Drizzt
Member
The Associated Press State & Local Wire
January 23, 2003, Thursday, BC cycle
SECTION: State and Regional
LENGTH: 347 words
HEADLINE: Bill seeks lifetime weapons permit
DATELINE: HELENA
BODY:
Concealed weapon permits should be issued for a lifetime instead of requiring renewals every four years, a lawmaker told the Senate Fish and Game Committee on Thursday.
"It simply removes an ongoing fee and reduces the paperwork for sheriff's departments," Sen. Ed Butcher, R-Winifred, said about the $25 renewal charge. "Government regulation needs to be at its lowest common denominator." Concealed weapons permits are issued by county sheriffs for an initial fee of $50. Applicants have to be residents of the state for at least six months and be free from conviction of a serious crime. Additionally, sheriffs can deny permits based on reasonable cause. Montana has had such a law for about 10 years.
Butcher said holders of permits must remain relatively crime-free to continue holding a permit, and must check in with a sheriff if they move to a different county.
Under Senate Bill 184, sheriffs would still be able to revoke permits if someone runs afoul of the law.
"It does nothing more than eliminate bureaucratic paperwork," he said.
But a lobbyist for Montana sheriffs said federal regulations require a four-year check with a federal database to make sure permit holders are still legal. He said the check would be difficult to make without a renewal process.
"The sheriffs are a little concerned with a blanket lifetime permit," said Jim Smith. "Things change and people change."
Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Cheryl Liedle said about 100 permits are issued and five revoked a year in her county.
She said allowing concealed weapons permits has worked out well - but added she likes to meet people on-on-one to make sure they are still able to handle a gun.
"It's not a money issue here," she said.
Butcher said crime studies have shown states that allow people to carry concealed weapons have less violence. Relaxing the permit law will lead more people to get one, he said.
"This is not a real boogeyman here," he said. "It's a deterrent to crime."
The panel said it may pass the bill off to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
January 23, 2003, Thursday, BC cycle
SECTION: State and Regional
LENGTH: 347 words
HEADLINE: Bill seeks lifetime weapons permit
DATELINE: HELENA
BODY:
Concealed weapon permits should be issued for a lifetime instead of requiring renewals every four years, a lawmaker told the Senate Fish and Game Committee on Thursday.
"It simply removes an ongoing fee and reduces the paperwork for sheriff's departments," Sen. Ed Butcher, R-Winifred, said about the $25 renewal charge. "Government regulation needs to be at its lowest common denominator." Concealed weapons permits are issued by county sheriffs for an initial fee of $50. Applicants have to be residents of the state for at least six months and be free from conviction of a serious crime. Additionally, sheriffs can deny permits based on reasonable cause. Montana has had such a law for about 10 years.
Butcher said holders of permits must remain relatively crime-free to continue holding a permit, and must check in with a sheriff if they move to a different county.
Under Senate Bill 184, sheriffs would still be able to revoke permits if someone runs afoul of the law.
"It does nothing more than eliminate bureaucratic paperwork," he said.
But a lobbyist for Montana sheriffs said federal regulations require a four-year check with a federal database to make sure permit holders are still legal. He said the check would be difficult to make without a renewal process.
"The sheriffs are a little concerned with a blanket lifetime permit," said Jim Smith. "Things change and people change."
Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Cheryl Liedle said about 100 permits are issued and five revoked a year in her county.
She said allowing concealed weapons permits has worked out well - but added she likes to meet people on-on-one to make sure they are still able to handle a gun.
"It's not a money issue here," she said.
Butcher said crime studies have shown states that allow people to carry concealed weapons have less violence. Relaxing the permit law will lead more people to get one, he said.
"This is not a real boogeyman here," he said. "It's a deterrent to crime."
The panel said it may pass the bill off to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
