Montana Bills Of Interest Coming Up This Week

Montana Bills Of Interest Coming Up This Week

Washington, DC –-(Ammoland.com)- We have some critical bills coming up for public hearings in the Legislature this week.

Tuesday before the Senate Fish and Game Committee, at 3 PM in Room 422 of the State Capitol:

SB 402, Provide for spring wolf hunts

Wednesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee, 8 AM, Room 303, State Capitol, we will have (I will include some “talking points”):

HB 174, Repeal prohibition on firearm sound reduction devices in field.
Suppressors do not “silence” as in movies, but only suppress the muzzle blast.
Do not affect the sonic boom of bullets.
Current law prohibiting possession “in the field or forest” is entirely too vague and restrictive.

HB 271, Exception to concealed weapon offense if eligible to apply (“permitless carry”).
This would not apply to under age, criminals, and people without firearm safety training.
It’s really about coats – whether or not a person can put on a coat over a currently-legal open-carried firearm.
Police can handle this just like CCW outside cities for the last 20 years, and like open carry inside cities forever.

HB 384, Revise carrying concealed weapon in “prohibited places.”
Would only apply to active CWP-holders, not the general public – certified good guys.
Current law is nonsensical since it is now legal to carry openly in these places.

HB 496, (Bad bill – Oppose) Allowing law enforcement agencies to destroy certain firearms they possess.
Demonizes as “bad guns” those used in even minor crimes such as attempted trespass.
Fails to require destruction of “bad” houses or “bad” business where violent crimes are committed.
Lost revenue from destruction of firearms would cost local taxpayers.

Thursday, SB 114, Sheriffs First will be before the House Judiciary Committee at 8 AM in Room 137. I’ll get out another email specifically about Sheriffs First later today or tomorrow.

Please either show up in Helena to support these bills, or contact the relevant Committee members and ask them to support the bills (oppose HB 496). Keep your messages short (legislators just don’t have time to read much) and be polite.

You can phone in messages to the Legislative Message Center (M-F, working hours) at 444-4800, or send a message to an entire committee using the Legislature’s Online Message Form any time at: www.leg.mt.gov/css/sessions/62nd/legwebmessage.asp

We really need to push hard on these surviving bills. Thanks loads for your help.
Senate Judiciary Committee

• Chair: Terry Murphy (R-Cardwell)
• Vice Chair: Jim Shockley (R-Victor)
• Vice Chair: Larry Jent (D-Bozeman)
• Shannon Augare (D-Browning)
• Anders Blewett (D-Great Falls)
• Jeff Essmann (R-Billings)
• Greg Hinkle (R-Thompson Falls)
• Rowlie Hutton (R-Havre)
• Cliff Larsen (D-Missoula)
• Lynda Moss (D-Billings)
• Jim Peterson (R-Buffalo)
• Chas Vincent (R-Libby)

About Montana Shooting Sports Association:
MSSA is the primary political advocate for Montana gun owners. Visit: www.mtssa.org