The House of Representatives gave preliminary approval Tuesday to a bill meant to preserve Montanans' right to bear arms by prohibiting the enforcement of any federal ban on firearms.
Senate Bill 99 would establish the "Montana Federal Firearm, Magazine, and Ammunition Ban Enforcement Prohibition Act." The bill passed out of the Senate in February on a 30-to-20 vote.
Republican Rep. Seth Berglee is carrying the bill in the House for Republican Sen. Cary Smith:
"We did add a couple of amendments to it to allow for federal assistance, as long as it is not for the primary purpose of prohibiting, restricting or requiring any of the federal bans," Berglee said.
At the bill's first hearing in the House, lobbyist for School Administrators of Montana Patrick Audet opposed the bill. He says the bill would allow firearms on school campuses:
"If an officer couldn't enforce that law, that would be a problem. We would be opposed to that," Audet said.
The bill will be on the House floor for a final vote on Wednesday.
Freddy Monares is a reporter with the UM Legislative News Service, a partnership of the University of Montana School of Journalism, the Montana Broadcasters Association and the Greater Montana Foundation
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