, I am all for it!