The Idaho Second Amendment Alliance on Monday (Feb. 8th) turned in another pro-gun bill designed to strengthen Idaho’s Preemption statute. It was turned into the House and submitted to the House State Affairs Committee where gun bills are usually routed.

The bill is designed to help protect Idaho’s gun owners from municipalities and state agencies who are seeking to undermine your 2nd Amendment rights. There should be no opposition to such a simple piece of legislation. Who would possibly oppose this other than anti-gun groups or individuals?

Today (Wednesday, Feb. 10th) Chairman Loertscher’s secretary called ISAA President Greg Pruett and informed him that Chairman Loertscher would NOT hear the bill and that it needed to go to the Senate first. Why wouldn’t the Chairman take it up himself? There are only two possible reasons. 1. He is angry at the ISAA and Idaho’s gun owners for the massive amount of emails and phone calls he received last year and he is going to take it out on you every year. 2. He is opposed to strengthening Idaho’s gun laws. Those are really the only 2 reasons for such a response. Is Chairman Loertscher anti-gun or is he holding a grudge? Everyone may remember that he blocked House Bill 89 (Permitless Carry) from going forward last year as well.

If you are frustrated and want to take action then please go to the bottom of this message for IMMEDIATE ACTION instructions!!!

For those of you unfamiliar with Preemption let us first explain what that is. Most states, including Idaho, have preemption. What that means essentially is that the state controls firearms regulations, if any, and prohibits cities and counties from enacting ordinances, posting signs, and other restrictions in order to maintain uniformity throughout the state. That way you don’t drive from Pocatello to Coeur d’Alene and run into a variety of different codes and unknowingly violate the law.

However, there is no penalty for someone who violates the preemption statute. As we saw in Coeur d’Alene last year, city council members were knowingly violating the preemption statute and faced no consequences because the law doesn’t have any for such violations. The ISAA sought to change that.

The ISAA backed bill will allow residents and other groups whose members might be affected by an illegal ordinance to file suit against elected officials who knowingly violate the preemption statute. It would have allowed the Governor to remove from office people who knowingly and willfully violate the preemption statute. Protections were also put in place to prevent frivolous lawsuits by giving a city, county, etc. 60 days to correct the issue before a lawsuit could be filed.

TAKE ACTION NOW!

If you are in Chairman Loertscher’s District (32) then email him immediately and let him know you are not happy with his decision to not hear another pro-gun bill. [email protected]

We would also like to see someone in his District step up and challenge him for his seat. We can’t expect different results if good solid conservatives, who won’t bow to the establishment, don’t get out there and run against these individuals.

Remember to be firm but respectful in your emails.