When did local control cease to be a conservative principle? We ask because Idaho legislators keep big-footing issues that school districts, colleges and city and county governments are capable of handling. Last year, legislators took from colleges the decision on whether guns could be carried on campuses. They adopted a disastrous broadband Internet plan to be used in all schools. They pondered – but thankfully shelved – bills that would’ve set architectural design standards for all cities and expunged local anti-discrimination ordinances. That control-freak impulse is back this year, and we wonder why legislators have such a low opinion of local officials. On Monday, the state Senate passed a bill that prevents local governments from imposing knife-control restrictions. Yes, knife, not gun/Spokesman-Review Editorial Board. More here.

Question: Sometimes, I imagine that our legislators simply lose their ability to think when they enter the heady atmosphere of the Kingdom of Ada. Knives on public school campuses. Are. You. Kidding. Me?