Idaho State Representative (R-Boise) Lied About Being a Rapist - Loses Carry Permit - Still Carries

Local news reports A legislator whose concealed weapons permit was revoked for lying about a long-ago rape case can still legally carry hidden guns – because Idaho is the only state that exempts elected officials from the permit law. The case of state Rep. Mark Patterson, R-Boise, is bringing new attention to the 1990 Idaho law providing the exemptions, and some Idaho lawmakers say it’s time for a change. Patterson is mulling an appeal of his permit revocation; the Idaho Statesman reported on Sunday that the Ada County Sheriff revoked his permit after discovering that he lied twice, in 2007 and 2012, on his permit application, which asked if he had ever had a withheld judgment for a felony offense. Patterson didn’t disclose his 1974 guilty plea and withheld judgment for assault with intent to commit rape in a Florida case. He was acquitted in another, unrelated forcible rape case three years later. The Idaho permit application asks, “Have you ever had an entry of a withheld judgment for a criminal offense which would disqualify you from obtaining a concealed weapons license?” Patterson twice answered no.