Why I'm Ashamed of Idaho Legislature and You Should Be Too
I'm a Boise native and I love it. This blooming capital city is full of community, compassion, and creativity. Alongside magnificent mountain ranges, generous people and innovative minds surround the Treasure Valley. We're known as the Gem State, but the real jewels here are Boiseans themselves.
Except for our legislature.
In just over one month, the Idaho legislature has figuratively slapped its constituents in their faces not once, but three times.
LGBT People Aren't Real Humans, So Why Give Them Rights?
On February 3, 44 demonstrators were arrested when they blocked the entrance to the Idaho capitol chambers. They were wearing shirts that said "Add the Words Idaho," and were covering their mouths. This was the eighth year the Idaho legislature refused to add the words "gender identity" and "sexual orientation" to the Idaho Human Rights Act. In fact, they won't even hold a public hearing on the matter.
That means that in the state of Idaho, someone can lose their job or home simply because they are LGBT. Former state Senator Nicole LeFavour organized the silent protest and was among the 44 citizens arrested that day. The story went viral, showing up everywhere from Buzzfeed.com to USA Today and The Guardian.
Since this first incident, more protests have occurred and subsequent arrests have been made. The legislature still will not budge.
It's Okay to Abuse Animals As Long As Nobody Secretly Records It
On February 28, the Idaho House and Senate approved the "Ag-Gag" bill. Governor Butch Otter then signed it into law despite huge public opposition. Since then, over 100,000 signatures asking to veto the bill have been collected and delivered to the capitol. Even Chobani founder Hamdi Ulukaya has publicly asked the Governor to veto the law.
Local publication Boise Weekly reported, "The bill aims to crack down on whistleblowers who are not employed by an agricultural production facility or anyone who obtains employment with such an operation through misrepresentation. If said persons were to obtain records or enter an agricultural production facility that is not open to the public, or 'make audio or video recordings of the conduct' at that facility, they would face a misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in prison. Additionally, the guilty party would pay twice the value of damages to the agricultural facility.'"
Basically that means if you go to a farm and take video of farm employees abusing any of the facility animals, you'll be punished for "blowing the whistle." You will be punished for exposing their abuse toward animals. Let's release a collective sigh and roll our eyes now, because I'm not done yet.
Sure You Can Bring Your Glock 21 to Math Class, It's Not Like You're a Hormone-Raging Not-Totally-Adult With a Not-Fully-Developed Brain and Possible Emotional Issues
Finally we come to the Idaho Guns on Campus Measure. The legislature wants to allow all students, faculty, and visitors to any colleges or universities in Idaho to be able to carry a concealed weapon on campus. On March 5, the Coalition to Keep Guns Off Campus delivered a petition to House Speaker Scott Bedke with almost 3,000 signatures asking the bill to not be passed.
On her way out of the capitol, Coalition spokesperson Emily Walton said, "Out-of-state lobbyists say SB1254 just addresses people with enhanced concealed carry permits on campus. But they're wrong. Under Idaho law, if you can carry a concealed weapon, you can carry an open weapon. This bill will allow anyone with that permit to wear a weapon openly, or simply carry it as they stroll across campus or enter a classroom."
The bill also inspired Boise State University professor Greg Hampikian to write his letter, "When May I Shoot a Student?" that was featured on media sites like NYTimes.com and HuffingtonPost.com, and has led him to appear on MSNBC to discuss his concerns.
The House approved the bill March 6 despite testimony from the public in opposition of the law (a four-to-one in opposition) and opposition from all eight heads of colleges and universities in Idaho. It now sits on Gov. Otter's desk to be signed into law.
You Should Be Ashamed of Idaho Legislature Too
Listen, I'm not the expert on politics and laws and legislature. I'm just a 23-year-old Boise-born girl who loves her big little city. Seeing our representatives – the people who are supposed to take into consideration how we feel about the laws they sign and actions they pursue – essentially ignore its constituents and their severe concern for their own safety and that of others, makes me die a little inside. We all know politics are politics, but when it comes to local government, the people should be heard.
We live in your neighborhoods and eat at the same restaurants. We take our kids to the same zoo and enjoy the same Christmas parade each year. You are Idahoans too, legislature. Idahoans with the power and means to decide what happens in the state you claim you love so much. But when does that power become more about yourself and less about the other 1.5 million Idahoans who are looking to you to keep their best interests in mind?
Apparently it's not enough that they're pissing off some of the most involved people in the capital city's community. It's not enough that they receive thousands of signatures asking them to reconsider an issue. It's not enough that almost 150 people have been arrested because they simply want a public hearing to discuss something they find important. How secure do you feel about your local government if something like this can happen elsewhere?
Other people need to care, and other people need to be angry. These issues have blown up on the news circuit solely because of the passionate people of Idaho expressing their firm beliefs to our government. To any citizens who have ever felt frustrated with their local government, help us stand up to ours. Make this viral. Make this matter. Get mad, post about it, tweet about it – hell, do whatever you can to give these people the negative attention they deserve. Idaho's government is one of the staunchest in the country, so imagine what else could be changed with enough passion and protest if this stubborn, listless body of politicians can be forced to reevaluate their actions and take notice of the importance of the people's opinion.
In closing, I'd like to say that I hope in the future the only thing that still really bothers me about my state's legislature is our governor's name. But hey, if we had a governor who at least listened to our concerns, his name could be Man Beaver and I wouldn't give a dam.
UPDATE: On March 12, Gov. Butch Otter signed the Guns on Campus bill.
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