T. Allen Hoover on Gun Rights

Member of the NRA since the late 1960's.
Life Member of the NRA since 1975
Endowment Member of the NRA (since 2000)
Benefactor Member of the NRA (since 2002)
NRA Certified Handgun Instructor since 1994 ( IPA IVA )
Life Member California Rifle & Pistol Association (1975)
Member Fifty Caliber Shooters Association (since 1987)
Member IAWCA.

Active shooter in: Cowboy Action, Combat Handgun, Long Range Black Powder Cartridge Rifle, Full Auto competitions, and occasional Bullseye, IPSC and steel matches.

I am active hunter (Elk, Deer, Bear, Lion, Turkey, Waterfowl & Upland Game). I actively opposed Wolf and Grizzly introduction into Idaho since its inception. Currently I am changing my hunting area due to wolf infestations and depredation of game.

Former gun salesman for the San Francisco Gun Exchange (1973-77), and Markell, Inc. (1983-84), and Sportsmans Warehouse (2000).

Deputy Sheriff (Full-time, Sworn in a small California County in the 1970's). Top Gun (unrecorded) Regional Criminal Justice Training Center Police Academy.

Owned and operated a Police Supply company providing body armor and associated accouterments to law-enforcement agencies.

Testified in Idaho State Senate Judiciary Rules Committee for passage of reciprocity for any Concealed Weapon License from any state, as long as it is a currently valid CCW, and in possession. (1994 Successful) Note: various law enforcement officials testified that this would cause great problems and they were opposed. Eight years later no problems have surfaced.

Testified in Idaho State House Committee against Brady check fees. (1995 Successful)

Testified in Idaho State Senate Judiciary Rules Committee to stop passage of Bomb Law that would have endangered reloaders. (1996 Successful)

Assisted Idaho Legislative Representative Bill Sali in writing the 1997 Idaho Bomb Law that focused on intent, not mere possession. (Passed 61-0, 35-0, and immediately signed into law as an emergency measure.) (See photo of "Public Signing Ceremony" for bomb law as an emergency measure)

Testified in Idaho House Judiciary Rules Committee to stop amendment to 1997 Bomb Law that would have removed the intent feature.

Re-wrote the amendment to restore intent and established prohibited classes of persons who, if they cannot legally possess firearms, likewise cannot legally possess bombs. This re-write was fully supported by the law-enforcement agencies who had demanded the initial poorly-written change. (Passed 64-0, 33-0, and quickly signed into law).

Treasure Valley Friends of the NRA Committee Member , designed and saw thru the execution of a one-of-a-kind Colt Single Action Army Revolver cal. 45 Colt, extensively engraved and gold inlaid which honored ‘Cowboy Congressman' Butch Otter which, at auction brought in $5,200 and accounted for over 25% of the net receipts for the banquet and auction.

I oppose all forms of registration, licensing, and dealers record of sale type backdoor registration such as California has.

I support Vermont-style concealed weapon legislation, and would make CCW's optional for purposes of Brady checks and travel to other states.

I support the arming of airline pilots. In 1954 a an armed teenage hijacker was stopped by a pilot with a handgun. I am not afraid of the pilot, he already has my life in his capable hands, it is his solemn duty to protect the souls aboard his aircraft, and I would surely be much safer were he and the co-pilot each to have a Colt .45 automatic in a shoulder holster.

I would write legislation making it a felony for government employees, while under color of their employment, to teach or preach that the Second Amendment is NOT an individual right (this being contrary to the Emerson ruling as well as Section 11 of the Idaho State Constitution). I may consider expanding this to also include ANY uniformed law-enforcement officer, who , under color of authority, speaks contrary to his oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States of America and the Idaho Constitution. First amendment issues are not at play here as the officer may speak any way they want when they are NOT representing lawful authority in the State of Idaho.

I would write legislation which would strengthen state preemption of county and local ordinances and rules which prohibit citizens from carrying firearms lawfully in park areas (where several rapes and murders have recently occurred). ( also see attached new gun show ‘rules' which tried to prohibit legal full auto displays, tried to ‘field register' gun owners entering the show and tried to force recording of any private sales- the hue and cry I raised and the persistent calls by lawyers and legislators managed to get the rules forestalled for now, but these people will be back.

I operate a daily email newsletter which forwards firearm rights (and other freedom rights) issues to over 100 recipients (approximately 2,000 to 5,000 total emails per week) and which has been of some small assistance to the successful CCW lawsuit in Ohio, and the stoppage of anti-gun legislation in Maine.


"Americans have the right and advantage of being armed - unlike the citizens of other countries whose governments are afraid to trust the people with arms."
— James Madison, The Federalist Papers No. 46 at 243-244.