Nampa GOP lawmaker introduces bill to allow concealed carry of guns in Idaho schools

This story was originally published by IdahoEdNews.org on March 2, 2020.

A bill that would allow Idaho teachers and employees to carry concealed weapons in schools made a quick debut Monday.

Without discussion, the Senate State Affairs Committee introduced the concealed weapons bill — a move that might set the stage for a full hearing later in the session, although time is running short.

Under current state law, school districts and charter schools can allow employees to carry firearms, and a handful of schools have adopted such policies.

The bill from Sen. Todd Lakey, R-Nampa, would allow employees who hold enhanced concealed weapons permits to carry a firearm on school grounds. An employee would have to maintain “immediate control over the firearm or deadly weapon,” and provide administrators with a copy of his or her concealed weapons permit.

The bill would prohibit schools from posting any signs “indicating that school property is a gun-free zone.”

Carrying a concealed weapon would remain voluntary, according to the bill. “No school employee shall be required to carry a concealed weapon on school property without his consent.”

Monday’s hearing was only a “print” or introductory hearing, and Senate State Affairs took no public comments. Five members of Everytown for Gun Safety — a group advocating gun-control legislation — sat in the front row of the hearing room, wearing matching red “Moms Demand Action” T-shirts.

The bill would have to come back to a Senate committee for a full hearing. That hearing likely would take place in State Affairs, a committee made up of Republican and Democratic Senate leaders.

But time could work against the bill. Legislative leaders are hoping to wrap up the 2020 session by March 20, and committees are beginning to finish their business for the year.