The Idaho Sheriff’s Association says it’s discovered a problem in the House-passed concealed carry bill HB 301: As written the bill would let violent criminals who’ve either gotten withheld judgments, like those sentenced to the rider program, or completed their sentence and gotten their civil rights restored get concealed weapon permits. They’re not eligible under current law.

“We want to make certainly a friendly amendment to the bill so it can move forward,” said Vaughn Killeen, executive director of the Sheriffs Association. “But law enforcement is concerned that the way it’s currently structured, that people would be getting concealed weapons licenses that really shouldn’t have them in our opinion, and I think in the public’s opinion.” That would include people who have recently completed sentences for an array of serious crimes, including domestic violence, he said.

Killeen said the sheriffs don’t want to kill the bill, but they want it amended. “I think there’s a fairly easy fix to it, if goes to the amending order,” he said. The bill is currently pending in the Senate State Affairs Committee; the panel’s chairman, Sen. Curt McKenzie, R-Nampa, is among the measure’s co-sponsors.