Committee approves revised firearms bill

BOISE – Idaho universities and colleges can still restrict firearms on campus under a bill headed to the full Senate.

A bill passed by the Senate State Affairs Committee on Wednesday no longer has a provision that would require the Board of Regents at the University of Idaho and the State Board of Education to set rules allowing concealed weapons on campuses across the state.

The measure does prevent local governments from regulating most aspects of firearms, but not officials at community colleges, state colleges and universities.

Officials at the University of Idaho, where campus policy restricts loaded weapons other than at shooting ranges and those for law enforcement, welcomed the news.

“The language in the revised Idaho firearms bill … supports the University of Idaho’s policy that was formally adopted more than 30 years ago,” the university said in a statement.

“This policy has and continues to serve the institution’s needs.”

Lawmakers in at least six other states have introduced legislation to allow students, staff or faculty to carry concealed weapons on college and university campuses, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Utah is the only state with a law that now allows concealed weapons on public university campuses. Kentucky, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia and Washington are all considering laws that would abandon restrictions on concealed weapons on campuses.

In Idaho, one of the bill’s sponsors, committee Chairman Curt McKenzie, R-Nampa, said the proposal to require concealed weapons on campus was designed to clarify what the Idaho Constitution already allows.

He said he believes the University of Idaho’s policy violates the state constitution.

“I think it’s an open question until someone challenges them,” McKenzie said.