The Idaho Sheriffs’ Association has officially endorsed Senate Bill 1254. Commonly referred to as the “campus carry” bill, the legislation would allow for the possession of firearms under certain circumstances on Idaho’s state college and university campuses.

“We conducted a poll among our members,” announced Adams County Sheriff Ryan Zollman, who spoke on behalf of the association at a press conference Wednesday from the Capitol. Flanked by Rep. Judy Boyle, R-Midvale, and Sen. Curt McKenzie, R-Boise, both sponsors of the bill, Zollman did not specify an exact count, but stated that “a vast majority” of the association’s members voted to support the bill.

Zollman added that the association’s membership includes every elected sheriff from Idaho’s 44 counties, but also stated that “about six” of Idaho’s sheriffs chose not to vote in the poll.

When asked whether he supported the bill, he said, “personally, yes, because I do not wish to deny anybody their constitutional rights.”

The presidents of Idaho’s eight government-run colleges and universities have all officially opposed the bill.

Senate Bill 1254 was passed in the Senate on Feb. 18 on a vote of 25 to 10, and was approved by the House State Affairs Committee on March 2.