Idaho Campus Carry Signed Into Law

For Immediate Release

Idaho Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter has signed campus carry bill SB1254 into law, which is expected to go into effect on May 21, 2014 (60 days after the Idaho legislative session ends). The bill allows law abiding adults over the age of 21 who have been issued an Idaho enhanced concealed carry permit to be able to carry a firearm onto most parts of campus without fear of reprisal from university policy.

With the passage of this bill, Idaho joins the states of Colorado, Kansas, Mississippi, Oregon, Utah, and Wisconsin which have provisions for law abiding citizens to be able to carry firearms onto parts of campus grounds proper. Some additional states such as South Carolina allow licensed persons to store firearms in a car, but otherwise forbid firearms on college campuses. While Idaho will not allow firearms into dormitory buildings or into campus building hosting a sporting competition or similar events, this measure allows students in Idaho to join their counterparts in Colorado and Utah in being able to defend themselves while attending class.

“This is a major step forward for Idaho, and for our nation as a whole”, said Kurt Mueller, Students for Concealed Carry’s Director of Public Relations. “We have seen these policies in effect in other states without the massive negative consequences predicted by our opposition, and we have every expectation this will likewise be Idaho’s experience.”

Students for Concealed Carry is working to ensure that the momentum from this move will spread to similar efforts underway in nearby states, particularly Texas. “Texas has proposed campus carry a few times over the past couple of years, with various versions being passed by either the Texas House or Senate. We hope that the shared experience of its sister states will show Texas and the rest of the nation that these types of laws are successful and do not impact the academic mission of universities.”, Mueller said.