Obama’s guns plan: Idaho cities have few enforcement powers
President Barack Obama’s plan to urge local governments to curb gun violence won’t work in Idaho. The law here pre-empts local regulation of firearms.
Says state law: “It is the Legislature’s intent to wholly occupy the field of firearms regulation within this state.”
One exception: Local governments can regulate the discharge of firearms within their boundaries as long as they allow people to protect themselves, participate in lawful hunting or shoot at a shooting range. It also must allow “discharging a firearm when the discharge will not endanger persons or property.”
IDAHO REACTION
Idaho’s Republican congressional delegation used words like “brazen” and “abuse” in response to Obama’s proposals. They unanimously said he ignored the Constitution and the will of the people.
Sen. Mike Crapo: “The president’s executive order to implement more gun control is just another brazen example of this administration’s continued overreach, a repeated pattern of behavior by this administration. This order makes it harder for law-abiding, responsible Idahoans to purchase firearms. The Second Amendment is unambiguous on the rights of citizens to keep and bear arms.”
Sen. Jim Risch: “Those like the president who want stricter gun laws must do so by electing a pro-gun control Congress and not try unconstitutional lawmaking by the executive branch. Idahoans and Americans have steadfastly refused to elect a majority in Congress who favor stricter gun control.”
Rep. Mike Simpson: “Limiting the ability of law-abiding citizens to exercise their constitutional rights to own firearms will not address the crime problem. We should focus on improving the care of the mentally ill and enforcing the laws we have in place to ensure that they are kept out of the hands of violent criminals.”
Rep. Raul Labrador: “When this president doesn’t get what he wants, he acts unilaterally — as he has done repeatedly in the past on immigration, environmental regulation and Obamacare. Now, the president is putting election-year politics ahead of the Bill of Rights.”
This story was originally published January 5, 2016 at 4:16 PM with the headline "Obama’s guns plan: Idaho cities have few enforcement powers."