Dear MSSA Friends,

I spoke in favor of MSSA’s Restaurant Carry bill, HB 494, before the House Judiciary Committee this morning (Monday, 02/20/17).  The bad news is that I was the only proponent.  The good news is that there were zero opponents.

I told the story of the Luby’s Massacre in Texas, where madman George Hennard drove his pickup through the front window of Luby’s Restaurant and then shot and wounded 44 people, killing 24.  Dr. Suzanna Gratia-Hupp was there having dinner with her mother and father.  She had left her handgun outside in her car because Texas law (then) made it a felony for Dr. Hupp to bring her firearm into the restaurant.  Both Dr. Hupp’s mother and father died that day because Texas law prohibited Dr. Hopp from bring her handgun into the restaurant.  She has said since that she’d much rather have faced felony criminal charges under Texas law than lose both parents.  For more information about the Luby’s Massacre, see:

Today the Senate discussed SJR 11 (to define “shall not be called in question) on Second Reading and passed it by 31-18.  It will advance to Third Reading tomorrow (Tuesday, 2/21).  If it passes there (expected, and by the same vote), it will move on to the House.

Keep the messages going to the Governor on Permitless Carry (HB 262) and Post Office Carry (HB 246).

Best wishes,
--   Gary Marbut, president  Montana Shooting Sports Association  https://www.mtssa.org  Author, Gun Laws of Montana  http://www.mtpublish.com

By mssa