BOISE -- A bill that would allow guns on public college and university campuses in Idaho is making its way through the Statehouse. The Idaho House approved the bill Wednesday. It now moves to the Senate for consideration.
This bill is already stirring up controversy and concern.
If the bill were to become law, Boise State University and the University of Idaho, both say that could mean financial losses.
"We have hundreds of events that come to our campus every year,” said BSU spokesman Frank Zang.
Zang estimates that every year the university draws around a million people to campus for different events. But that could be in jeopardy if a piece of legislation is passed that would allow concealed weapons on campus.
"We are concerned that allowing guns on campus could have an adverse effect on our ability to attract and schedule sports, entertainment and cultural events,” said Zang. "Many times you'll see when we're working with a booking agent, the concert promoters of the event organizers, they directly say that weapons are not allowed in their facilities.”
Zang says the university could lose money by not being able to schedule events that prohibit firearms.
"A loss of revenue that the university would experience by not being able to bring these events, not only to our campus but to the community at large, where ticket sales, hotels, dining opportunities are all built into these concerts and other experiences,” said Zang.
"That's a red herring, “said Rep. Erik Simpson, the bill’s sponsor.
Simpson disagrees. He says universities in Utah and Colorado have adopted similar gun laws and have seen no adverse effects on their ability to bring in headline acts or sporting events.
"There are still concerts that go on at the University of Utah, Utah State University, Colorado State University, which allows campus concealed carry," said Simpson. "There's concerts, there's sporting events, all these things still continue despite the fact that the public can carry on those campuses."
The University of Idaho has also voiced the same concerns as BSU officials.
The Senate State Affairs Committee will hear this bill next. Simpson expects there to be quite a bit of debate on the bill.
