Put your gun in your bookbag

BOISE - Idaho lawmakers gave initial approval Thursday to a bill that would curtail the power of administrators to restrict where students, faculty, staff members and visitors can carry concealed firearms on Idaho's public university and community college campuses.

Rep. Erik Simpson, R-Idaho Falls, says his bill is about making campus safer, and the version approved by the House State Affairs Committee would allow people to carry concealed firearms everywhere on campus except in undergraduate residence halls.

Idaho code allows the carrying of concealed firearms in places like the state capital, but not on Idaho campuses.

"That in my mind leaves staff, faculty, and visitors at an extreme disadvantage when facing people who don't respect the laws of the state of Idaho," Simpson told the committee Thursday.

Simpson argues his bill would increase safety at the state's four public universities and community colleges. He said letting students, faculty or others carry concealed guns heightens the chances they could help prevent a violent crime.

"Violent crimes still occur on college campuses, and the people who commit these violent crimes don't respect the laws that are currently on the books," Simpson said. "Time and time again we see proof in society that an armed citizenry does indeed reduce the amount of crime that exists in communities."

He was clear to point out, however, that he's not encouraging people to act like vigilantes.

"I'm not advocating people with concealed weapons to act as deputies," he said.

Existing statutes give university and college presidents authority to prohibit firearms anywhere on campus. Boise State University, Idaho State University, University of Idaho, Lewis-Clark State College and several community colleges throughout the state have their own regulations.

Boise State University's policy prohibits individuals other than police officers and ROTC members from carrying or possessing firearms on all university property, even if a person has a concealed weapons permit.

Officials at the University of Idaho are standing behind their policy, established in 1974 to ban loaded weapons on campus except for those carried by law enforcement or used under supervision at a shooting range.

"The University believes this remains a sound policy," spokeswoman Joni Kirk said.

Simpson's bill comes in the wake of a lawsuit filed by a University of Idaho student who was barred from storing his collection of firearms in his apartment on the Moscow campus. In January, 36-year-old law student Aaron Tribble sued the university, claiming its policy regarding firearms on campus is unconstitutional.

Simpson said he's aware of the case, but said discussions about changing firearms policy on Idaho's college and university campuses has been brewing for several years.

"This (bill) is to address what has been a concern over the last couple of years," he said. "As I view it, it's a pretty commonsense compromise."

The only votes against advancing the bill to a committee hearing came from three Democrats on the committee.