June 1, 2000

A measure to ban concealed weapons in schools and churches will not be on the ballot this fall.

Utahns Against Gun Violence has failed to gather enough valid signatures to qualify. Political Specialist Richard Piatt has details from the State Capitol.

Utahns Against Gun Violence missed their goal by a longshot. They estimate only 35,000 signatures as of today's deadline. They needed at least 68,000.

Supporters turned the bulk of their signatures into the Salt Lake County clerk's office around 2:00 this afternoon. The deadline was 5:00. But the group realized that waiting would not help them.

Far from conceeding defeat, though, the group vows to keep up the quest to ban guns in schools and churches.

Kim DeMille/Utahns Aginst Gun Violence: "WITH US TURNING IN THE 35,000 TODAY, IT'S A STATEMENT THAT THIS ISSUE WON'T GO AWAY. THIS ISSUE MAY NOT BE ON THE BALLOT, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A CAMPAIGN ISSUE, AND IT'S GOING TO CARRY OVER INTO THE 2001 LEIGLATIVE SESSION."

The group admits that it underestimated the strict requirements for such a petition drive. They say they were hampered by the physical limits of getting signatures from 20 of Utah's 29 counties.

The group also admits it a mistake by not organizing the effort sooner.