As the guns-on-campus hearing continues this afternoon, Boise State University President Bob Kustra was among those testifying, speaking strongly against the bill. Rep. Brent Crane, R-Nampa, told Kustra, “Currently the way the Constitution reads, I think open carry is allowed on your campus and currently you should not even be restricting open carry on your campus.” Kustra responded, “We simply don’t agree with that. My legal counsel tells me that’s not the case.”

Former House Speaker Bruce Newcomb, now director of government relations for BSU said, “Instead of ramming this through, invite the stakeholders in. … Let’s sit down and figure out a bill that everybody’s comfortable with. … That’s how you do this kind of thing.”

Sen. Curt McKenzie, R-Nampa, in his closing comments, said, “It’s a policy that protects the liberty of individuals. It’s been represented to you that this bill is not about liberty, but I would submit to you that it’s exactly what it’s about.” As far as the open-carry question, he said, “As Rep. Crane pointed out and others have pointed out, whatever is currently allowed with regard to open carry within the parameters of Article 1 Section 11 is still allowed after this.” The vote is near.