House passes bill to remove lawmaker exemption from concealed weapons permit law

The House has voted 62-7 in favor of HB 514 , legislation to remove state lawmakers’ and other elected officials’ special exemption from having to have a concealed weapons permit to carry a hidden gun. “We don’t stand above our citizens,” said Rep. Rick Youngblood, R-Nampa. The bill also makes several other changes to concealed weapons laws, including clarifying that disassembled or unloaded guns can be concealed in a car without a concealed weapons permit, and that people can carry concealed weapons without a permit outside city limits; current law allows that only when “engaged in lawful hunting, fishing, trapping or other lawful outdoor activity.” The measure now moves to a Senate committee.