Idaho Bill Eliminating Concealed Carry Privileges for Lawmakers Killed

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The Idaho state Senate 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. 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.