Idaho’s Short-Lived Gun Ban Sparks Outrage – and Quick Reversal

Jerome County tried something big – and it collapsed within days. KTVB reporter Tracy Bringhurst first reported that county officials announced a new rule banning weapons inside the courthouse and the county administration building at 300 North Lincoln Avenue, effective October 1.

The board cited “recent events at the national and local levels” and said safety for employees, officials, and the public was the priority. Signs would go up, security would enforce the policy, and exemptions would apply for law enforcement and others with legal authorization. It sounded firm. Then, almost as soon as it arrived, the policy was gone.

How the Ban Was Rolled Out

Bringhurst’s initial piece laid out the plan: consults with courthouse security staff and legal advisors, a start date, posted signage, and screening. The message from commissioners was careful – acknowledging citizens’ rights while leaning hard on heightened security. This was framed as a protective step, not a political statement. But when you restrict weapons in Idaho, especially at a county building that serves everyday functions, you’re touching a nerve that runs deep in state law.

The Preemption Problem Lands With a Thud

That nerve is Idaho’s firearms preemption law. In KTVB’s follow-up, also by Tracy Bringhurst, the commissioners reversed course after “additional legal review,” concluding that state preemption likely limits the county’s authority to impose such a ban in the administration building. The board formally rescinded the prohibition and stressed that the original decision was made “in good faith.” This is the key legal hinge: in Idaho, the Legislature controls gun policy. Local governments can’t freelance around it – at least not without a solid statutory hook.

What Stayed, What Changed

Even while pulling the ban back, the commissioners told Bringhurst they’d keep focusing on safety through other means. The county will work with the sheriff’s office on a single controlled public entrance and maintain a deputy presence throughout the day. In other words, they traded an across-the-board weapons prohibition for targeted, lawful security measures. The tone in Bringhurst’s update was balanced: support for the Second Amendment alongside a promise to keep county facilities safe and accessible.

A Local Host Explains the Whiplash

Idaho Freedom TV host Bryan Hyde put a sharper point on the story in his Nowhere To Hyde segment, saying the ban “came and then went almost as quickly as it came.” He offered full disclosure that he knows Commissioner Ben Crouch personally and believes the commissioners acted out of genuine safety concerns amid a tense national climate. But Hyde also wondered aloud whether the move crossed a line Idaho law doesn’t allow at the administrative building, which no longer houses courts or a jail. That location detail matters because courthouse security rules are different. An administrative building is a different animal.

The Human Side of Carry in County Spaces

Hyde shared a personal moment: waiting at the DMV with his son while lawfully carrying, relieved he didn’t have to stash his firearm in the car or pass a magnetometer. For many Idahoans, that detail hits home. A county building is where regular life happens – licenses, records, and permits – not a sealed-off courtroom with stricter control. Hyde’s point was simple: citizens shouldn’t be turned into “helpless little lambs” while going about normal business, especially in a state that strongly protects the right to keep and bear arms.

The Backlash And the Fast Retreat

According to Hyde, gun owners reacted fast. He credited groups like the Idaho Second Amendment Alliance for mobilizing and preparing legal action if needed. Bringhurst’s second report confirms the commissioners’ legal about-face: after reviewing state law, they decided preemption “likely” blocks their ban. That word, likely, speaks volumes. It suggests their initial legal advice was either incomplete or too narrow. Hyde pressed a fair question: how did the county get such conflicting guidance, and why wasn’t preemption front and center from the start?

Preemption Exists to Avoid Patchwork Panic

Here’s my take. Preemption laws aren’t just technicalities; they prevent a maze of local rules that turn ordinary citizens into accidental violators the moment they cross a city line. Idaho chose clarity: the Legislature sets the rules on firearms. Jerome County’s quick reversal shows that system working. You can argue about the wisdom of preemption, but its purpose – uniformity and predictability – was on full display here. That’s a feature, not a bug, when rights and public safety are both in play.

A Better Security Playbook Without the Ban

What’s the smarter path forward? Bringhurst’s update points to it: control entries, use trained deputies, and adjust procedures to reduce risk without trampling rights. Hyde, too, stressed that true safety isn’t about disarming law-abiding people waiting at the DMV. It’s about ensuring potential targets – public officials, staff, and the public – aren’t defenseless if the unthinkable happens. Security design, training, and coordination with the sheriff’s office do more than a sign on a door ever will.

Why This Story Matters Beyond Jerome County

This wasn’t just a local blip. It’s a textbook example of how quickly rights and fear can collide in public buildings. Bringhurst’s reporting shows responsible course-correction – announce, review, rescind, and adjust. Hyde’s commentary shows why people bristled: the policy touched ordinary life, not a hardened courthouse. Combined, their coverage explains both the legal and cultural forces at work. In Idaho, where carry is part of the civic fabric, officials have to start with preemption and build policy from there – not the other way around.

The Accountability Question Won’t Go Away

Hyde raised a tough point many viewers likely share: if citizens break the law, there are consequences; when government actors do so – knowingly or negligently – what happens? He noted that Idaho’s preemption law doesn’t carry penalties for officials who violate it, and said advocates intend to push for stronger enforcement next session. Whether lawmakers add teeth is up to the Legislature, but the policy debate is real: should there be a deterrent to stop well-meant but unlawful local rules from popping up again?

Good Faith, But Also Good Law

To be fair, Bringhurst quoted the commissioners saying the original decision was made in good faith based on legal guidance at the time. That matters. Good faith isn’t a shield against bad law, but it signals the board wasn’t trying to pick a fight with the Second Amendment. Still, good faith should come with good guardrails – clear preemption briefings, quick checks with the attorney general’s office, and a default posture that leans toward state law unless a statute clearly says otherwise.

A Measured Ending That Still Teaches a Lesson

In the end, Jerome County landed in a better place. Bringhurst’s follow-up makes clear the ban is dead, the security posture remains, and the board voiced support for both public safety and constitutional rights. Hyde’s segment gives the context and the caution: Idahoans protected their 2A rights, for now, and they’ll be watching. That’s the lasting lesson. Policy made in a hurry rarely ages well. Policy made within the limits of law, with a steady eye on rights and real security, tends to stick.

The Bigger Picture for Other Counties

Other Idaho counties should read Bringhurst’s reporting and watch Hyde’s breakdown. If you’re worried about safety, start with what state law permits, not with what feels urgent. Build layered security that respects lawful carry where the Legislature says it belongs. Communicate clearly. And if your counsel misses preemption the first time, slow down. Rushing to fix fear with a rule the law won’t support only erodes trust – and invites exactly the backlash Jerome County just lived through.

Rights and Safety Can Coexist

This story didn’t have to be a showdown. Bringhurst showed the officials’ pivot. Hyde showed the public’s patience and pressure. When both sides aim for lawful, practical solutions, you can protect people in public buildings without stripping away rights at the door. In Idaho, that’s not just politics – that’s the standard.

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