SALT LAKE CITY Just as he said he would do, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox signed a bill Friday that will allow Utah residents to carry concealed weapons without a permit.

The controversial bill passed through the Utah Senate earlier this week.

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The law, which will go into effect in May, allows anyone 21-and-older to carry a concealed weapon without a required FBI background check or four-hour training course.

Cox told FOX 13 last month that he intended to sign the bill.

"With the passage of this bill, Utah joins 17 other states with some form of permitless concealed carry," Cox said Friday. "This bill protects Second Amendment rights, reduces permitless open carry (which is already legal), and includes significant funding for suicide prevention.

Gun rights advocates, including the National Rifle Association, supported the bill.

There is no reason a law-abiding person should have to ask for permission to carry a firearm for self-defense, said Jason Ouimet, the executive director of NRA-ILA. "The passage of this bill demonstrates Utah's commitment to protecting the Second Amendment rights of its citizens."

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The new law will still allow gun owners who want to concealed carry out-of-state to get a permit.

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Cox signs bill allowing Utahns to carry concealed weapons without permits - fox13now.com