Caribou County News
House Bill 415
As the legislative year begins, several high profile bills have already become the subjects of widespread discussion and predictable disagreement. Of them, House Bill 415 (concerning the expansion of conceal/carry permitting on school grounds to staff and faculty) has probably created the most engagement at the state level. According to the official “purpose and financial impact statement” included with the bill’s text, “This legislation provides an alternative to the hired armed guards by giving the opportunity for Public K-12 school employees to carry concealed weapons and can act as an armed protection force within the confines of the school. Individuals that are willing to participate in this program will need to have completed an enhanced concealed weapon training course. Additionally, this legislation requires all schools to remove “Gun Free Zone” signs from all public K-12 schools.”
The bill passed 53-16, receiving “aye” votes from every representative in southeast Idaho with the exception of Nate Roberts in the 29th District (representing Pocatello). District 35’s Kevin Andrus and Josh Wheeler, District 34’s Britt Raybould and Jon Weber, District 33’s Barbara Ehart and Marco Erickson, District 30’s David Cannon and Julianne Young, District 29’s Dustin Manwaring, District 28’s Richard Cheatum and Dan Garner, Dsitrict 27’s Douglas Pickett and Clay Handy, District 30’s David Cannon and Julianne Young all voted with the majority. The vote itself was almost entirely along party lines.
The financial impact statement of the bill states that the bill will not cost the state any additional funds.
While support from Republican Representatives in the House was obviously strong, the bill will now be sent to the senate where it is expected to face more opposition, and likely amendation. Among the groups which have opposed the bill are those representing the interests of law enforcement and educational entities.
The Idaho Association of School Resource Officers released a statement by its President Martin Ballis, which read in part, “Idaho House Bill 415 would remove local control from elected school boards to determine which, if any, staff would be allowed to carry firearms on campus… There is no doubt in my mind Representative Hill, and those who support this bill, care deeply about the safety of our students and staff. However, this legislation is a drastic mis-prioritization of statewide school safety initiatives with a focus on response over prevention.” Ballis continues by explaining that since “nearly 95% of K-12 active shooters are current or former students of the targeted school” according to the FBI, school resource officers and school officials are uniquely situated to provide prevention rather than waiting until emergency response is required. Ballis suggests that increasing funding for SROs is a better strategy than placing armed civilians in the immediate front lines of response.
The Idaho Sheriff’s Association has also voiced concerns about the bill.
The Idaho Education Association, as well as many teachers’ groups across the state, have been fairly unified in opposition.
Soda Springs School District Superintendent Scott Muir joined other educators in voicing opposition to the bill, explaining that it will remove control over the issue from local boards.
Soda Springs Chief of Police Scott Shaw also felt that the bill as currently constituted may cause more problems than solutions.
House Bill 406
There is considerably less division over House Bill 406, which creates mandatory minimum sentencing for fentanyl trafficking.
According to Lt. Governor Scott Bedke, “49% of overdose deaths in Idaho in 2022 were from fentanyl, and that number is probably underreported.”
Unlike Bill 415, law enforcement organizations have expressed widespread support for the bill.
Southeast Idaho is one of the most active locations in the state for the transportation of illicit drugs from locations in the south up to the I-80 and I-90 for further distribution. I-15 is a frequent site of large interdictions of fentanyl, such as last July’s seizure of over 5,000 fentanyl pills hidden in Doritos bags in a vehicle stopped at the Maverik in Malad linked to a Honduran cartel.
In the case of this bill, Scott Shaw was fully in favor. Sheriff J. Adam Mabey also expressed his support for the measure at the most recent County Commission meeting.
