Idaho is one of the many states now considering a repeal of the requirement for a concealed carry permit in order to carry a firearm in public. Bonner County Sheriff Daryl Wheeler supports the move, suggesting the 2nd Amendment acts as citizens’ concealed carry permit.
According to NBC’s KHQ, Bonner said, “The right to bear arms is already in the constitution.” He believes its presence in the constitution means carrying a gun is “consistent with our federal statutes.”
For those who say doing away with a permitting system will open the door for criminals to carry guns, Wheeler says criminals are already carrying guns and they aren’t bothering with the permit. He put it this way: “If you’re a criminal you’re not going to go and follow through and get a concealed weapons permit. If you’re going to commit a crime then you’re just going to commit a crime.”
Wheeler also addressed the fact that some in law enforcement have been hesitant toward doing away with the permitting system, but he said officers will approach people the same way with or without a permitting system.
Said Wheeler: “Any stop we initiate, we ask if they have a weapon. Somebody having a concealed weapons permit is not going to change our tactics. And if they aren’t supposed to have that weapon, we’ll find out when we run them through out computers.”
Follow AWR Hawkins on Twitter @AWRHawkins. Reach him directly at awrhawkins@breitbart.com.
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