Starting July 1, public colleges and universities and Idaho will allow concealed weapons on campuses.
Idaho legislators signed Senate Bill 1254 into law in March 2014, which allows those with concealed carry permits, along with retired law enforcement officers, to legally carry guns on campus. Firearms are not allowed in dorms and venues where more than 1,000 people gather.
The legislation was heavily opposed by all eight of the state’s public colleges; however, campus administrators said they do intend to follow the law. Currently, higher-education leaders are revising campus-weapons policies, but bans on openly carrying guns are expected to remain in effect, The Spokesman-Review reports.
Some colleges are considering their security. For example, North Idaho College will provide its security officers with bulletproof vests and offer training related to concealed-weapons laws. Additionally, NIC is considering adding more officers to its security force.
The University of Idaho, on the other hand, does not plan to make changes to its security team and will rely on local police to respond to emergencies on campus.
