Today’s Idaho Statesman published an opinion piece headlined Permitless carry bill ‘sets Idaho up for failure’. The op-ed’s writer, True Pearce, identifies himself as “… an Idaho attorney, professional competitive shooter and gun rights advocate.”
Our OpenCdA post on March 17, 2016, SB 1389: Did They Ask?, wondered if Idaho’s legislators had bothered to diligently research possible conflicts between Idaho’s proposed SB 1389 and the federal Gun Free School Zone Act. Certainly the resources for doing the research were available to the legislators even if the legislative skill and political will to pass a state law consistent with the federal law eluded them.
Our recommendation is simple: If you’re inclined to carry a concealed weapon in Idaho, lawfully obtain the appropriate level of state permit and put it with your driver’s license or identification card. Having the state-issued permit does not allow you to violate either federal or state laws, but failing to possess one can result in a federal statutory violation where one would not otherwise have been.
Maybe or most likely I am wrong, but I always believed that you elected people to public office to solve difficult problem and make life better for the citizens. Why does it seem that we have done just the opposite and elected people intent on creating problems where none existed?
While I am at it a recent statement by Luke Malek, (a normally squared away guy) really confused me. Speaking to a bill he supported he stated that he was for it until he saw it would not pass so he voted against it. Why or is this just one more example to worry about?
Comment by Mike Teague — March 30, 2016 @ 10:06 am
Mike,
My observation is that Idaho’s legislators tend to look at what they believe is a desirable outcome, maybe the desired outcome in their minds. Then they accept badly written legislation that takes them to the desired outcome, choosing to ignore the undesired outcomes also created by the badly written legislation.
My observation and opinion of Luke Malek remains unchanged from when I put up my OpenCdA post Some Perspective on November 15, 2013. I believe he is a political opportunist who will put his own interests first and constituents’ interests elsewhere.
Comment by Bill — March 30, 2016 @ 7:16 pm