We get invited to a lot of events with different organizations working on creative ways to get us to show up after a long day in the statehouse so they can share their ideas on issues we face. Some events are participatory but most are not, unless you count the eating. Legislators do a lot of eating at evening events.
Some involve long power point presentations. This one was by far the best in a long time. It is a sunny afternoon in the Boise Foothills and after some safety instruction, officer’s from the Fraternal Order of Police let us shoot their hand guns at the Fort Boise range. K9 and bomb squad units demonstrate skills, tools, weapons and training. Above: Rep. Phil Hart fires.
Rep. Raul Labrador decked out for SWAT
Mom’s insistence that I learn how to shoot a gun at a young age comes in handy. Odd feeling but somehow I shoot a whole round into the head of my target.
Rep. Branden Durst uses his expert verbal and shooting skills in a lethal force simulation. He credits the shooting skills to video games.
……..
Earlier, Rep. Mack Shirley, Rep. Russ Mathiews and a group of House pages and I stood in a big circle in the annex out side the tiny page room where pages spend parts of the day waiting for directions and requests for assistance. We talked about guns and the second amendment
On such a polarizing issue I’ve found that pacing oneself, taking deep breaths or using humor is helpful. We talked about how much control a student gun owner has over their guns, especially on campus. Humor was not going to be helpful. And as Mack pointed out, with the obligation of administrators to protect all students, how can they do that if they can not ensure guns are under lock and key?
Pages views were mixed and thoughtful. This is our second round of pages for the year. I imagine that watching all the debate in committee, especially now that its so heated, some must at times just wish they could jump in. I remember years past interns testifying at hearings, very powerfully in fact. Pages though, I wonder if it is part of the rules for them to be silent.