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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Another Utah County Censures Never Trumper GOP Senator Mitt Romney

Former President Donald Trump called out Republican Utah Sen. Mitt Romney upon his censure in a Utah county, saying he is "BAD NEWS."

Utah GOP issues statement supporting both Romney and Lee after differing impeachment votes



The Utah Republican Party has issued a statement in support of GOP Sens. Mitt Romney and Mike Lee from the state, despite their differing votes over whether former President Donald Trump should have been convicted in his second impeachment trial.

What are the details?

Over the weekend, the split Senate voted 57-43 in favor of convicting the former president on one charge of inciting an insurrection over his actions surrounding the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, but acquitted Trump after falling short of the 67 votes that was needed to secure a conviction.

Seven Republicans joined Democrats in voting in favor of conviction, leading some state GOP organizations to issue condemnations against members who bucked the party by voting to find Trump guilty.

Romney — a longtime Trump critic and former Republican presidential nominee was one of the members who voted to convict the former president, while Lee determined that "acquittal was the only option [he] could deem consistent with the law, the facts, and the Constitution."

The Salt Lake Tribune reported that following the vote, a petition was circulated online among Utah Republicans calling for Romney to be censured for his vote. It reportedly "concludes Romney used his 'senatorial power and influence to undermine' Trump and claims 'Romney appears to be an agent for the Establishment Deep State.'"

But in a statement on Monday, the state GOP came to the defense of Romney and Lee, saying that "our senators have both been criticized for the vote."

What did the state GOP say?

The state party began by quoting the late President Ronald Reagan's declaration that within the GOP's "tent, there will be many arguments and divisions over approach and method ... [but] unity of thought does not require unanimity of thought."

The Utah GOP wrote:

The violence at the US Capitol on January 6 was horrific and inexcusable. Utah's United States Senators each experienced those events firsthand, and then relived them during the Democratic House Managers' relentless video-driven impeachment presentation. In the end, each of our senators voted differently.

Our senators have both been criticized for their vote. The differences between our own Utah Republicans showcase a diversity of thought, in contrast to the danger of a party fixated on 'unanimity of thought.' There is power in our differences as a political party, and we look forward to each senator explaining their votes to the people of Utah."