News roundup: Gun reform lobby turns to community effort

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Gun reform advocates turn to community approach. Federal judge strikes down Utah's anti-polygamy law. GOP picks three candidates for AG job.

Happy Monday. After efforts to pass gun reform failed in Congress, some advocates are taking the fight to local communities, arguing that perhaps a bottom-up approach would work better than top-down. A strong grassroots effort could have better luck, though it remains a challenging road for supporters. [Politico]

Topping the news: A federal judge on Friday declared Utah's anti-polygamy law unconstitutional, a win for the TV-star Brown family and a new legal precedent that lawmakers will undoubtedly try to change. More coverage below. [Trib] [DNews] [Fox13]

-> Republicans picked Sean Reyes, Robert Smith and Brian Tarbet as the three candidates to forward to Gov. Gary Herbert to choose a replacement for ousted AG John Swallow. [Trib] [DNews] [KUTV]

-> Former military officials from Utah support a congressional change to how sexual assaults are handled in the armed forces. [Trib]

Tweet of the day: From @randyocalypse: "Her: Do most men favor polygamy ? Me: Yup! Her: Why is that? Me: Wait, this is a trap."

Opinion section: The president of the Utah Retail Merchant Association says online retailers should have to collect taxes like local, brick-and-mortar stores do. [Trib]

-> Immigration attorney Mark Alvarez says the House should do its job and pass immigration reform that the Senate already approved. [Trib]

-> The Gun Violence Prevention Center of Utah's Dee Rowland asks if there will have to be another deadly shooting rampage for Utahns to support more restrictive gun laws. [Trib]

-> The Ute Indian Tribe's Forrest Cuch says the U. should do a better job of educating its students and the community about the first natives of Utah. [Trib]

-> Pat Bagley notes that the LDS Church isn't the only faith to have to address past mistakes in the faith's teachings. [Trib]

-> Bagley also offers his take on what an NRA advent calendar looks like. [Trib]

-> Paul Rolly discusses the disparity between Utah's elected leaders pay and that of state workers. [Trib]

-> Rolly also notes a new political party in Utah — the Independent American Party — is recruiting support by citing Mormon leaders. [Trib]

-> Tribune editor Terry Orme says the printing problems Salt Lake's daily papers experienced last week show that people really want their printed product. [Trib]

-> After a decade of writing their column, Frank Pignanelli and LaVarr Webb answer the hard-hitting questions you've always wondered about. [DNews]

-> Former Sen. Bob Bennett says the rich are not getting richer off the poor and that creating more wealth for all is the best way to approach the rich-poor disparity. [DNews]

Weekend in review: James Bamford, a chronicler of the National Security Agency, says the public backlash against spying will be the impetus to change the agency's actions, not Congress or the White House. [Trib]

-> Our D.C. Notebook looks at Rep. Jason Chaffetz's travels to Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina and what he may be eyeing. [Trib]

-> After the federal judge struck down Utah's anti-polygamy law, those living in the polygamous community of Hilldale and Colorado City say they're excited but that life won't change much. [Trib]

-> Gov. Gary Herbert says he's disappointed in the court ruling and that public policy decisions should be made by lawmakers, not judges. [Trib]

-> A Q&A on what the judge's ruling means for Utah and polygamy. [Trib]

-> Society's attitude toward sex is cited as the reason the crackdown on polygamy isn't what it was a century ago. [Trib]

-> Former polygamists say the ruling could be harmful for women and drive the need for more welfare in the southern Utah enclaves. [Trib]

-> The felony charges against Tim Lawson could serve as a harbinger of things to come in the investigation of former AGs Mark Shurtleff and John Swallow. [Trib]

-> Shurtleff's lawyer says Lawson had no more access than any resident would have had; court documents appear to counter that argument. [DNews]

-> One of the repercussions of the Swallow/Shurtleff probe could be some campaign finance reform in the 2014 Legislature. [UtahPolicy]

-> Bryan Schott and Bob Bernick continue their Top 10 stories of the year countdown with No. 9: that a statewide anti-discrimination law passed out of a legislative committee. [UtahPolicy]

-> The fight for a higher minimum wage rages on, including in Utah where workers say they need a boost. [DNews]

-> Adding Jon Huntsman to the Chevron board may signal a change in the company's focus. [DailyFinance]

Nationally: Obama's White House systematically delayed a series of rules on the environment, worker safety and health care until after the 2012 election to ensure they weren't points of contention in the race. [WaPost]

-> Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee may run for president again and his supporters are touting polls showing him ahead in Iowa and South Carolina. [WaPost]

-> American intelligence officials say they may never know the extent of secrets that former contractor Edward Snowden may have lifted from the NSA. [NYTimes]

-> It's easier for a politician to come out as gay than to admit being an atheist. A look at the new taboo in American politics. [Politico]

-> China has successfully landed an unmanned craft on the Moon, the first human contact with the soil since 1976. Only the United States and Russia have accomplished the feat before. [Reuters]

Where are they?

SL Co. Mayor Ben McAdams holds a Cabinet Meeting, meets with House Speaker Rebecca Lockhart, lunches with West Jordan Mayor-Elect Kim Rolfe, attends Murray Mayor Dan Snarr's Years of Service event and meets with Brighton High School's Girls Soccer Team.

SLC Mayor Ralph Becker hits the Salt Lake City Employee Appreciation Holiday lunch and attends an Airport Redevelopment Briefing.

WVC Mayor Mike Winder visits with 2nd graders at Granger Elementary, attends a holiday choir concert at Granger High School and stops by the Neighborhood Watch Holiday Open House.

President Barack Obama meets with Treasury Secretary Jack Lew at the White House.

Got a tip? A birthday, wedding or anniversary to announce? Email us at cornflakes@sltrib.com. If you haven't already, sign up for our weekday email and get this sent directly to your inbox. [Trib]

— Thomas Burr Twitter.com/thomaswburr