New law allows concealed guns within city limits

Idaho residents will soon be allowed to carry a concealed handgun without a permit inside city limits.

Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter signed on Friday Senate Bill 1389 into law. It will relax the state’s gun policy and remove permitting requirements for concealed carry.

Prior to SB 1389, residents age 18 or older could carry concealed firearms without a permit outside of city limits. Open carry is already legal within city limits.

Bonneville County Sgt. Jeff Edwards said there are still gray areas.

One of the areas he’s been asked about is the rights private business owners have when it comes to the conceal law.

“It says there is no law that you at a store can’t carry a gun however if it’s store policy that’s another story,” Edwards said. “If a store makes a policy that says we do not allow firearms in our business, as a law enforcement officer we basically support the rights of that business by supporting them.”

Edwards also said a store can refuse service.

“If you are asked to leave and that’s the store’s right and if the person didn’t leave the store, trespassing charges can be filed,” Edwards said.

As for carry and conceal on school campuses or government buildings Edwards said, “People can carry concealed as long as they’re not within 1,000 feet of a school or government building.”

Federal Gun Free School Zone Act prohibits firearms of any kind within 1,000 feet of a school ground, and not the center of the school, but the edge of the property. “School” is defined as K-12 and includes public schools, private schools, parochial schools, and likely home schools.

An enhanced concealed carry permit costs $62.45 and that requires additional training.

According to Smartgunlaws.org, other states that have already enacted this law. They include Alaska, Arizona, Kansas, Maine, Vermont, Wyoming and West Virginia.

July 1st is when the new law goes into effect.