The Idaho Way: One year after Boise shooting, we now know shooter violated gun laws
By Scott McIntosh, opinion editor
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The man who shot and killed two people at the Boise Towne Square mall a year ago and injured others before killing himself while surrounded by police was prohibited by federal laws from possessing a firearm.
But the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives didn’t reach that conclusion until after Jacob Bergquist had gone on his fatal shooting spree, even though local police had notified ATF about Bergquist five months before the shooting.
“ATF did receive information concerning Jacob Bergquist’s possession of firearms from local law enforcement and ATF did look into whether or not he was prohibited federally from possessing firearms,” Jason Chudy, ATF public information officer, wrote in an emailed statement to the Idaho Statesman. “It was determined that he was prohibited from possessing firearms, but that was only confirmed after the Boise shooting had occurred.”
Read my full column here on why the Jacob Bergquist case shows we’ve prioritized protecting the Second Amendment rights of a guy like Bergquist at the expense of all common sense.
Appearance of corruption
As Kevin Fixler reported last week, U.S. Rep. Russ Fulcher has paid nearly $305,000 to his daughter over the past five years to act as his campaign manager. It’s a shockingly high sum. Fulcher has never faced a competitive election in the 1st District. The ceiling for his opponents in both the primary and general elections has been nearly 30 percentage points behind him.
Read our editorial here on why lawmakers shouldn’t hire their relatives on their campaign staffs.
Christian nationalism on the rise
Idaho Statesman opinion writer Bryan Clark had an illuminating interview last week with Blaine Conzatti, the director of the Family Policy Center, which has been behind controversial anti-LGBTQ, anti-librarian, anti-abortion legislation in Idaho. If you’re wondering what’s behind the legislation, you might be surprised to hear how open Conzatti is about basing legislation on his Christian beliefs.
“I would identify as a Christian nationalist,” he said.
If that doesn’t scare you, it should scare Idaho legislators. Read Bryan’s full column here.
More endorsements
We’ve been busy rolling out our latest round of endorsements. We’ll have a couple more coming in the next few days. Here are the latest:
Idaho superintendent of public instruction
Idaho voters have two excellent choices in the race for Idaho superintendent of public instruction. Republican Debbie Critchfield, who defeated incumbent Sherri Ybarra in the May primary, is facing Democrat Terry Gilbert.
Read our endorsement in this race here.
Ada County Commission
Incumbent commissioner Rod Beck voted to strip funding from the successful New Path housing program and appointed Ryan Cole to the Central District Health board. Thomas Dayley, as state legislator in 2016, voted to cap the homeowners exemption, a fateful decision that has created today’s residential property tax crisis.
Stan Ridgeway and Patricia Nilsson are running against them.
OK, I’ve given you enough of a hint about who the Statesman endorsed. But you should read the full endorsement anyway.
Idaho Senate, District 15
Democrat Rick Just and Republican Codi Galloway are running for an open Senate seat in Boise’s purple District 15, seeking to replace Fred Martin, whom Galloway defeated in the Republican primary.
Galloway, who wouldn’t interview with the editorial board, voted as a state representative for a bill to criminalize librarians and favors school vouchers.
Read our full endorsement here.
Idaho House, District 15A
Idaho Rep. Steve Berch earns the Idaho Statesman’s resounding endorsement for reelection to his House seat in Idaho legislative District 15. The Democrat is running against Republican Steve Keyser, who did not respond through his website or via email to invitations to interview with the editorial board. The Statesman will not endorse someone who does not agree to an interview. Regardless, Berch has proved himself as an effective legislator. The retired computer programmer and marketing manager for HP has served two terms in the House in District 15.
Even if Republicans jam really bad legislation through committee or through the House, Berch makes them earn it.
Read our full endorsement of Steve Berch here.
Idaho House, District 15B
The race for Idaho House seat B in District 15 features two newcomers: Democrat Jeff Nafsinger and Republican Dori Healey.
Nafsinger has deep roots in the local area. He’s worked for many years selling plumbing supplies — the kind of work that gets you out in the community, where you get to understand the problems facing a wide variety of Idahoans. And it shows. Nafsinger has a clear vision of the problems facing Idaho, and he has articulate proposals to solve them.
Read our full endorsement in this race here.
I’m listening
Send me your story ideas, news tips, questions, comments, or anything else on your mind. You can reach me via email at smcintosh@idahostatesman.com.
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What you’re saying
This week, we received letters to the editor on new Idaho education report card from the Heritage Foundation, what so-called “conservatives” believe in and support for Stan Ridgeway for Ada County Commission. You can read these and more letters by clicking here.
You can submit a letter to the editor or guest opinion by clicking here.
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