The Idaho Senate Republican supermajority just passed a bill to repeal section 46-802 of Idaho state law that prohibits parading with firearms in any Idaho cities and towns. Passing the bill into law would also remove the prohibition on private militias. The U.S Constitution authorizes Congress to form one militia for national protection. That is the U.S. Army National Guard. Each state has a recruited National Guard organization, administered by the state under the direction of the U.S. Army. There are no other legally recognized or authorized militia units under state or federal law.

Sen. Dan Foreman said that Senate Bill 1056, repealing Idaho Law 46-802, is necessary to support the freedoms expressed in the First Amendment. This is paranoid thinking. Other Republicans who supported the bill said that the state shouldn’t write laws based on fear of what might happen (referring to the present law prohibiting armed parades). Laws are indeed passed to promote and ensure public safety!

MARK WEADICK

Coeur d’Alene