Could guns-on-campus law expand?

Idaho’s new guns-on-campus law just went into effect on July 1, but could changes already be on the way?

College of Western Idaho President Bert Glandon floated the possibility last week, as his two-year institution adopted a rewrite of its firearms policy. Now, concealed weapons permit holders over the age of 21 will be allowed to carry guns on the CWI campus, in accordance with the controversial campus carry bill passed by the 2014 Legislature.

At a board of trustees meeting Tuesday, Glandon said he is already hearing rumblings about possible changes — perhaps dropping the concealed carry permit age to 18, allowing open carry on college campuses and considering weapons in K-12 and looking at weapons policies for K-12 schools. (Details from Kelcie Moseley of the Idaho Press-Tribune.)

But the Senate sponsor of the guns-on-campus law, Nampa Republican Curt McKenzie, said he doesn’t plan to expand the law and has heard no legislators talking about the idea.

“It is still pretty early in the process,” McKenzie told Justin Dalme of the Idaho Press-Tribune. “If people do come up with things, they usually come up with that closer to the session.”

 

Kevin Richert

Kevin Richert

Senior reporter and blogger Kevin Richert specializes in education politics and education policy. He has more than 30 years of experience in Idaho journalism. He is a frequent guest on "Idaho Reports" on Idaho Public Television and "Idaho Matters" on Boise State Public Radio. Follow Kevin on Twitter: @KevinRichert. He can be reached at [email protected]

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