BOISE, Idaho -- After a state lawmaker lost his concealed weapons allow for lying about a decades-old felony, some legislators are questioning the merits of a law giving chosen officials an exemption from needing to get a permit.
Last month, the Ada County constable revoked the hidden weapons permit of Rep. Mark Patterson, R-Boise, after finding that Patterson failed to disclose on permit applications in 2007 and once again in 2012 a guilty plea and withheld judgment stemming from a 1974 rape case in Florida. He first obtained the permit prior to he was a legislator.
Patterson contends now he was innocent however agreed on his lawyer's guidance to plead guilty to a lower charge of assault with intent to commit rape. Patterson has not stated whether he will appeal the constable's decision.
But Patterson's permit troubles have actually caused some Republican legislators to reflect the fairness of a 1990 law that exempts chosen officials from having to get a hidden weapons permit. Idaho is the only state that exempts elected officials from the permit law.
"I have a viewpoint that those of us in public office must be under the same laws as the general public,"Rep. Frank Henderson, R-Post Falls, informed the Spokesman-Review.
Rep. Luke Malek, R-Coeur d'Alene, also wondered what the exemption says about lawmaker advantage.
"I think the message it sends out is that elected officials get advantages, "he stated."And when it concerns the Second Change, I think that's especially troubling, due to the fact that essentially, it's stating we should have more capability to shield ourselves than the average citizen.".
Rep. Lynn Luker, R-Boise, vice chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, stated he's not prepared to do away with the elected-official exemption, mentioning issues that public officials can be considered higher profile targets.
"I think it's something that we need to have a further look-see at," Luker said.
Idaho's elected-official exemption puts on any elected official in the state, from school board members and motorway area commissioners to the governor.
It likewise exempts a variety of others, with numerous of the additional exemptions added in changes considering that 1990. Those include peace officers; jail guards; military staff members; criminal private investigators for the attorney general or county prosecutors; city or county officials; retired peace officers; individuals legitimately searching, fishing or catching outside a city; and on-duty policemans of express companies.
Patterson is a freshman lawmaker, chosen in 2012 to represent a district in southwest Boise. He did not return telephone messages left by The Associated Press on Monday.
On his 2012 application, Patterson, 61, did not point out the guilty plea and kept judgment from the felony rape case. Having actually a withheld judgment would have disqualified him from holding a hidden firearm.
Patterson was 21 at the time he was accused of the criminal offense and he served time in jail prior to accepting plead guilty to attack with intent to commit rape. He also got 5 years' probation but was released from probation early by the judge in the case.
The Idaho Statesman initially reported Sunday about Patterson's permit cancellation. Because story, Patterson stated he didn't commit the criminal activity and was being targeted by the Ada County sheriff.
Patterson contends now he was innocent however agreed on his lawyer's guidance to plead guilty to a lower charge of assault with intent to commit rape. Patterson has not stated whether he will appeal the constable's decision.
But Patterson's permit troubles have actually caused some Republican legislators to reflect the fairness of a 1990 law that exempts chosen officials from having to get a hidden weapons permit. Idaho is the only state that exempts elected officials from the permit law.
"I have a viewpoint that those of us in public office must be under the same laws as the general public,"Rep. Frank Henderson, R-Post Falls, informed the Spokesman-Review.
Rep. Luke Malek, R-Coeur d'Alene, also wondered what the exemption says about lawmaker advantage.
"I think the message it sends out is that elected officials get advantages, "he stated."And when it concerns the Second Change, I think that's especially troubling, due to the fact that essentially, it's stating we should have more capability to shield ourselves than the average citizen.".
Rep. Lynn Luker, R-Boise, vice chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, stated he's not prepared to do away with the elected-official exemption, mentioning issues that public officials can be considered higher profile targets.
"I think it's something that we need to have a further look-see at," Luker said.
Idaho's elected-official exemption puts on any elected official in the state, from school board members and motorway area commissioners to the governor.
It likewise exempts a variety of others, with numerous of the additional exemptions added in changes considering that 1990. Those include peace officers; jail guards; military staff members; criminal private investigators for the attorney general or county prosecutors; city or county officials; retired peace officers; individuals legitimately searching, fishing or catching outside a city; and on-duty policemans of express companies.
Patterson is a freshman lawmaker, chosen in 2012 to represent a district in southwest Boise. He did not return telephone messages left by The Associated Press on Monday.
On his 2012 application, Patterson, 61, did not point out the guilty plea and kept judgment from the felony rape case. Having actually a withheld judgment would have disqualified him from holding a hidden firearm.
Patterson was 21 at the time he was accused of the criminal offense and he served time in jail prior to accepting plead guilty to attack with intent to commit rape. He also got 5 years' probation but was released from probation early by the judge in the case.
The Idaho Statesman initially reported Sunday about Patterson's permit cancellation. Because story, Patterson stated he didn't commit the criminal activity and was being targeted by the Ada County sheriff.
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