Sunday, 3/22, 10:00 AM

Dear MSSA Friends,

We have actions coming up on two of our bills Monday and Tuesday, plus other bills percolating that needs your ongoing attention.

Public hearings:

SB 295, to end the prohibition on suppressors for hunting, will have a public hearing before the House Judiciary Committee Monday morning, 3/23, at 9:00 AM.  Please show up to speak or contact Committee members in support of SB 295.

HB 234, to fund the Shooting Range Development Program and to prevent FWP from stealing the money the Legislature appropriates for this purpose, will have a first public hearing before the House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday at 8:30 AM, 3/24.  Please show up to speak for HB 234 or contact Committee members in support of HB 234.

To Governor:

Of course, HB 203 (non-enforcement of new federal gun control) and HB 298 (Permitless Carry) are headed for the Governor’s office (may arrive tomorrow).  Keep sending messages to the Governor in support of these bills (see my previous emails for talking points and contact methods).

Action soon:

HB 457, MSSA’s constitutional referendum to remove the archaic this-doesn’t-apply-to-concealed-weapons language from the RKBA in the Montana Constitution will soon come to the floor of the House for Second Reading debate and vote.  We need to get this 1884 dress code, "coat control" out of the Montana Constitution.  I’ll try to get an alert out as soon as I see HB 457 scheduled for Second Reading, so you can contact your or all Representatives, but you may see it scheduled as soon as I do if you’re watching the legislative Website.  We’ll only have short notice on this.

HB 598, to require a high level of judicial review and award costs and fees for state and local government violation of the RKBA – same story as HB 457 – coming soon to House Second Reading,; short notice.

SB 122, encourage manufacture of ammo components in Montana, same story as HB 457 and HB 598.

SB 143, Campus Carry, same story as SB 122, HB 457, and HB 598.

Folks, we are in the middle of the third lap of a four-lap race with our bills in the Legislature.  We are doing well, but we can’t let up now.  Not one bit.  Your continued support is ESSENTIAL to keeping these bills moving and making Montana gun laws better.

Thanks so much for your continued support!

Best wishes,

Gary Marbut, President
Montana Shooting Sports Association
https://www.mtssa.org
Author, Gun Laws of Montana
http://www.MTPublish.com

By mssa