Permitless carry in Montana - Maybe...

[phoglund]

Montana may be joining the permitless carry crowd. It's been legal to carry concealed in Montana outside cities in towns for some time, no permit required. There is a Bill just passed by the Montana legislature sitting on the Governor's desk awaiting signature that makes it legal to carry concealed in towns as well (HB 271) The Bill changes the law relating to the offense of carrying a concealed weapon by putting the following exception in: (g) a person "eligible to possess a handgun under state or federal law"

So, if the Bill is passed, if you can legally possess a handgun, you can legally carry it concealed in Montana.

The laws regarding obtaining a concealed carry permit in Montana will still be available. This is good for reciprocity reasons.

Paul

http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/2011/billhtml/HB0271.htm

 

[phoglund]

Vetoed by governor.

 

[Standing Wolf]

Vetoed by governor.

The good people of Wisconsin have some familiarity with that same phenomenon. It's what happens when people elect professional politicians.

 

[armoredman]

I wish them the best getting this overturned. I read some commentary purported to be from the Montana governor, and it was sickeningly full of "police always know best who should be able to carry a firearm" garbage.

 

[41magsnub]

Words cannot express how frustrated many of us are by this.

 

[phoglund]

Agreed, very frustrating. I followed this bill through the legislature...what a torturous path passing a bill is! To see it vetoed on such a lame basis is frustrating. I believe in the executive branch having veto power...but great discretion should be used in evoking a veto. One man disallowing the will of the legislature should be an extraordinary event, not a common one.

I have a permit and intended on keeping it up to date even if this bill passed but it shouldn't be a requirement for folks to be able to protect themselves. Maybe the Gov. didn't realize that in the vast majority of the state it's already legal to carry without a permit...just not when an arbitrary line is crossed when entering into the limits of a town.

 

[06]

My son is in college in Bozeman. He has a nice collection of firearms and am sure he is disappointed as well. Kick that goobenoor out on his "keester" next election.

 

[phoglund]

Hi '06,

The gov is fairly pro gun for a Democrat but as all men, has his fallacies. I work at the University your son attends. It's also unfortunate carrying on campus isn't allowed. 'Gun Free Zones' are fundamentally a bad idea!

 

[41magsnub]

Hey NRA.. where is your outrage at this veto? I'm waiting for you guys to publicly revoke your endorsement of the governor, or make any sort of comment....

 

[phoglund]

I wonder about this as well. I was getting regular updates from NRA on the progress of this bill through the legislature but not a peep since it was vetoed.