An Idaho bill to let police arrest people without a warrant for making threats against a school is headed to the full House.
The measure brought by Moscow Representative Bill Goesling is backed by several major education groups and stems from last year’s incident in Moscow, when a man made a threat on YouTube to commit shootings at two schools.
The Legislature passed a law in 2018 making it a misdemeanor to threaten violence against a school while off school grounds, but police could only write the man a misdemeanor citation. Idaho code lists a handful of mostly violent misdemeanors for which police can arrest someone without a warrant, and making threats against a school isn’t on the list.
Supporters say the bill would help make communities feel safe about sending their children back to school after a threat, adding that it would be especially helpful to rural districts, where law enforcement resources are strained and there might not be enough sheriff’s deputies working to watch a person while waiting for a warrant.
The House Judiciary committee voted Tuesday to send the bill to the House’s amending order to correct a typographical error. (Post Register)
