Idaho Governor Butch Otter on Wednesday allowed a so-called “stand your ground” bill to become law without his signature, despite his concerns that it would legally allow mischievous Idaho kids to be shot to death.
The measure was promoted as writing into state law longstanding protections under Idaho case law and jury instructions for actions taken in self-defense, including that state law recognizes no duty to retreat when one is threatened. But opponents said it went further, changing the burden of proof so that someone who has killed another person is considered innocent if that person was entering their home, business, car, or property.
While Otter commended the portions of the bill that codify existing case law and recognize the sanctity of private property, he said a thorough review of this bill reveals some concerns that warrant further review during the next legislative session.
Among Otter’s biggest concerns are the potential unintended consequences for children. The governor offered two examples – a juvenile who broke into an RV to steal a soda and was discovered by the RV’s owner could legally be shot to death under the bill. And he said rural teenagers who sneaked into a cornfield in the middle of the night could be legally killed under the measure for unlawfully trespassing. Otter says the bill as written will -quote “ exonerate killings that otherwise would be considered unreasonable.”
However, he did not issue a veto.
The bill passed the Idaho Senate on a 29-6 party-line vote, with all Republicans voting yes and all Democrats no. It passed the House 57-12. (Spokesman-Review)
