An Idaho Senate panel has killed legislation that would have removed a special privilege for state elected officials to carry concealed weapons without a permit.
Among the leading advocates of killing the House-passed bill was Sen. Russ Fulcher, R-Meridian, who is running for governor.
“My vote will not be to willingly give up the privilege that our predecessors granted,” said Fulcher. “We do not need to relinquish our privileges.”
The Spokesman-Review reported that on Monday Fulcher decried the bill as political correctness.
The House passed the bill after the special exemption made news last year when former Rep. Mark Patterson, R-Boise, had his concealed weapon permit revoked for not revealing an attempted rape conviction from the 1970s. However, as long as he remained a legislator, Patterson was able to continue carrying a concealed gun without a permit.
The House lawmaker who sponsoredthe billtold reporter Betsy Russell he'll try again next year. Rep. Rick Youngblood, R-Nampa, said “We’re not better than our voting public.”