Idaho lawmakers and conservative Christian allies contend their faith is under siege by gays, lesbians and the government, so they're launching a "pre-emptive" strike to bolster rights of licensed professionals to refuse service to somebody they conclude violates their religious beliefs.
On Tuesday, Rep. Lynn Luker introduced a measure to shield religious people from the threat of having their professional licenses revoked for declining service.
Luker, a Boise Republican, knows of no Idaho example where this has arisen.
Still, he points to efforts by gays and lesbians elsewhere seeking to end discrimination against them as a sign that Idaho must act quickly to protect the faithful — before something arises closer to home.
The issue is coming, Luker says — "whether it's 10 years, or 15 years, or two years."