WHEREAS, the safety and protection of the public, employees of state government and elected officials is a vital concern; and

       WHEREAS, continuing access for the public to state government offices located within the Capitol Mall Area is a high priority; and

      WHEREAS, current state laws provide for safety and protection from the potential threats of weapons in the work environment for the public, local government employees and elected officials in city and county buildings; and

      WHEREAS, it is in the best interests of the general public, employees and state officials and the efficient and safe operation of state government to ensure the highest level of safety in the Capitol Mall Area; and

       WHEREAS, there is currently no restriction on the possession of weapons in the Capitol Mall Area;

       NOW, THEREFORE, I, DIRK KEMPTHORNE, Governor of the state of Idaho, by the authority vested in me under the Constitution and laws of this state do hereby order as follows:

1. Unless expressly exempted below, possession of a weapon in the Capitol Mall Area by any individual at any time is expressly prohibited.

2. The following individuals are exempt from this Executive Order:

1. State Elected Officials;
2. Peace officers as defined in Idaho Code Section 19-5101;
3. Criminal investigators of the Attorney General's Office or a county prosecuting attorney's office; and
4. Individuals or organizations displaying weapons as part of a historical or cultural presentation who have received written permission from the Office of the Governor.
5. Law enforcement officials authorized to carry a firearm under federal statute.

3. The term "weapon" means: (1) any type of firearm or (2) any knife or similar object which has a blade in excess of six (6) inches in length.

4. "Capitol Mall Area" means: the Statehouse, Joe R. Williams Building (700 West State Street); Len B. Jordan Building (650 West State Street); State Parking Garage (550 West State Street); Borah Building (750 West Bannock Street); and the Towers Building (450 West State Street), including all underground tunnels which provide a walkway between these buildings.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Idaho at the Capitol in Boise on the 22nd day of October in the year of our Lord two thousand and four and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred twenty-ninth and of the Statehood of Idaho the one hundred-fifteenth.

BEN YSURSA
SECRETARY OF STATE