Utah GOP bans guns from state convention where Ron DeSantis will give keynote speech

04 April 2023

Ron DeSantis has yet to formally enter the 2024 GOP presidential primary, but the far-right Florida governor is certainly acting like he is planning to run. And that includes a lot of public appearances in other states, including Utah — where he is scheduled to give the keynote speech at the Utah GOP Convention in Orem on Saturday, April 22.

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."

Carson Jorgensen, who chairs the Utah Republican Party, told the Tribune, "In the current political climate, we felt the need to be thorough in our security for this event…. We felt the best practice is to err on the side of caution."

Schott, in an article published on April 4, notes that guns have also been banned from other Republican events featuring DeSantis. Magnetometers, according to Schott, will be used at the Utah GOP Convention.

"The Utah GOP convention is one of several out-of-state speaking engagements for DeSantis ahead of the expected launch of his 2024 presidential bid," Schott observes. "He is reportedly set to visit Ohio and New Hampshire later this month and will head to Texas for a fundraiser after he speaks in Utah."

Read the Salt Lake Tribune’s full report at this link.

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