House Committee Clears Conceal Carry Bill

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A plan to rewrite Idaho's concealed weapons code has passed a House panel. The House State Affairs Committee voted 13-4 along party lines Friday to endorse a bill clarifying that Idahoans can carry concealed weapons without a permit outside city limits.

An earlier version of the bill also would have removed exempting elected officials and government employees from carrying concealed weapons without a permit. A bill to remove the exemption passed the House last year but died in a Senate committee. Republican Rep.

Judy Boyle from Midvale says most of the Republican-controlled panel didn't want it taken out. However, Democratic Rep. John McCrostie from Garden City raised concerns that the public had not had time to testify on the updated version, which was unveiled Friday morning.