Among those testifying this morning on SB 1389, the permitless concealed-carry gun bill:

Matt Vraspir of Star said he’s a “proud gun owner and prouder Idahoan,” but said, “This bill doesn’t make any sense to me. Why would we dismantle a permit system that has served Idaho well for almost 100 years?” He said the current system “gives people who want to conceal a gun a background check.”

Greg Pruett of the Idaho Second Amendment Alliance brought a tall stack of papers that he said were petitions with 11,000 signatures in support of the bill. “Both non-residents and 18-year-olds can open carry currently anywhere in the state, outside city limits,” he told the senators. “All this bill really allows people to do, Idaho resident 21 and over, is to be able to put their coat on. You could really call this the ‘Idaho put your coat on’ bill. … The good law-abiding gun owners are still going to be good law-abiding gun owners. The criminals will still be criminals.” He added that he doesn’t think the current requirements for firearms training to receive a concealed weapons permits are significant. “Quite honestly, the permit system is kind of a joke for those of us who go out and do training on a consistent basis.”

Leslie Madsen-Brooks, a BSU history professor, said she’s been harassed and threatened on social media by members of Pruett’s group since her name appeared in a months-old press release about the issue. “I ask you to consider the source,” she said. “Idaho has one of the highest rates of gunshot wounds per capita in the United States. It frustrates me that there are students in my classes carrying weapons. … It frustrates me that there are people who I know are carrying who threaten to come to my workplace. … I do not feel safe in this state, and the fact that there is a gun bill here trying to loosen gun laws in this state is deeply disturbing to me.” She added, “Please do not give credence to information offered by the people who attacked me. It changed my life. Please vote no on advancing this bill. The statistics and research are clear. The more guns that are in place, the more likely the people in that place are to experience injuries, accidents, negligence and death.”

Dakota Moore, a lobbyist for the National Rifle Association from Washington, D.C., said the bill “reflects what Idahoans need and reflects the culture in Idaho.” He said, “It actually eliminates the presumption that someone carrying a firearm is criminal. I don’t think that should be a presumption at all.” Moore said the bill “does not allow violent felons to carry within city limits, it does not allow anybody who would be prohibited from possessing a firearm … under current code. … If you can get a permit under the current system, then you can carry concealed. If you can’t get a permit under the current system, then you can’t, you’re breaking the law.”