Eight years ago next Tuesday, the 23-year-old son of a state senator was shot to death at a Boise State University keg party, after the young man reportedly threw beer on another party-goer, a 21-year-old fellow student. That student responded by pulling a handgun and shooting Cameron Wade Davis, son of Senate Majority Leader Bart Davis, R-Idaho Falls. The shooting occurred during the legislative session; legislative business was mostly shut down for a day as many lawmakers attended the young man's funeral in Idaho Falls.

Rep. Erik Simpson, R-Idaho Falls, whose legislation to end campus gun bans and allow guns on Idaho college campuses is currently pending in the House State Affairs Committee, said he was aware of the incident and spoke with Davis before proposing the bill, "out of respect." Simpson called the 2003 shooting "an absolute tragedy" and "an isolated incident." Davis said he was "flattered" that Simpson checked with him. "I certainly didn't pledge my support for the legislation, but I certainly understood," he said.

The committee continued its hearing on Simpson's bill, HB 222, to tomorrow morning at 7:45; you can read my full story here at spokesman.com.