In a unanimous vote, the Jerome County Board of Commissioners has banned firearms at the old county courthouse, a move that has sparked serious concern among gun owners statewide.

[If you wish to donate to ISAA’s legal fund to help cover expenditures for our attorney’s work on the Jerome issue, please click here to donate!]

The Idaho Second Amendment Alliance is actively investigating the legality of this decision. At issue is not only a violation of the Second Amendment, but also a direct conflict with Idaho’s firearm preemption statute, 18-3302J, which clearly prohibits counties from regulating firearm possession. That’s exactly what Jerome County officials have done.

While Idaho law (18-3302C) does permit the banning of concealed carry in active courthouses, ISAA’s initial understanding is that this building hasn’t functioned as a courthouse for nearly a decade. Instead, commissioners reportedly cited “employee safety” as the rationale, a troubling justification that opens the door to arbitrary gun bans in public buildings across the state.

Let’s be clear: public safety should never be used as a smokescreen for undermining constitutional rights. Taxpayers have a right to access government services without being disarmed by bureaucrats who claim to support the Second Amendment, “but…” do the opposite while in power.

ISAA is consulting with legal experts and weighing next steps. We will not stand by while government officials chip away at gun rights in Idaho.

📢 Please share this article and watch the video below featuring ISAA President Greg Pruett as he breaks down the issue and what comes next.