Idaho is one step closer to have concealed carry on college campuses, things look good for the state to become the seventh that mandates public universities allow concealed carry

Well, it doesn't appear as if a fairly hysterical op-ed in the New York Times on Friday stopped a bill from progressing in the Idaho state House.  The bill has already passed the state Senate.  Here is part of the NY Times piece from Greg Hampikian, a biology professor.

. . . I have had encounters with disgruntled students over the years, some of whom seemed quite upset, but I always assumed that when they reached into their backpacks they were going for a pencil. Since I carry a pen to lecture, I did not feel outgunned; and because there are no working sharpeners in the lecture hall, the most they could get off is a single point. But now that we’ll all be packing heat, I would like legal instruction in the rules of classroom engagement.

At present, the harshest penalty available here at Boise State is expulsion, used only for the most heinous crimes, like cheating on Scantron exams. But now that lethal force is an option, I need to know which infractions may be treated as de facto capital crimes.

I assume that if a student shoots first, I am allowed to empty my clip; but given the velocity of firearms, and my aging reflexes, I’d like to be proactive. For example, if I am working out a long equation on the board and several students try to correct me using their laser sights, am I allowed to fire a warning shot? . . .

Obviously, the question Mr. Hampikian is whether his fears have occurred in any of the places that now or in the past allowed concealed carry on college campuses, and the answer is "no."  From KBOI, Channel 2, in Boise, Idaho:

A bill to allow students, staff and visitors to carry guns on Idaho's college campuses passed out of a legislative committee Friday afternoon, despite objections from students, multiple police chiefs and leaders of all eight of the state's public colleges. 

The measure would allow retired law enforcement officers and those with Idaho's new enhanced concealed carry permit to bring their firearms onto campus. Concealed weapons would still be barred from dormitories, stadiums and concert halls. 

The 11-3 party-line vote sends the issue forward to debate on the House floor. The bill passed the Senate earlier this month. 

Bryan Lovell, president of the Fraternal Order of Police and a Bonneville Sherriff's deputy, said people should have the right to defend themselves, even on a college campus. 

"There are a lot of concealed weapons permit holders out there, and the reason they get that is because they want to protect themselves," Lovell said. "They don't want to be caught in a fishbowl if there's an active shooter." 

If the measure becomes law, Idaho would join six other states with provisions - either from lawmakers or dictated by court decisions - that allow concealed carry on campus: Colorado, Kansas, Mississippi, Oregon, Utah, and Wisconsin, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Utah is the only state with a specific law that forbids universities from banning concealed carry at any of its 10 public institutions. . . .

The ban on guns in dormitories, stadiums and concert halls is much too restrictive, but at least the bill is better than the current ban.