<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div>In the absence of a tougher law, school threats may become all too frequent and the fears of “what if” become a regular local concern.</div><div><br></div><div><b>IF YOU DO THE CRIME, YOU WILL DO THE TIME !</b></div><div><br></div>Courtesy of today’s (April 6, 2018) Moscow-Pullman Daily News.<div><br></div><div>——————————————-</div><div><br></div><div><div><h1 itemprop="headline" class="headline" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 42px; margin: 0px 100px 0px 0px; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.1; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Our View: Legislature should revisit new school threats law</span></h1><div class="meta" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 20px; margin-right: 100px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><ul class="list-inline" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; list-style: none; margin-left: -5px;"><li style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px;"><span itemprop="author" style="box-sizing: border-box;">By Josh Babcock for the editorial board</span></li></ul></span></div></div><div>A 26-year-old Moscow man was cited last week with a misdemeanor for allegedly making a threat on a YouTube post to "shoot up" two Moscow schools on April 18. He was not taken into custody.</div><div><br></div><div>It was the first time Moscow police could do something about school threats made off school grounds, including threats made through social media.</div><div><br></div><div>Under a new state law that took effect March 23, an officer can now make a felony arrest if his or her investigation finds a suspect has weapons to carry out the threat.</div><div><br></div><div>If the investigation turns up that the suspect does not have the weapons to further the threat, it drops to a misdemeanor.</div><div><br></div><div>The law does not do enough.</div><div><br></div><div>How could someone - anyone - walk away with just a citation for threatening violence against a school?</div><div><br></div><div>The law was put to the test in Moscow on March 29 - six days after it was signed - and it failed.</div><div><br></div><div>Yes, police stuck the man with a misdemeanor citation, but he was still on the street.</div><div><br></div><div>The new law allows for a felony charge and arrest if an investigation finds the suspect has weapons to carry out his threat, but is that not a lot of responsibility to throw on police?</div><div><br></div><div>What if they miss something, or the suspect gains possession of a gun or an explosive device after he has been cited?</div><div><br></div><div>Next door in Washington, it would have been a felony. People do not get to walk the streets after they make such a claim.</div><div><br></div><div>Idaho lawmakers need to revisit this one.</div><div><br></div><div>Brian Armes, the manager of the Idaho Office of School Safety and Security, said the law was crafted in a way so that a juvenile's record would not be blemished with a felony charge for one mistake.</div><div><br></div><div>There comes an age when even those in high school know the seriousness of a school threat, especially in today's world, where school shootings are prevalent and many students are walking out and begging for gun reform.</div><div><br></div><div>Idaho should take school threats more seriously, and it should craft a law that shows students and adults it is a serious crime.</div><div><br></div><div>We think Idaho can do better for its students, parents and police.</div></div><div><br></div><div>——————————————-<br><br><div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)</span></div><div><a href="http://www.moscowcares.com/" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000">http://www.MoscowCares.com</font></a></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div><div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Tom Hansen</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Moscow, Idaho</span></div></div><div> </div></div></div></body></html>