Campus gun carry bill clears committee

BOISE — Riding roughshod over the objections of Idaho’s eight colleges and universities — and the State Board of Education — a state Senate committee Wednesday approved NRA-backed legislation creating exceptions for carrying firearms on college campuses.

In the end, the two Democrats on the nine-member Senate State Affairs Committee were outgunned in the 7-2 party-line vote dominated by majority Republicans — despite the testimony of one man who identified himself as “a lifelong Republican,” opposed to Senate Bill 1254.

And representing Boise State University, former Idaho GOP House speaker Bruce Newcomb painted the situation as a political one, with the legislation being “ripe for the political times.”

“When I was in the Legislature, I used to say, you always had to wait until the fruit was ripe — if you picked it too early it was no good, if you waited too long, it was rotten,” said Newcomb, opposing SB1254 on behalf of his employer, BSU. “Well, the fruit is ripe, according to the NRA.”

National Rifle Association of America lobbyist Dakota Moore testified for 47 minutes, more than 25 percent of the nearly three-hour committee hearing that resulted in sending the measure to the Senate floor.

North Idaho College spokesman Mark Browning, who described himself as the great-great-great grandson of American gun inventor John Browning, acknowledged that lawmakers were faced with a tough task on the issue of local versus state control.

“It’s a difficult, difficult thing that’s in front of you today,” Browning said. “Local authority is a very strong issue, and it’s up to you to balance the needs of one over the needs of others.”

College and university presidents, including NIC President Joe Dunlap, have said the institutions have set campus gun policies that work locally. NIC has a no-carry campus gun policy.

While SB1254’s sponsor — Sen. Curt McKenzie, R-Nampa — described the measure as one that would pack only minimal fiscal impact, Browning and others disagreed.

Browning said that at the minimum it would cost NIC an estimated $130,000 or $140,000 to upgrade school security if the Senate measure becomes law.

“It’s tough,” Browning said, referring to NIC’s declining enrollment and the possibility of the extra expense.

Opponents of the legislation also said it would create logistical enforcement problems.

Said Newcomb: “How do we differentiate those who have concealed weapons permits, normally, against those, who have the enhanced? How do we make that determination? Do we have people do like we they did in the old days, and check your guns at the door? Or register with security? We can’t do that. And, those that say, or contend that there’s not a fiscal impact to this are not seeing what that really means.”

SB1254 would allow some licensed persons, including those with enhanced concealed weapons permits and retired law enforcement personnel to carry guns on Idaho college and university campuses.

Voting on the prevailing side for sending SB1254 to the Senate floor, Senate President Pro Tempore Brent Hill, R-Rexburg, expressed ambivalence about his vote, but said the “tie-breaker,” for him that he was honoring his oath of office by upholding the U.S. Constitution.

“I love the Second Amendment,” Hill said. “I’m grateful for it.”

Democrats rapped as “hasty,” the move to a committee vote on Wednesday, saying that more people, including additional representatives from the colleges and universities and law enforcement personnel.

The legislation was launched to the Senate State Affairs Committee’s Wednesday vote — after a motion by Senate Majority Caucus Chair Russ Fulcher, R-Meridian, a gubernatorial candidate — despite an assertion by a leading Democrat that the action would be a “hasty,” one.

Senate Minority Leader Michelle Stennett, a Ketchum Democrat, called it “unfortunate,” that many people, including college personnel who had traveled long distances — and some police personnel — hadn’t gotten the chance to testify.

“I just think that we’re being awfully hasty by running a vote through today,” Stennett said.

Browning said that Lewis-Clark State College President Tony Fernandez didn’t get to testify on SB1254 after flying in from Lewiston on Tuesday night.

“I understand and recognize the limitations that they have, but I think it’s disappointing that President Tony Fernandez from Lewiston, Lewis-Clark State College, (and) was sitting right in front of me — I know he bought a plane ticket and came down last night to testify — he did not get that opportunity,” Browning said.

The State Board of Education voted unanimously Feb. 3 in opposition to SB1254. Eight Idaho college and university presidents, including North Idaho College President Joe Dunlap expressed united opposition to the legislation later that day.

On Wednesday, proponents of the legislation, including Paul Jagosh from the Fraternal Order of Police, had different ideas than the Idaho college and university presidents.

Jagosh said it’s his opinion that campus gun policies don’t actually deter mass murderers.

“I mean, there’s a rule that says, a piece of paper that says guns aren’t allowed, but there’s nothing to prevent them,” Jagosh said. “So, I’ve yet to see a homicidal maniac say ‘You know, I’m planning on going to kill a bunch of people, but there’s a rule that says I can’t have a gun on campus.’”