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House rejects concealed-firearm training bill after contentious amendments
Summary
House Bill 166, which would revise concealed-firearm permit training and enforcement language, failed after floor amendments and recorded votes; members clashed over restoring live-fire requirements and whether failures to instruct should require proof of 'knowingly and willfully' intent.
House Bill 166, which proposed amendments to the concealed-firearm permit requirements and instructor standards, was extensively debated on the floor and ultimately failed to pass.
Sponsor Representative Hogue said the bill aims to standardize instructor curriculum and to allow enforcement if instructors do not provide required instruction. During debate members pressed to reinstate language requiring live-fire training. Representative Daniels urged restoring the requirement, asking, "How crazy is that? You don't have to be able to shoot it." Several lawmakers argued that knowing how to fire a weapon is an important component of safety.
Representative Philpott proposed amending the bill to insert the words "knowingly and willfully" to the criminal provision for failing to provide instruction; the House adopted that amendment on a 39–34 vote. A later amendment to restore firing, securing and maintenance language also passed after further debate.
Despite the amendments, the final recorded vote on House Bill 166 was 24 yes and 50 no, and the bill failed and was filed. The transcript records members' sharply divided views: some said the bill tightens standards and protects the public by disciplining incompetent instructors; others said the bill infringes rights and places burdens that could be applied unevenly.
Next steps: the bill failed on the floor and will not proceed in this session as recorded in the transcript.
