Boise News

see ya at high noon

Proposed Ordinance Will Encourage Everyone in Rural Idaho Town to Own a Gun

By Jennifer Gelband, 9-25-06

In the rural town of Greenleaf, a mere 35 miles from the brimming metropolis of Boise, City Councilor Steven Jett and others are working to establish an town ordinance that would encourage every single homeowner in the tiny town to own at least one gun and ammo and know how to use it. Right now it is called the Civil Emergencies Ordinance.

The reason: townwide gun ownership will cut down on crime. The proposal is based on a like plan that Kennesaw, Ga., adopted in 1982.

Interesting, however, is the report from the Associated Press that mentions the most violent crime in the past two years was a lone fist fight.

Also interesting is that the town was originally founded by Quakers, the Religious Society of Friends that preaches nonviolence (and eating oatmeal?). The town’s Quakers still maintain a meeting house and are opposed to the gun rule.
But this is the West, and Greenleaf Mayor Brad Holton, who has been speaking publicly pro-ordinance, says most people (of about 900 total) already own guns and this is just a way of making it organized and uniform.

“In other cities that have passed similar legislation, their crime has plummeted because they are known that they are a community that is interested in maintaining their way of life,” Holton told KTVB news.

That sounds like a muted endorsement to shoot anyone or anything that disturbs their “way of life,” which is a scary idea. In fact, it almost sounds like a threat. Sure, Greenleafers might not get robbed as often with this well-known ordinance in place (there’s talk of putting up signs at the town limits saying it’s a gun-totin’ area), but they might not get any visitors either. Hmm. Maybe that’s the goal after all.

The National Rifle Association unsurprisingly likes Greenleaf’s idea. “This is about giving law-abiding people the option and the freedom to defend themselves," NRA spokesperson Ashley Varner told the AP.

In any case, the proposed ordinance would only recommend, not require, homeowners to get a gun and ammunition. That should pacify the Quakers.

A meeting on October 3 will let Greenleaf residents debate the proposal, but the town’s four-member city council will make the final decision on implementing the ordinance in November.

Like this story? Get more! Sign up for our free newsletters.