Tuesday, July 01, 2008
The enhanced range protection provisions that were enacted by the Idaho legislature this year go into effect today.
 
Idaho Sport Shooters Alliance worked very hard with NRA-ILA, our friends in the legislature, and YOU to push these improvements forward.
 
Please take a look at the improved range protection law at: http://www3.state.id.us/idstat/TOC/55026KTOC.html 
 
The law now specifically allows your club to (among other things) add members, activities, or allow law enforcement use of your range without worrying about potentially having your protection from noise lawsuits stripped away because of a "substantial change in use". I think you will all agree that this is a HUGE improvement over the old range protection law.
 
In addition, those clubs that are non-conforming uses under local zoning codes will not lose that status because they, for instance, raise their berms or make other safety improvements.
 
These improvements are going to keep ranges open in the face of increasing encroachment by development.
Mike Brown  7/1/2008 6:31 AM Mountain Daylight Time  #    Disclaimer  |  Comments [0]  | 
 Monday, March 31, 2008

Governor Otter signed House Bill 604 today, adding vital protections for Idaho's outdoor shooting ranges.

Mike Brown  3/31/2008 3:23 PM Mountain Standard Time  #    Disclaimer  |  Comments [0]  | 
 Friday, March 28, 2008

Senate Bill 1441 (preemption) was signed by Governor Otter today. Because the bill contained an emergency clause it goes into effect immediately. Idaho now has one of the strongest preemption laws in the nation!

Mike Brown  3/28/2008 7:13 PM Mountain Standard Time  #    Disclaimer  |  Comments [0]  | 
 Friday, March 21, 2008

House bill 604 passed the Senate unanimously yesterday under a suspension of the rules. It now goes to the Governor for his signature.

Mike Brown  3/21/2008 7:09 AM Mountain Standard Time  #    Disclaimer  |  Comments [0]  | 
 Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Thanks to the hard work of Idaho Sport Shooters Alliance supporters and the NRA, Senate Bill 1441 (preemption) has passed the House by a vote of 60-1-1. The bill now goes for the Governor's signature.

Mike Brown  3/19/2008 1:15 PM Mountain Standard Time  #    Disclaimer  |  Comments [0]  | 

HB604 passed the Senate State Affairs committe today. Thanks to all who contacted the Senators on the committee and asked them to support the bill. We expect the bill to be voted on the floor of the Senate by the end of the week.

Mike Brown  3/19/2008 10:27 AM Mountain Standard Time  #    Disclaimer  |  Comments [0]  | 
 Monday, March 17, 2008

Shooters:

The shooting range protection bill (HB604) will be heard in the Senate State Affairs committee this Wednesday at 0800. If you haven't already done so, please take this opportunity to contact your Senator (especially if they sit on the State Affairs committee) and ask them to support this bill!

 


State Senator Curt McKenzie (R-12), Chairman

State Senator Michael Jorgenson (R-3), Vice Chairman

State Senator Denton Darrington (R-27)

State Senator Bart M. Davis (R-33)

State Senator Robert L. Geddes (R-31)

State Senator Kate Kelly (D-18)

State Senator Brad Little (R-11)

State Senator Joe Stegner (R-7)

State Senator Clint Stennett (D-25)

Mike Brown  3/17/2008 4:26 PM Mountain Standard Time  #    Disclaimer  |  Comments [0]  | 
 Friday, March 14, 2008
Shooters:
 
House Bill 604 (shooting range protection)  passed the House today 67-1 http://www3.state.id.us/oasis/H0604.html . We expect it to go to the Senate Resources and Environment committee next week. I have spoken to Senator Gary Schroeder, who chairs that committee, and he has told me if he gets the bill Monday he will schedule it for hearing next Wednesday.
 
Just to recap what this bill would accomplish: it would fix a huge "hole" in the current range protection law and allow existing ranges to add members or law enforcement use, add competitions or public shooting days,  make safety improvements, and allow law enforcement to conduct vital low light training and qualification without losing  their immunity from nuisance suits and local noise regulations. This bill also prevents local governments from imposing noise restrictions on NEW ranges any stricter than the State of Idaho has placed on it's own ranges. In short: this bill would keep existing ranges open and make it easier to open new ones.
 
Law enforcement is very interested in this bill--my own Sheriff, Wayne Rausch, "wholeheartedly" endorses this bill and has authorized us to use his name to get it passed.
 
Please contact your State Senator and ask them to support this bill. When we introduced this bill many said that there wasn't time left in the session to get it passed but thanks to some very good friends of the shooting sports in the House and Senate we have gotten it this far. It is going to be close to get this through before adjournment but with your help we can make this happen before we lose ranges in Idaho.
 
 
Thank You,
Mike
 
 
 
Mike Brown  3/14/2008 11:19 AM Mountain Standard Time  #    Disclaimer  |  Comments [0]  | 
 Thursday, March 13, 2008

After 2 hours (!) of debate SB1441 (the preemption bill) passed the House Judiciary and Rules committee on a party line vote. All of the concerns raised were red herrings (for instance: the police department won't be able to tell the cops which guns they can carry) planted to give cover to closeted anti-gunners who want to vote against freedom! Many states, including Oregon, Washington, and Utah have complete preemption statutes such as this and, last I checked, the world had not ended in those states. This will go to the House floor soon and we expect a fight. Alert to follow.

Mike Brown  3/13/2008 7:41 PM Mountain Standard Time  #    Disclaimer  |  Comments [0]  | 
 Tuesday, March 11, 2008

The range protection bill (HB604) passed the House Resources and Conservation committe unanimously today. Good work by Idaho SSA director Jim Jatkevicius, who testified in favor of the bill.

Mike Brown  3/11/2008 5:26 PM Mountain Standard Time  #    Disclaimer  |  Comments [0]  |