Committee backs bill letting retired law-enforcement instructors teach enhanced concealed-carry legal courses

A House committee voted to send House Bill 48 to the floor with a do-pass recommendation. The bill would allow retired law-enforcement instructors to continue teaching the legal-instruction portion of the state's enhanced concealed-weapon permit (CWP) course after they have left active employment.

Representative Charlie Shepherd (District 7) told the committee the bill addresses an instructor shortage and restores what he described as an oversight in the original statute. "What this bill does is it gives the ability for retired law enforcement instructors to continue instructing after they no longer work for a department," Shepherd said, and he framed the change as a way to keep experienced trainers available for the enhanced CWP curriculum.

The committee heard testimony from two instructors who said retired officers offer practical experience that benefits civilians. Amy Georges, who identified herself as owner of American Freedom Defense, said the firearms-skills portion of the enhanced CWP course is "dictated by Idaho Code" and can be taught by non-law-enforcement instructors certified through other venues. She highlighted that the legal-instruction portion of the enhanced class must be taught in person by "an active senior member of the state bar or an Idaho peace officer with an intermediate or advanced certificate," and that local sheriffs currently apply that requirement inconsistently across the state. "Holding a certificate is up to the discretion of the sheriff... Some sheriffs say 'active' in front of that, others leave that as you hold the certificate," Georges said.

A retired officer who testified identified himself as a long-time instructor and recounted experiencing and teaching use-of-force situations, saying that lived experience helps civilians "look at...all the pre-assault indicators that lead up to that to try to avoid it." He added that the post-incident period can be lengthy: "your family goes on that 3 to 5 year legal ride with you," and he argued that retired instructors can convey that dimension to students.

A committee member moved to send H-48 to the floor with a do-pass recommendation. The motion carried on a voice vote.

Committee materials and testimony cited requirements in Idaho Code for the enhanced-concealed-weapon course but did not identify a specific code section in the hearing record. The bill as introduced would affect who is eligible to deliver the in-person legal instruction required for the enhanced permit.