Idaho Senate Spikes Felon Firearm Ban Bill

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The Idaho Senate has spiked legislation that would have expanded the list of the worst kind of felons banned from owning firearms.

Senate lawmakers voted 29-6 on Friday to reject including terrorists, criminal gang members, human trafficking and felony riot convictions as qualifiers to lose one's right to own firearms. Supporters say the change is needed because certain crime charges were not originally considered when the law originally passed.

Democratic Sen. Maryanne Jordan, from Boise, says the bill should pass because several law enforcement agencies, like the Idaho Sheriff's Association, requested the change. However, lawmakers fearful of the bill's inclusion of some of the new felonies could not be swayed to endorse the legislation.