Gun hearing testimony: ‘Common-sense gun bill,’ ‘Where’s the education?’

More of the testimony at today’s hearing on SB 1389, the permitless concealed-carry gun bill:

Rich Chaney of Meridian said, “This is really a common-sense gun bill.” He said, “It’s perfectly legal to open-carry right now anywhere in the state.” But, he said, “If you put on a coat, now you’re a criminal.”

Shirley Van Zandt said, “This would make it easier for criminals and people who have never had firearms training to carry concealed and loaded weapons in our communities. … This bill would strip law enforcement of its ability to ensure that anyone who seeks to carry a concealed, loaded gun … first pass a background check to make sure that they do not have a criminal record. … Clearly there’s nothing either reasonable or necessary about this approach.” She said, “Idahoans overwhelmingly support the existing permit requirements. … I do not believe that this bill represents the will of most Idahoans.”

Alexandra Kincaid, an attorney and gun-rights advocate, said, “It actually allows law-abiding citizens to carry, not the criminals. … I think it is a very rare circumstance if it would ever happen where a criminal would try to go through a legal process to acquire a firearm that they intend to use unlawfully. That’s just not the way the world works. … Criminals acquire a firearm illegally.”

David Steed , a firearms instructor, said, “No training is going to be required. I invite each and every one of you to come to a firearms class and sit there and listen to the questions we get. Can I carry in a bar? Can I drink? Can I go down to the bank and carry? These are common questions that are asked that we teach the citizens, with an attorney, what is right and what is wrong. Whether we go permitless or we don’t, where’s the education? That’s my question.”

Jason Mackrill said, “We cannot protect our nation if we cannot protect ourselves as individuals.” He said those who carry concealed guns also want to protect others. “We should not be required to obtain a permit to fulfill that role that was guaranteed to us by our founding fathers.”

Boise Police Chief Bill Bones said, “This bill does fix some of the problems that we’ve had in the past.” However, he said he still has concerns. Among them: That the bill would change the standard for a sheriff issuing a concealed-carry permit to someone age 18-20 from “may” issue to “shall” issue. Bones said that would force sheriffs to issue permits to young people they may know are having problems, such as bullying situations or emerging mental health issues. He also raised concerns various technical aspects of the bill, and said, “I will tell you, our crimes in the city, I’ve never had a crime committed by somebody that was doing an open carry. It’s somebody carrying a concealed weapon.” Currently, people can’t get a concealed-weapon permit if they’re drug addicts, severely mentally ill or a convicted felon. “All of those are contained still within the language, but there’s no realistic way for an officer to implement that in the field.”

Mike Kane , lobbyist for the Idaho Sheriffs Association, said, “The Sheriffs Association has voted in support of this bill. … It claws back on a significant mistake we all made last year.” Kane said last year’s gun legislation inadvertently allowed felons, the adjudicated mentally ill, fugitives and others to carry concealed weapons outside city limits in Idaho. This year’s bill corrects that, he said. “This claws that back and we thank you for that.”