Gun lovers who travel across the United States may want to consider a Utah concealed-carry permit, and you don’t even have to be from Utah to get one.

Utah has offered its concealed-carry permit to nonresidents since the mid-1990s, and now Montanans can get one without even leaving their home state.

Closest to home for Flathead residents, Wholesale Sports in Missoula periodically offers one-day Utah concealed firearm permit classes.

Noah Dressel, an employee of the business, first became interested in Utah’s permit because Montana’s concealed-carry permit didn’t cover travel to Washington or Minnesota, two states he visits on occasion. Wholesale Sports began hosting the Utah permit classes in April.

Utah’s permit covers seven states that do not have reciprocity with Montana, including Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Minnesota, Ohio, Washington and West Virginia.

All told, Utah has reciprocity with 32 states while Montana has agreements with 27, Dressel said. Montana’s permit covers two states that Utah’s doesn’t: Michigan and Florida. 

The Utah permit costs $65.25 and is good for four years. Renewals cost $40, Dressel said.

Dressel said a nice thing about the Utah permit class is that it includes fingerprinting and a passport photo, which is required for the permit. The class costs $80 and runs three and one-half hours. Cash or checks are accepted the day of the class, but pre-payment is encouraged at cfputah.com.

Classes are offered every two months. The next two dates are 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 25, and 11 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 26, at Wholesale Sports, 2323 N. Reserve St. in Missoula.

Those who want to make a reservation can call Dressel at 406-523-9000, extension 1. Participants should arrive 40 minutes early for fingerprinting.

More information about states’ concealed-carry permits and reciprocity can be found online at usacarry.com.

Reporter Caleb Soptelean may be reached at 758-4483 or by e-mail at csoptelean@dailyinterlake.com.

Gun lovers who travel across the United States may want to consider a Utah concealed-carry permit, and you don’t even have to be from Utah to get one.

Utah has offered its concealed-carry permit to nonresidents since the mid-1990s, and now Montanans can get one without even leaving their home state.

Closest to home for Flathead residents, Wholesale Sports in Missoula periodically offers one-day Utah concealed firearm permit classes.

Noah Dressel, an employee of the business, first became interested in Utah’s permit because Montana’s concealed-carry permit didn’t cover travel to Washington or Minnesota, two states he visits on occasion. Wholesale Sports began hosting the Utah permit classes in April.

Utah’s permit covers seven states that do not have reciprocity with Montana, including Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Minnesota, Ohio, Washington and West Virginia.

All told, Utah has reciprocity with 32 states while Montana has agreements with 27, Dressel said. Montana’s permit covers two states that Utah’s doesn’t: Michigan and Florida. 

The Utah permit costs $65.25 and is good for four years. Renewals cost $40, Dressel said.

Dressel said a nice thing about the Utah permit class is that it includes fingerprinting and a passport photo, which is required for the permit. The class costs $80 and runs three and one-half hours. Cash or checks are accepted the day of the class, but pre-payment is encouraged at cfputah.com.

Classes are offered every two months. The next two dates are 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 25, and 11 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 26, at Wholesale Sports, 2323 N. Reserve St. in Missoula.

Those who want to make a reservation can call Dressel at 406-523-9000, extension 1. Participants should arrive 40 minutes early for fingerprinting.

More information about states’ concealed-carry permits and reciprocity can be found online at usacarry.com.

Reporter Caleb Soptelean may be reached at 758-4483 or by e-mail at csoptelean@dailyinterlake.com.