Liberal talk-show host Rachel Maddow used Idaho and the strange case of Boise GOP Rep. Mark Patterson to decry a generational change in national policy on guns. Maddow chose Patterson for her lead segment Wednesday night, calling the story “the most bizarre news of the day.” After lightly touching on the poor record of signups in the opening month of the health insurance exchanges, Maddow quickly moved on to 12 minutes on Patterson. (Scroll to bottom of story to watch Maddow's segment on Patterson) Maddow carefully went through the details of Patterson having been stripped of his concealed weapons license by Ada County Sheriff Gary Raney for Patterson's failure to disclose he had a disqualifying record: a 1974 felony guilty plea for assault with intent to commit rape. “Boise has to be mortified by this guy,” said Maddow. “In any normal world this is the time where the guy steps down to spend more time with his family”/Dan Popkey, Idaho Statesman. More here.

Question: If you were an advisor to state Rep. Patterson, what would you be telling him today?