Idaho Sport Shooters Alliance

H287 signed by Governor

Mike Brown — Mon, 04 May 2009 19:23:12 GMT

Governor Otter signed House bill 287- granting immunity to employers who allow firearm storage by employees on company property- on Friday.

H287 passes Senate!

Mike Brown — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 16:33:56 GMT

House bill 287 (parking lot carry) just passed the Senate.

Kate and Cabelas

Mike Brown — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 13:22:47 GMT

There has been a lot of ink spilled in the Boise media (and elsewhere) about whether Cabelas bans it's employees from carrying guns or not. This came up because Rep. Jeff Thompson who carried H287 (immunity for employers who allow parking lot gun storage) mentioned three companies during debate on the floor of the House Monday. Cabela's was one of them. An AP reporter finally got a response from a spokesman for Cabelas on Thursday denying that they banned employee guns in their parking lots.

Where did this story come from? NRA sent out an email to the membership in Idaho. Last I heard they had 38 distinct response. (that is 38 seperate companies that restrict employees rights). This is from ONE email sent out to members who have registered their email addresses with NRA to receive alerts etc. I didn't even get this email.

As I understand it, one of the responses was from a Cabelas employee in Idaho who quoted from an employee manual. I know it makes a nice sound bite (ink bite?) for a reporter to catch a Representative flat footed for relying on something he was told by a lobbyist but wouldn't it be a little more, I don't know, professional, to dig a little deeper and see if you could take a look at a current Cabelas employee handbook rather than rely on an email from a company spokesman?

Senator Kate Kelly was also quoted in the piece linked to above:

“I realize this is important to some people,” Sen. Kate Kelly, D-Boise, told at a Senate hearing Thursday where Thompson’s measure was cleared for floor debate. “But I’m questioning whether the people’s business and the money we spend needs to be spent year after year (on gun bills). I just hope we don’t have to do this again next year.”

I don't know how we're going to break it to Kate...

H287 passes House

Mike Brown — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 17:18:28 GMT

After a lengthy debate, H287 (employer immunity for allowing parking lot gun storage) passed the House 50-19. The bill now goes to the Senate.

H194 passes the Legislature

Mike Brown — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 17:17:04 GMT

The House concurred in the Senate amendments to H194, the Idaho Sport Shooting Activities Immunity Act . The bill now goes to the governor!

H194 Senate passage

Mike Brown — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 13:49:03 GMT

Yesterday H194 passed the Senate 29-5.

H194

Mike Brown — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 17:32:35 GMT

Jumped the gun a bit: H194 has not passed the Senate as reported in the most recent alert. It is scheduled for final passage in the Senate tomorrow.

Legislative update 4/3/09

Mike Brown — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 22:38:53 GMT

The legislative session is winding down. Below is a report on the status of bills concerning firearms that were introduced in the 2009 Idaho Legislature:

Pro-gun bills:

House bill 65 which clarifies that Idaho residents can buy long guns from dealers in non-contiguous states and vice versa has passed both Houses and is on it's way to the Governor's desk.

House bill 137 which grants State parks the power to regulate discharge of firearms in campgrounds etc. but makes it very clear that they have no authority to ban lawful carry has been signed by the Governor and is now law. IdahoSSA is working closely with Parks and Recreation to make sure that their final rule specifically recognizes the right to carry in State Parks.

House bill 194 which grants immunity from suit to shooting ranges, firearms instructors, and others was amended in the Senate. It now provides immunity from liability for RO's, RSO's, SO's etc. This bill passed the Senate and is now headed back to the House for agreement with the amendments.

House bill 287 was printed in the House yesterday. This bill grants immunity to employers who allow their employees to store personal firearms in their cars on company property. Once this passes employers will have NO LEGITIMATE REASON to ban the storage of firearms in their parking lots. If you or someone you know is affected by this kind of anti-gun policy at work please send me a copy of the pertinent policy. IdahoSSA will be working to educate employers on this law.

Senate Bill 1145 which fixes an oversight in the law so that CWP applications by law enforcement are confidential the same as everyone else's has passed the Senate and will be heard in the House State Affairs committee.

House Bill 229 which bars the Governor from confiscating guns during a state of extreme emergency has passed the House and is awaiting final passage in the Senate.

House Joint Memorial 3 which urges the US Congress not to enact Federal gun control legislation passed both Houses and was sent to the Secretary of State to be forwarded to Washington.

Employer firearm storage liability bill printed

Mike Brown — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 17:44:57 GMT

House bill 287 has been printed. This bill relieves employers of liability if they allow their employees to store firearms in their motor vehicles on company property.

Legislative update 3/27/09

Mike Brown — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 22:24:42 GMT

House bill 137 which clarifies that firearms may lawfully be carried in State Parks has been signed by the Governor and is now law.

House bill 65 which gets rid of confusing language about "contiguous states" regarding sales of long guns is in the Senate awaiting final passage. IdahoSSA is working with BATFE to educate dealers on the positive impact of this bill.

House bill 194, the Idaho Sport Shooting Activities Immunity Act passed out of the Senate State Affairs committee this week. Thanks to everyone who contacted the committee members and asked for their support! The bill is going to be amended on the Senate floor to address some concerns raised by Senate leadership and to add in liability protection for ROs/RSOs/SOs. More details will be posted on our blog when they are available.

Many of you probably got an alert from NRA-ILA concerning the Idaho "Employer Liability Act". This is a bill drafted by IdahoSSA. Some employers in Idaho have policies banning the lawful storage of firearms in their employees cars on company property. Obviously, if you can't store your gun in your car when at work then you are deprived of your means of self defense while going to and coming from work. Think of yourself or one of your loved ones working late and going out to their car parked in an empty parking lot. Employers maintain these anti-gun policies mainly because of fear of liability. What the proposed bill does is very simple: it relieves employers from liability if they allow their employees to keep guns in their cars. It doesn't force anyone to do anything but it takes away the justification for these wrongheaded policies. This concept is supported by NRA and the business community. I have just received word that the House State Affairs committee will be hearing this bill next week.

H194 hearing tomorrow

Mike Brown — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 22:44:32 GMT

The Idaho Sport Shooting Immunity Act will be heard in the Senate State affairs committee tomorrow along with House Joint Memorial 3 concerning the Second Amendment and Senate Bill 1145 concerning privacy of retired law enforcement officers' CCW applications. IdahoSSA strongly supports all three of these bills.

Camas County gun ban

Mike Brown — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 13:19:53 GMT

The Statesman has a short piece this AM about the repeal of Camas County's gun ban in public buildings(which violated preemption). I guess they don't have to spell Camas very much in Adu County.

"Calvin Campbell, an attorney for the county, says commissioners plan to ask state lawmakers to rewrite the law so local governments can enact laws specifically banning firearms in public meetings."