Bill Aims To Eliminate Gun-free Zones
House Bill 102, which will strength Montana’s residents gun ownership rights, has passed through the House with strong support.
The bill, being sponsored by Rep. Seth Berglee, R-Joliet, reads, “It is the intent of the legislature to reduce or remove provisions of law that limit or prohibit the ability of citizens to defend themselves by restricting with prior restraint the right to keep or bear arms...”
The House approved the third reading of the bill, 66-31, on Thursday, Jan. 21. The Senate’s judiciary committee held a hearing on Wednesday, Jan. 20.
The bill would prevent the Montana University System and the Board of Regents from making restrictions against the possession of firearms of their campuses. Currently, the Montana University System allows police officers to carry firearms and provides for a secure location for students living on campus to keep their guns.
Berglee explained during the Senate committee meeting that the legislation aims to eliminate gun-free zones in Montana.
He said his basic premise is that “anytime that a criminal has the ability to be armed, a citizen has the right to be armed.”
The representative said that a concealed and carry approach is safer and more effective than open, carry.
He said that 12 Boards of Regents in the nation permit students to have firearms.
Restrictions would include that guns in dorm rooms must be locked up, there’s no firearms allowed when alcohol is available and no firearms at a controlled athletic or entertainment event when security is on site.
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen testified that he’s a strong supporter of the bill.
Knudsen said gun-free zones don’t work and that states with gun-free zones have the highest crime rates.
“This is common sense, good legislation,” Knudsen said.
As a former county attorney, Knudsen said that sheriff’s can’t be everywhere. He added that in large area counties such as Roosevelt that it might take deputies a half-hour to arrive at a crime scene. “That’s not workable in a situation when you have an active shooter.”
One of the opponents to the bills was Shandi Henry of MOMS Demand Action. “This matters to me,” Henry said.
She noted that she is a gun owner, but she feels some places should be restricted.
“The possibility of gun violence terrifies me,” Henry said of the bill.
Henry added that Montana always ranks near the top of the nation for gun violence and suicide rate.
“We can and must do better,” she said.
