An Idaho lawmaker wants to change the Idaho Constitution's definition of a militia to include all the state's adults.

State Sen. Jim Rice, a Caldwell Republican, fears the U.S. Supreme Court might someday reverse itself on the issue of individual gun rights.

With a change to the Constitution, Rice argued Wednesday in the Senate State Affairs Committee, the federal government could never swoop in and disarm residents.

Receiving word of the proposal Wednesday, state Rep. Vito Barbieri, R-Dalton Gardens, said, "My constituents believe it's a real concern."

He added, "They are adamant about beefing up their rights. They want us to take affirmative action."

Barbieri said he likes Rice's proposal, saying it could provide additional protections for Idaho gun owners.

Rice wants to put the amendment before voters in the November 2014 election, calling it an important "backstop" to existing protections of individual gun rights.

But for now, though, Rice just wants to get people talking about the issue.

Rice said it has surpassed all other matters before the 2013 Idaho Legislature - including the health-insurance exchange and proposed personal property tax repeal - based on opinions of people who have contacted him.

Both the House and Senate are working on a variety of bills in the gun-rights arena, Barbieri said.

"They've started a few over there and we've started a few over here," he said.

Sen. John Goedde, R-Coeur d'Alene, said some good legislation is making its way through the Legislature and could soon become law.

For example, he pointed to House Bill 192, which would provide an enhanced concealed weapons license, requiring additional training in personal protection using a certified instructor.

The additional training should allow Idaho residents with the enhanced license to receive recognition from other states, he said.

"It makes sense to get people some additional training, so they react better" in emergent situations when they need to use their gun, Goedde said.

Barbieri also supports the bill. "That's a pretty important one," he said.

According to Goedde, "I think the Obama administration's response to Newtown (Conn.) has generated a lot of the furor surrounding Second Amendment" issues this session.

Freshman Rep. Ron Mendive, R-Coeur d'Alene, agreed, saying, "There's been an overreaction by the federal government about what happened at Sandy Hook (Elementary School)."

Mendive said he's eager to take a closer look at Rice's proposal.

The Obama administration proposed some executive actions to reduce mass shootings, and has taken some actions to strengthen gun laws, vowing not to infringe upon the rights of law-abiding citizens.

U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-California, has proposed a federal ban on assault weapons, following the Dec. 14 massacre in Newtown.

Her bill would ban manufacturing, sales, transfers, and imports of 157 semiautomatic assault weapons, and prohibit large-capacity ammunition feeding devices capable of accepting more than 10 rounds. The bill wouldn't take away weapons that anybody owns today.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.