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#4 things you should know about Utah gun laws

SALT LAKE CITY In the weeks since the Sandy Hook massacre, where 20 children were killed at a Connecticut elementary school, the rhetoric around the nation has been about safety and gun control, including laws that allow Americans to carry a firearm.

The U.S. Constitution clearly spells out that American citizens have the "right to keep and bear arms" and that those rights "shall not be infringed." The Utah Constitution further defines the right to bear arms as a means for "security and defense of self, family, others, property, or the state, as well as for other lawful purposes" and that those rights "shall not be infringed."

However, the types of "arms" allowed assault weapons has been debated ad nauseum in recent weeks.

More recently, a man was photographed at a Utah JCPenney store Wednesday openly carrying an semi-automatic rifle over his shoulder. While not illegal in the state of Utah, many shoppers were concerned about the situation, whether legal or not.

Whether the decision to openly carry a rifle into a store is recommended or not, many do not know the laws in Utah about carry a firearm. The following are four things you should know about carrying a firearm in the state of Utah.

Utah is an open-carry state

Related:

Supporters of President Barack Obama's gun-control proposals are planning a methodical, state-by-state campaign to try to persuade key lawmakers that it's in their political interest to back his sweeping effort to crack down on firearms and ammunition sales and expand criminal background checks.

Utah allows for citizens of the state to openly carry an unloaded firearm without a concealed firearm permit. To be classified as "unloaded ," the firearm must not have a round in the "firing position" and the firearm must have at least two "mechanical actions" from firing. The firearm cannot be concealed, but must be clearly visible at all times.

Although openly carrying is not illegal, residents of the state are encouraged to be wise about their actions. In Jan. 2011, a 51-year-old man was handcuffed and detained for a few minutes after walking on the sidewalk near Orem's University Mall with a semi-automatic rifle over his shoulder and carrying a handgun. The man was cited with disorderly conduct.

Rep. Paul Ray, R-Clearfield, is hoping to change the law so that carrying a holstered gun or toting a rifle would not be grounds for disorderly conduct or other criminal charges.

Carrying in person