Good news.  MSSA’s bill for a constitutional referendum to prohibit the Board of Regents from exercising any powers that conflict with the Montana Constitution or state laws has been introduced by Rep. Jennifer Carlson as HB 197.  It has not been assigned a committee public hearing date yet.  That will happen soon, maybe later today.

I highly recommend that you get on the Legislature’s Website, go to bill tracking, and set up what is called there a “Preference List” of bills you wish to follow.  You can also set this to automatically send you an email whenever something changes with a bill on your Preference List.

You can enter items into your Preference List either by bill number (when we know them), or by “LC” number when the bill is in the drafting stage.  The LC# is a four-digit number attached to a bill draft request.  FYI, the MSSA-related LC#s on my Preference List are 0693, 1045, 1046, 1047, 1048, 1367, 1845, 2266, 4105, 4249, 4310, 0743, and 1074 (now introduced as HB 197).

If you haven’t done so, please review the material I have provided about the legislative process and how to affect the progress of a bill.  See:

https://progunleaders.org/Legislative%20Process/

Finally, more exciting news.  For almost 30 years, MSSA has fielded the primary gun safety program for kids in Montana, our “Be Safe” program.  Be Safe is approved by the Legislature and the Superintendent of Public instruction, and is designed for kids in grades 1-3.  Since we kicked this off many years ago, we have printed and distributed an estimated 250,000 copies across Montana.  I have no idea how many lives of Montana kids MSSA has saved with this program, but surely some.  If you are interested in Be Safe, see more about it at:

https://progunleaders.org/BeSafe/

I have long dreamed of making Be Safe available as an Online video, to make it more broadly available to all Montana kids.  MSSA has finally entered into a contract with an Online learning expert to produce an Be Safe video!!!!! (Yes, I’m excited!)

The only downside is that it will be expensive to get a quality job done with this new Be Safe video.  You know I hate to beg for money and almost always avoid that.  However, for Be Safe I will make an exception.  MSSA is accepting donations to help defray the cost of morphing Be Safe from paper to video.  A check can be mailed to MSSA at P.O. Box 4924, Missoula, 59806.  Be sure to put Be Safe in the memo line.

Unfortunately (or not), this donation is NOT tax-deductible, since MSSA has always avoided the political handicap of becoming a tax exempt 501(C) under federal law.

It is also possible to donate electronically via MSSA’s new membership portal at:

https://myevent.com/MSSAmembership

FYI, MSSA has already spent over $20,000 to upgrade Be Safe to video, so that’s the size of expense we are trying to recover.  Thanks so much for any help you can provide.

That’s enough for now.  You will be getting more email from me as the legislative session heats up and more MSSA bills get introduced.  Stay tuned and PLEASE watch for MSSA emails.

Best wishes,

Gary Marbut, president

If you live in Cascade, Sanders, Richland, or McCone counties, MSSA has endorsed sheriff candidates in those counties for the upcoming Primary Election.  These endorsements are as follows:

Cascade County, Great Falls – Jesse Slaughter
Sanders County, Thompson Falls – Shawn Fielders
Richland County, Sidney – Shane Kyhl
In McCone County, Circle, MSSA made an unusual co-endorsement for the Primary of:
Josh Morris and Paul Skyberg

As you know by now, not all races have a contested Primary and not all candidates complete and return MSSA’s candidate questionnaire.  Thus the limited number of Primary endorsements.  MSSA will do another round of endorsements before the General Election in November.

We think the office of sheriff will become even more important to Montana gun owners.  We need sound people in this office.  If you live in one of these counties, or have friends in one of these counties, please spread this information.

Best wishes,

MSSA has made a number of endorsements only for the June, 2022 Primary
Election among candidates for the Montana Legislature.  Not every
candidate has a Primary Election challenge.  We will do another round
of endorsements before the General Election.

We do our evaluations based on voting records for incumbents and on
returned MSSA Candidate Questionnaires.  Not all candidate have a
voting record or return our CQ, so MSSA cannot make endorsements in
all contested Primary races.

Here are the races in which MSSA has issued endorsements:

Montana Senate
SD 04, John Fuller, Kalispell
SD 05, Mark Noland, Big Fork
SD 12, Wendy McKamey, Ulm
SD 20, Barry Usher, Billings
SD 43, Jason Ellsworth, Hamilton
SD 49, Brad Tschida, Missoula

Montana House of Representatives
HD 03, Braxton Mitchell, Columbia Falls
HD 05, Lyn Bennett, Whitefish
HD 07, Dave Ingram, Kalispell
HD 08, David Dunn, Whitefish
HD 09, David August, Kalispell
HD 11, Ronalee Skees, Kalispell
HD 14, Denley Loge, St Regis
HD 17, Ross Fitzgerald, Fairfield
HD 20, Fred Anderson Great Falls
HD 23, Brad Hamlett, Cascade
HD 26, Marci Marceau, Great Falls
HD 30, Randyn Gregg, White Sulphur Springs
HD 40, Greg Oblander, Shepherd
HD 55, Lee Deming, Laurel
HD 65, James Cocco, Bozeman
HD 68, Caleb Hinkle, Belgrade
HD 75, Marta Bertoglio, Clancy
HD 81, Jill Sark, Helena
HD 84, Kaitlyn Ruch, Helena
HD 88, Alan Lackey, Stevensville
HD 97, Lyn Hellegaard, Missoula

Best wishes,

Dear MSSA Friends,

MSSA has been wrestling over what advice to offer Montana gun owners
concerning the two congressional races for the Montana Primary
Election, the western district and the eastern district.  MSSA bases
its candidate evaluations on everything that we know about existing
candidates.  This includes voting records for those who have occupied
public office, such as in the Montana Legislature or other.  It
includes answers on MSSA’s Candidate Questionnaire.  Generally, MSSA
would prefer one voting record to five candidate questionnaires.
Voting records never lie.  The information MSSA considers includes
public statements by candidates and any other known and relevant
information.

MSSA takes such candidate evaluations very seriously.  I have always
insisted that MSSA must have a solid basis for such evaluations and
for any endorsements.  These races are not a popularity or beauty
contest for MSSA.  They are serious business.

Western District

In the western district, there are nine candidates for three parties.
In the Primary Election, a voter may only vote on one party ballot.
The Primary Election is actually a nomination process by which each
party’s single candidate is selected to square off against the lone
candidates of other parties in the General Election in November.

In the Republican Primary there are five candidates seeking the
party’s approval.  There are three Democrats, and one Libertarian.
Since the Libertarians have only one candidate, John Lamb, voters only
get that choice if they vote the Libertarian ballot.  MSSA doesn’t do
endorsements when there is only one candidate and no contest.

Among the Democrats, only Tom Winter has a voting record.  MSSA scored
Winter as a “D” in 2018 because of his voting record in the
Legislature.  For this 2022 congressional race, none of the Democrat
contenders returned the MSSA Candidate Questionnaire (CQ).  So, there
is no candidate in the Democrat Primary who warrants an MSSA
endorsement.

The Republican field for the western congressional district has five
contenders.  Matt Jette did not return MSSA’s CQ and has no voting
record.  At the recent MSSA candidate debate he suggested that some
gun control might be appropriate.

Mitch Heuer did not return MSSA’s CQ and has no voting record.  He is
dedicated to fixing things and practical solutions.  That makes one
wonder where principle fits in for him and if he would stray to
supporting gun control if he were persuaded that would fix an alleged
problem.  With no voting record, that is problematic.

Mary Todd has no voting record but she did submit a fine CQ.  However,
her primary reason for running is to seek justice for her son, who was
allegedly murdered.  It’s hard to criticize her for that, but that is
an insufficient basis to represent the people of western Montana in
Congress.

Ryan Zinke served in the Montana Senate in 2009 and 2011.  In 2009, he
had an “F” voting record on bills MSSA tracked.  In 2011 Zinke earned
a “B” for his voting record.  Zinke later served one term in the US
House, and then as Secretary of the Interior.  MSSA doesn’t know of
anything remarkable Zinke did in those posts relevant to the MSSA
mission.  While all other current Republican candidates for the
western district US House seat attended the recent MSSA candidate
forum in Missoula, Zinke did not.  Finally, Zinke is on record as
having opposed civilian ownership of .50-caliber rifles, and he has
questioned civilian possession of “military-style” rifles.

Dr. Al Olszewski served in the Montana Legislature from 2015 to 2019.
Throughout that period, his record on bills that MSSA tracked was a
consistent 100%.  In 2016, MSSA graded him as an “A” and endorsed him
for the Montana Senate.

In this five-way Republican Primary race for the western district
seat, Dr. Al Olszewski is clearly the best candidate and gets MSSA’s
endorsement.

Eastern District

There are ten surviving (one died) candidates for the eastern
district, four Republicans, three Libertarians, two Democrats, and one
pending (per Secretary of State) Independent.

For the Primary, MSSA ignores the pending Independent, Gary Buchanan,
since there is no contest.

Neither of the Democrats has a voting record or returned an MSSA CQ,
so no endorsement in that contest.

None of the Libertarians returned an MSSA CQ or have a voting record,
so no endorsement.  They’re all probably good on the RKBA, but
specifics are unknown.  I know Roger Roots personally.  He is an
excellent and sharp guy, but that knowledge is not a documented basis
for an MSSA endorsement.

In the Republican race, MSSA has a fine CQ from James Boyette, but no
voting record.  MSSA doesn’t have either a CQ or voting record from
candidates Kyle Austin or Charles Walkingchild.

Matt Rosendale has a 100% voting record on bills MSSA tracked from his
time in the Montana Legislature.  Better, Rosendale successfully
sponsored MSSA’s Ammunition Availability Act, to encourage the
manufacture of cartridge brass, smokeless powder, and primers in
Montana.  He has not only been a good representative for Montana gun
owners, he has been a champion of the RKBA.  Plus, Rosendale currently
serves in Congress representing Montana at large.  MSSA endorses Matt
Rosendale for the Republican Primary for the eastern district US House
seat.

Dear MSSA Friends,

What’s up with the races for the Montana Supreme Court (MSC)?  Great question.

First, some background.  The MSC is one of the last bastions of
politically liberal power in Montana.  The left has lost all the
statewide offices and the Legislature because of the left’s practiced
irrelevance.  What power the left holds on to, so far, is the
education industry, some local governments, and the MSC.

The MSC is made up of nine justices, a Chief Justice, and eight
Associate Justices.  They are all elected to staggered eight-year
terms.  Two of those seats are up for election this election cycle.
Two of the sitting justices are thought to be neutral or conservative.
The remaining and dominant seven are generally seen as political
liberals.

The liberal majority of the MSC has basically controlled Montana
public policy for decades.  Nothing important happens with public
policy in Montana unless the MSC allows it.  More specifically, any
substantial political effort to limit or reduce taxation, or to limit
or reduce government growth and power, gets hauled before the MSC by
liberal syncopates, whereupon the MSC figures out some way, often
clever or disingenuous way, to torpedo the effort.  This phenomenon
has played out many times.

So, we do need to elect justices to the MSC who will not run Montana
like a liberal fiefdom, but who will simply to the job they’ve taken
an oath to do, to “support, protect and defend the constitution.”

This election cycle, there are two seats on the MSC up for election.
The top two vote-getters in the June Primary will advance to the
General Election ballot in November.  For MSC Justice #1, there are
only two candidates, so both will advance to the General Election.
About these two:

Bill D’Alton is an unknown from Billings.  He doesn’t have any record
of votes or decisions that I know of.  He listed no phone number or
Website with the Secretary of State when he filed to run for office.
He did not return MSSA’s Judicial Candidate Questionnaire.  From this
dearth of information, I assume he is the liberal’s choice to take
this MSC seat, but trying to run a stealthy campaign.  He will
probably be well funded by the dying but desperate liberal
establishment, so you will see a lot of nicely-done but senseless ads
for him before the General Election.

Jim Rice is the incumbent.  Jim has a voting record from when he was
in the Legislature, and it’s a good record on our issues.  Jim was
also the author of the MSC decision that slapped down the Missoula
City Council and its attempt at gun control.  Finally, I know Jim
personally and like him politically for the issues within MSSA’s
mission area.

Right, MSC justices are not supposed to be political.  If you’re
willing to believe that, I have some nice oceanfront property near
Roundup to sell you.

The other MSC seat up for election is Justice #2.

The incumbent Justice is Ingrid Gustafson.  She is seen by many
observers as the most liberal of all justices on the MSC, although
there is stiff competition for this title.  She did not return an MSSA
Candidate Questionnaire.  She is not likely to be a friend of Montana
gun owners or our constitutional RKBA on the MSC.

The next candidate is Helena District Court Judge Michael McMahon.
This is the judge who ruled against Montana gun owners in the lawsuit
by the Board of Regents to block the campus carry feature of MSSA’s
2021 House Bill 102.  He ruled that the Regents could ignore the Right
to Keep or Bear Arms that the people have reserved to themselves from
government interference in the Montana Constitution.  Even worse, he
ruled that if MSSA were involved in this lawsuit about campus guns on
behalf of Montana gun owners, MSSA would not be allowed to discuss the
RKBA reserved to the people in either the federal or state
constitutions.  This from a public servant who swore an oath to
“support, protect and defend the constitution.”  This is why I filed a
Complaint against McMahon with the Judicial Standards Commission for
violation of his oath of office.  Montana gun owners definitely
deserve better that McMahon on the MSC.

The third candidate is Attorney Jim Brown of Helena.  Jim understands
the RKBA.  When MSSA was litigating our Montana Firearms Freedom Act
in the federal court system, Jim wrote an amicus brief for us.  He has
collaborated on other RKBA issues.  He is currently elected to the
Public Service Commission.  Brown would make a great replacement for
Gustafson on the MSC.

So, that’s the situation with the MSC.  Bottom line:  Rice and Brown,
or Brown Rice if that helps you remember.

On May 14th, Montana Shooting Sports Association will host a banquet
and discussion about The Future of Gun Ownership in Montana.  The
dinner will take place at 6:00pm on May 14, 2022, at the Hilton Garden
Inn Missoula.  Confirmed speakers for the event are Montana Attorney
General Austin Knudsen, and Cascade County Sheriff Jesse Slaughter.
Montana’s U.S. Senator Jon Tester is slated to speak as well if his
schedule permits.

Prior to the dinner, starting at 4:00pm there will be a debate between
the candidates for the new Montana U.S. House District 2 seat. Several
candidates are confirmed at this time.  The debate will be moderated
by radio personality Aaron Flint.

Tickets for the dinner event are $75 per person and can be purchased
at www.myevent.com/FGOMT. There will be three menu options for the
dinner including Beef, Chicken, or Fish. To purchase a table of 10
seats or to become a sponsor for the event contact randy@wmfga.org.
A limited number of tickets will be sold.  Get them soon.

There will be a no host reception from 5:00 – 6:00 PM in the lobby of
the Hilton Garden Inn

A block of rooms has been set aside at the Hilton Garden Inn for $169
/ night.  Attendees must make their own reservations. Other hotel
options within walking distance are listed below.

Current sponsors for this event are the Western Montana Fish and Game
Association, the Second Amendment Foundation, Gun Owners of America,
and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

Please join us as we come together with other Montanans to discuss The
Future of Gun Ownership in Montana.

Host Hotel
Hilton Garden Inn
3720 North Reserve Street
Missoula, MT 59808
406-532-5300

Additional Hotel Options
Hampton Inn                           Courtyard by Marriott
       Econo Lodge
4805 N Reserve St                   4559 N Reserve St
     4953 N Reserve St
Missoula, MT 59808               Missoula, MT 59808
Missoula, MT 59808
406-549-1800                          406-549-5260
          406-542-7550

On May 14th, Montana Shooting Sports Association will host a banquet
and discussion about The Future of Gun Ownership in Montana.  The
dinner will take place at 6:00pm on May 14, 2022, at the Hilton Garden
Inn Missoula.  Confirmed speakers for the event are Montana Attorney
General Austin Knudsen, and Cascade County Sheriff Jesse Slaughter.
Montana’s U.S. Senator Jon Tester is slated to speak as well if his
schedule permits.

Prior to the dinner, starting at 4:00pm there will be a debate between
the candidates for the new Montana U.S. House District 2 seat. Several
candidates are confirmed at this time.  The debate will be moderated
by radio personality Aaron Flint.

Tickets for the dinner event are $75 per person and can be purchased
at www.myevent.com/FGOMT. There will be three menu options for the
dinner including Beef, Chicken, or Fish. To purchase a table of 10
seats or to become a sponsor for the event contact randy@wmfga.org.
A limited number of tickets will be sold.  Get them soon.

There will be a no host reception from 5:00 – 6:00 PM in the lobby of
the Hilton Garden Inn

A block of rooms has been set aside at the Hilton Garden Inn for $169
/ night.  Attendees must make their own reservations. Other hotel
options within walking distance are listed below.

Current sponsors for this event are the Western Montana Fish and Game
Association, the Second Amendment Foundation, Gun Owners of America,
and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

Please join us as we come together with other Montanans to discuss The
Future of Gun Ownership in Montana.

Host Hotel
Hilton Garden Inn
3720 North Reserve Street
Missoula, MT 59808
406-532-5300

Additional Hotel Options
Hampton Inn                           Courtyard by Marriott
       Econo Lodge
4805 N Reserve St                   4559 N Reserve St
     4953 N Reserve St
Missoula, MT 59808               Missoula, MT 59808
Missoula, MT 59808
406-549-1800                          406-549-5260
          406-542-7550

Holiday Inn Express              Quality Inns and Suites
    Woodspring Suites
150 Expressway                     4545 N Reserve St
       3035 Stockyard Rd
Missoula, MT 59808              Missoula, MT 59808
 Missoula, MT 59808
406-830-3100                         406-203-1341
           406-317-7444