Utah this year was ranked among 29 states that received a "D" or an "F" (Utah got a D-minus ) in an annual national report that analyzes the legislative steps taken to protect children against gun violence.
Other Western states, including Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada and Wyoming, also ranked poorly.
However, Oregon and Colorado bumped up their overall grades to C's over the past few years after citizens in those states approved initiatives requiring criminal background checks on all firearms purchased not only at weapons stores but also gun shows — something Utah and other states do not currently require.
The report is compiled annually by the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, named after former White House press secretary Jim Brady who, along with then-President Ronald Reagan, was shot during an assassination attempt in 1981.
The laws proven to be most protective for children when it comes to guns — and Utah's grade on such legislation — include:
Making it illegal for a juvenile to possess or own a firearm without parental permission or supervision. B-minus.
Making the sale or transfer of a gun to a juvenile without parental permission illegal. A-minus.
Requiring adults to store firearms responsibly and out of the reach of children and penalizing them if they don't. F.
Requiring all guns sold to have a child-safety lock and/or include safety features, such as magazine safety disconnects. F.