This week in the Senate
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March 1, 2014 |
By Senator Shawn Keough
This week, Representative Eric Anderson
announced that he will not seek another term in
the Idaho House of Representatives. I’ve enjoyed
my service with Anderson as we have worked
together on many issues that are important to
our community.
After leaving office, hen will continue his
efforts to combat invasive species, one of the
hallmarks of his service in the Idaho
Legislature. Anderson is a leader in the fight
to keep our waterways from infestation of
mussels. We can all be grateful for Eric’s
tireless work for the people of Idaho.
You may have heard about the Legislature’s
debate over whether or not concealed weapons
should be allowed on campus of Idaho’s public
colleges and universities.
This is an issue that I have studied very
carefully.
As a gun owner, I supported the bill that the
same sponsors brought to the Legislature in
2008. That bill gave the colleges and
universities the responsibility of governing
concealed weapons on campus. I voted yes as did
the sponsors and an overwhelming majority of
legislators.
As a Republican, I believe in local control.
I listened to law enforcement in my district,
which was split about evenly. I also listened to
other constituents who contacted me from home.
When it came to the debate and vote, my analysis
is that it is an unnecessary bill that creates a
patchwork of gun zones on college campuses that
I believe will potentially make it harder for
law enforcement, for students and staff, and for
the public to know where you can carry and where
you can't carry.
It is in effect, spot zoning – if you have a
regular concealed weapons permit you can carry
in auditoriums that seat less than 1,000. If you
have an enhanced concealed weapons permit, you
can’t carry in auditoriums seating less than
1,000 people but you can in halls that seat over
1,000.
This is just one example of several similar
passages in the bill that create different areas
on campus for carrying by regular concealed
weapons permit holders versus enhanced concealed
weapons holders. Again, it is a real mishmash
and lacks clarity.
I also find it troubling that the same people
who brought this policy to us in 2008 –
specifically allowing college and university
presidents the authority to set firearm policies
on our campuses - now are clothing themselves in
the Second Amendment to take it away.
How can it be okay in 2008 to give that local
control and in 2014 say we need to change it?
Though I strongly support our Second Amendment
rights to keep and bear arms, I believe that
this legislation is not well thought out.
We have begun setting budgets now in the Joint
Finance and Appropriations Committee and are on
target to finish doing so on March 7.
The Leadership goal of completing the
Legislative Session by March 21 appears to be a
realistic one.
There are many other issues of interest and
concern in front of the Legislature now as bill
introduction deadlines have passed and except
for the bills needed to pass the state budget
and in other last minute circumstances most of
the legislation that will be considered this
session is on the table.
Thank you for staying in touch with me over the
last several weeks. One of the best ways to find
out what is happening in Boise is to follow my
Facebook page,
Senator Shawn Keough. I use this page to
send you timely information about the
legislative session and listen to your ideas and
concerns.
You can also check out my website at
www.shawnkeough.com or you can send me an
email message at
skeough@senate.idaho.gov.
As always, I look forward to hearing from you
about your perspectives and opinions on the
bills before us.
One of my top priorities is to stay in
communication with my constituents and the
feedback about this weekly letter has been very
positive. If you know of others who would like
to receive my weekly newsletter by email, please
send me their email address at
shawn@shawnkeough.com and thank you for the
referral! |
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