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Permitless concealed carry takes effect

BOISE-- Gun advocates rallied outside the Statehouse on Friday to celebrate their victory of changing the way Idahoans carry firearms.

A permitless concealed carry law went into effect on Friday. You can already do it outside city limits in Idaho; now, you can do it inside city limits as well.

MORE: Questions answered about permitless concealed carry law

"I can now exercise my right to carry concealed or open without first getting the government's permission - and so can every other Idaho citizen 21 and over," Idaho Second Amendment Alliance Executive Director Greg Pruett told KTVB.

For the past four years, the Idaho Second Amendment Alliance battled in the Capitol to get this bill passed. Supporters say this proves that their voices were heard and they were listened to.

"We've got to get back to what the Second Amendment intended," Pruett said, "which is the government can't infringe on your right to keep and bear arms."

It is already legal in every city in Idaho to openly carry.

"In this day and age, not a lot of people like to open carry. They're not comfortable doing it," Pruett added.

This new allowance is relaxing rules around gun laws in Idaho, and opponents say this law is dangerous because it allows people to carry a hidden loaded gun on Idaho's streets without legal training, a license or a background check.

"A lot of people are concerned about who is going to get guns, who can't get guns. as far as getting the guns, there's still a background check," Forward Movement Training Center General Manager Jason Laase told KTVB.

One main argument is that not everyone follows the law and buys guns legally, which is an issue with this new law that Boise, Garden City and Meridian police chiefs say could put officers in danger.

"You can't stop bad guys from getting guns because they're going to find a way to do it," Laase said.

Without the requirement to possess a concealed weapons license, officers won't be able to check the licensing system, which is the only way to determine if the person is prohibited from possessing a firearm.

Idaho is now the eighth state in the U.S. to allow permitless carry in cities. Supporters believe it is expanding Americans' fundamental right to keep and bear arms.

"A lot of it was the tax. They were really taxing your right and it's one of the only rights that's taxed."

There is a message that advocates want people to hear loud and clear about gun safety: Get trained properly.

"Really learn how to carry that gun. Just having a gun should not give you confidence. The training behind it should give you the confidence," Laase said.

With this new law taking effect, there are some things you need to remember. You must still have an enhanced carry permit on college campuses and you cannot carry a gun in a courthouse, jail or school. Businesses also have the right to determine whether people can bring a gun onto their private property.

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