Tribune Archive 1996
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHURCH'S WORD ON GUNS PACKS A ... 06/09/96
Publication: The Salt Lake Tribune
Types: Utah
Published: 06/09/96
Page: B1
Keywords: UT, Laws-Regulations, Weapons, Social Issues, Mormon Church
Church's Word On Guns Packs A Real Wallop
Gun Control: Church Has Hill's Ear
Byline: BY DAN HARRIE THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE
The Mormon Church last week issued a simple statement opposing firearms in chapels that has hit Utah's Capitol Hill with the force of an earthquake. Gun politics have been jarred in a whole new direction.
Already, gun-control advocates are referring to the church statement as a likely ``watershed'' in the long-running debate over firearms rights and restrictions.
``From now on there's going to be greater sympathy shown to our side, not just in the Legislature, but in the population generally,'' predicts Steve Gunn, a Salt Lake City attorney and spokesman for Utahns Against Gun Violence.
The pro-gun lobby's chief Utah spokesman, meantime, acknowledges the political dynamics have shifted dramatically and suddenly, at least on the narrow issue of legal firearms in churches and schools.
``Obviously, the church swings a very long political stick in this state, and the line between church and state becomes very blurred,'' says Scott Engen, a leader of the Utah Shooting Sports Council (USSC).
After an unbroken string of legislative victories in recent years, the gun-rights lobby now is on the defensive and looking ahead to what could well be its first defeat in the 1997 Legislature.
In rapid-fire succession following the church statement, Gov. Mike Leavitt, Senate Democrats and the Utah Education Association announced support for tightening loopholes in the law to keep firearms out of schools and churches.
``I've never gone up against the LDS Church on a political issue, and I hope I never have to,'' Engen says, still hoping to persuade church leaders to alter their position. ``The LDS Church has a history of getting its way politically and economically in this state.''
In fact, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints never loses on Utah's Capitol Hill, where more than 80% of legislators are active members, many holding current or past leadership positions.
From holding the line on state liquor laws to prohibiting gay marriages, lawmakers know not to make a move until the state's predominant religion has weighed in.
Lobbying, if necessary at all, is usually invisible or understated.
With few exceptions, the church has stayed within the bounds of its claimed right, even obligation, to take a stand on moral issues. Even the American Civil Liberties Union came to the church's defense when, in 1989, it successfully opposed a bill that would have allowed consumption of alcoholic beverages in limousines and charter buses.
Occasionally the faith's methods of persuasion become embarrassingly heavy-handed, as when during a 1992 campaign against legalized horse-race wagering, the church distributed to regional leaders a list of key legislators, along with their LDS priesthood positions.
And in the late 1980s, the church drew some criticism for frantically lobbying against a flat-tax bill that had no clear moral implications, but would have abolished the deduction for charitable and religious contributions, among others.
In the current debate over guns, the Mormon Church hardly could be accused of being pushy.
In fact, when asked last month about its position on firearms in churches, it said it had no policy, but was considering the matter.
The official statement released Monday was a study in restraint.
``Churches are dedicated for the worship of God and as havens from the cares and concerns of the world. The carrying of lethal weapons, concealed or otherwise, within their walls is inappropriate, except as required by officers of the law,'' it said.
The issue grew out of concerns over wording in the state's concealed-weapons permit law, which gun-rights activists argue allow near-universal access to license holders, including in churches, schools and private businesses.
Concerns surfaced publicly for the first time May 15 when Public Safety Commissioner Doug Bodrero and state Office of Education attorney Doug Bates asked lawmakers to give schools and churches specific authority to ban guns. Bodrero also asked for clarification on whether private business owners had the right to ban weapons in their facilities.
The legislative committee considering the matter -- ringed with a standing-room only crowd of gun enthusiasts -- reacted coolly to the request.
``It looks to me like maybe with a little bit of fixing, everything's perfect with the law,'' commented panel leader, Sen. John Holmgren, R-Bear River City.
Gov. Mike Leavitt, when asked about the issue a week later, said he was unprepared to express an opinion on the issue.
The next week, following Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jim Bradley's criticisms of him as ``wishy-washy'' on such an obvious issue, Leavitt expounded on his position. He did not favor a change in the law because he said it was clear existing private property rights gave churches, schools and private businesses the right to prohibit guns if they wished.
Then, this week, after the church statement, Leavitt said he would lead the push to amend the law.
Leavitt says he understands perceptions that he is taking marching orders from the church, but denies that is the case.
The LDS statement ``was totally coincidental to the deliberations we were going through,'' says Leavitt, a lifelong active Mormon Church member.
The governor insists the official church position played absolutely no role in his public policy stand. ``Any implication that that's somehow what guided these decisions is improper,'' Leavitt said.
Leavitt spokeswoman Vicki Varela called the near back-to-back timing of the church and governor's statements ``uncanny and surprising,'' but emphatically denied any link beyond coincidence.
Leavitt and his top staff made their decision Monday morning -- hours before the church statement -- that ``the law would need to be changed and he [Leavitt] clearly would need to take the lead to make our schools and churches safe,'' Varela said.
The staff was simply putting finishing touches on the policy and trying to decide how to announce it when the church statement was issued, she added.
Meetings the next day between Leavitt and Bodrero and a separate private discussion among members of the governor's staff and Engen, of the USSC, and National Rifle Association lobbyist Brian Judy were, said Varela, done out of ``courtesy.''
Engen said Leavitt staffers at the time gave no indication that a decision was made.
``I was told by Robin Riggs [Leavitt's attorney] that the governor had some gut feel on the issue, but he was still gathering information,'' said Engen.
© Copyright 1990-2000, The Salt Lake Tribune
------------------
http://second.amendment.homepage.com
