The Idaho Senate Monday unanimously approved legislation that will allow for the creation of a new, and enhanced, concealed weapons permit in the state.

After Sen. Chuck Winder, R-Boise, presented the bill Monday morning before the full Senate, and with no debate over it, the Senate unanimously approved the measure 35-0.

“We anticipate reciprocity in about 40 other states,” said Winder, as he presented House Bill 192. The bill would create an additional “enhanced” concealed carry permit in Idaho.

Idaho already has a process for a person to obtain a concealed weapons permit. The permit that would be created by the House bill would not replace the state’s existing permit. Rather, it would create an additional permit that would involve higher levels of training, and that would likely be honored in several other states.

“I think this will help Idahoans that travel intrastate with concealed weapons,” Rep. Vito Barbieri, R-Dalton Gardens, told IdahoReporter.com. “The present system of having to get an Idaho license and then to obtain a separate concealed carry permit in other states is too cumbersome. It’s about time we took care of this.”
The bill was approved unanimously in the House in late February.