News roundup: Fox's O'Reilly and Chaffetz argue over gun laws

Romney mobilizes Utah supporters. O'Reilly and Chaffetz fight over gun laws. Hatch takes issue with Treasury tweets.

Happy Wednesday, some are arguing that the Aurora mass shooting should lead to new gun laws and that includes Fox News' Bill O'Reilly, who tussled with Rep. Jason Chaffetz, over his idea that all assault weapons purchases should be reported to the FBI. [FoxNews]

Topping the news: Mitt Romney has Utah in the bag, but the campaign has still found a way to harness its Beehive State support through a new Utah County call center. [Trib]

-> Another reporter sets up the race between Rep. Jim Matheson and Saratoga Springs Mayor Mia Love, providing a fairly detailed assessment of the two candidates, but our favorite line is: "Utes, as people from Utah are called..." [USNews]

-> The federal government is creating "solar energy zones" throughout the west, including in Utah. [Trib]

Tweet of the day: From @NeilTyson: "Odd that only in world politics is the number of people who want to kill you a measure of your importance."

Happy birthday: To Ron Fox and daughter Kari Fox Hardy, who celebrate on Thursday.

In other news: Sen. Orrin Hatch is questioning the legality of the U.S. Treasury's social media campaign that opposes Republican legislation. [DailyCaller]

-> Rep. Jason Chaffetz has Romney's back when it comes to his comments on Russia being the U.S.'s biggest geopolitical foe. [ThinkProgress]

-> Paul Rolly says Matheson's staff got a call from a reporter who was not really a reporter, actually his a Republican campaign operative with ties to Morgan Philpot. [Trib]

-> Bryan Schott argues that Peter Cooke's emphasis on volunteerism is a sign that his campaign is already in trouble. [UtahPolicy]

-> As cases of post traumatic stress disorder and suicides rise in veterans, a U professor tells Congress that doing away with multiple deployments will curb the numbers. [Trib]

-> Jon Huntsman is to be honored for standing up for LGBT equality in Utah. [Trib]

-> Utah environmentalist want a federal court to force the EPA's hand in dealing with ozone pollution in the Uintah Basin. [Trib]

-> 87 wealthy Americans signed a letter sent by Voices for Progress to members of Congress urging the elimination of the Bush tax cuts for the top 2 percent. Among the signers were three Utahns: Joshua S. Kanter, Rochelle Kaplan and Arthur Lipson. Here's the letter: [Voices]

-> The Daily Rundown discusses a story that says Hatch is ready for compromise on taxes and his office's vigorous push back against the piece. [NBCNews]

2012 watch: Will voters see a change in tone of the campaign after the Olympics? Or will the candidates continue on with heated negative attacks? [NYTimes]

-> Romney calls China's leaders economic "cheaters" now, but he supported their bid for the Beijing Olympics. [Globe]

-> The Obama camp receives two Pinocchios from the Washington Post's Fact Checker for using out-of-date data to criticize Romney's Medicare plan. [WaPost]

-> Romney hammers the White House on leaks and renews calls for an independent investigation. [FoxNews]

-> While more and more are becoming convinced that Romney understands the economy better, many still have faith Obama is the better Commander-in-Chief. [NBCNews]

-> Obama says Romney has gone too far in twisting his "build that" comment to his own end. [CNN]

-> A list of celebrities that have opened up their wallets to the presidential candidates. The scale is tipped in Obama's favor. [CNN]

-> Polls show independents are being swayed by Obama's Bain and tax return attacks on Romney. He is portrayed as a man who has something to hide. [Reuters]

-> If Obama wants to win conservative Florida, it may very well depend on his performance among its Jewish population. [Reuters]

Where are they?

Rep. Jason Chaffetz will appear on Fox & Friends in the morning, attends an oversight hearing, appears on Politico Live, attends Judiciary hearing, then a Department of Defense briefing.

Gov. Gary Herbert appears at a Health and Human Services Workshop, then delivers the opening remarks at the ALEC Conference.

Lt. Gov. Greg Bell meets with GOED and Silver Park Partners, then speaks at the Rich States Poor States news conference.

SL Co. Mayor Peter Corroon meets with Taiwanese Students at the County Government Center.

SLC Mayor Ralph Becker testifies before a House subcommittee on water resources.

WVC Mayor Mike Winder interviews with Utah Policy, then meets with Utah League of Cities Executive Director Ken Bullock.

President Barack Obama speaks at several campaign events in New Orleans.

Got a tip? A birthday, wedding or anniversary to announce? Email us at cornflakes@sltrib.com.

— Matt Canham and Andreas Rivera Twitter.com/mattcanham and Twitter.com/andreascrivera