On an overwhelming 53-16 vote, HB 415 sailed through the Idaho House.
The measure would allow K-12 school employees who possess an enhanced concealed carry weapons permit to actively defend their students from harm. It would give schools the defensive advantage against armed attackers.
This is a scenario, of course, that no school child should ever face. But the sad reality of 2024 is there are very bad actors who see the school building as a soft target to carry out their evil intentions.
Rep. Ted Hill (R) was the lead sponsor of HB 415, and it enjoyed considerable support from gun rights organizations such as the National Rifle Association as well as the broader community.
Hill told lawmakers during a lengthy debate that schools are vulnerable to predators. He argued that passing the bill would bridge the gap from when an incident begins and armed responders converge on the scene.
The representative declared, “We just have to give these people the opportunity to defend themselves.”
Hill added that he does not expect teachers to rush out and confront a shooter in a violent situation. “They’re not going to be law enforcement, they’re just there for a final stand.”
Some detractors complained that the enhanced training required by HB 415 would not be enough. To acquire this permit in Idaho, the individual must undergo an eight-hour course that instructs on state laws related to firearms.
They must further be trained on fundamental weapons safety and self-defense. Then they are required to go through live fire instruction with at least 98 rounds discharged.
