Montanans Object to Tactics Used to Suppress HJ 26

MISSOULA – Citizens across Montana are placing 30-second radio spots today in protest over handling of House Joint Resolution 26 by the Montana House of Representatives. Prepared ads criticize Democrat leadership in the House for attempting to violate House rules by denying a public hearing on HJ 26. Ads also criticize House Democrats for voting against HJ 26 on a party-line vote.

HJ 26 reasserts Montana sovereignty reserved to the state in Article II, Section 2 of the Montana Constitution, and in the Ninth and Tenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. In that regard, HJ 26 is similar to measures that are currently working in the legislators of nearly 30 states across the U.S. Perhaps the first of these to be introduced was in New Hampshire, although the Oklahoma House of Representatives just passed a similar measure by a substantial vote margin. Read more

HJ 26 audio files up soon

We only got one of the 30-second audio files for HJ 26 in and up on the Internet last night, but we have a total of three in hand now and will have them installed soon at:
http://www.decide2vote.com/

We hope to make one or two more available yet this morning, for a total of four or five.

Remember, if we play enough of these across Montana, we have a chance to revive HJ 26 after the Legislature’s transmittal break.

Also, this is not just an MSSA effort (although we’re glad to join), it’s a Montana effort. So, be sure to spread word about the availability of these radio spots to all of your friends who may care about freedom and state sovereignty.

Gary Marbut, president
Montana Shooting Sports Association
http://www.mtssa.org
author, Gun Laws of Montana
http://www.mtpublish.com

FLASH – URGENT ACTION NEEDED

Your action is definitely needed ON FRIDAY! Read on.

House Joint Resolution 26 (HJ 26) declares Montana sovereignty and is the only mechanism in the Montana Legislature to resist a huge wave of federal gun control headed our way.

Obama (well, his AG) has announced that he wants to re-invoke the federal “assault weapons ban.” No more semi-auto rifles. He wants to “close the gun show loophole.” No more transfers of firearms without creating a federal record. Then there’s the “Blair Holt” licensing scheme, which would make every Montana gun owner a felon after two years because a Real ID would be required to even apply for the required federal license. Since Montana has rejected Real ID, no Montana gun owner could even apply. We’d ALL be federal felons.

HJ 26 sets in place the mechanism to protect us from all of this.

But, here’s the problem. HJ 26 failed on a party-line vote – all Democrats voting against it. We need to rise up and do something about that – to resurrect HJ 26.

Well, a tool has been created to allow you to do just that, but YOU WILL HAVE TO ACT ON FRIDAY.

Some sympathetic entity has prepared five, 30-second radio spots about this. The MP3 files for these radio spots are posted at this Internet address:
http://www.decide2vote.com/

Any radio station can and may download and broadcast these spots, BUT YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THE AIRTIME ON YOUR LOCAL RADIO STATION.

Playing a 30-second ad on radio only costs, on average, about $5 (some stations less, some more) per spot. You need to hotfoot it down to your local radio station and pay for as many spots as you can afford to run on Saturday, Sunday, Monday and/or Tuesday (February 28, and March 1, 2, and 3).

Some radio stations will even take your credit or debit card over the phone to pay for running these 30-second spots.

You may even pick which one(s) you want to pay to run. Listen to them at the URL above. If you like them all, pay for five, ten or more instances. Or, pick you favorite(s). Tell the station you want to play Spot #1 (or whatever).

If you live outside Montana and want to help, a list of Montana radio stations is available from:
http://www.mtbroadcasters.org/mt_broadcasters.phtml

The critical legislators who voted to block HJ 26 come from Billings (3 legislators) Great Falls (2), Livingston (1), Helena (1), Missoula (1) and Butte (1), if you want to focus on those markets. But Montanans, don’t neglect your local market.

IT’S UP TO YOU! You must act during business hours on Friday to make this work. Legislators are off for the mid-session break now, but they will be back in Helen by Tuesday. Radio station business offices will be closed on Saturday and Sunday, so you won’t be able to place ads over the weekend.

All you need to do is give your favorite radio station the URL (Internet address above) from which they can download the audio files for the ads, and pay for their airtime. You may be able to choose whether you want your ad(s) to run during “drive time” or “run of station” (random). You choose which, and which ad(s) you want to pay for.

GET IT DONE. This is in your hands now.

NOTE: One radio spot is now posted at the URL given above. We’re scrambling to get the others produced. They should all be available later this evening (Thursday, 2/26).

Best wishes,

Gary Marbut, president
Montana Shooting Sports Association
http://www.mtssa.org
author, Gun Laws of Montana

Legislative Update February 22nd, 2009

MSSA Bills – 2009 Legislative Session

(Update February 22, 2009)

MSSA page about all legislative issues: http://www.progunleaders.org/Legis09/

How to track bills, interact with the Legislature and support MSSA bills: http://www.progunleaders.org/Legislative%20Process/

Bills supported

HB 228 – Self Defense – Rep. Krayton Kerns. A bill to cure voids and gray areas in Montana law about when and how a person may possess or use a firearm for self defense without fear of prosecution.
Bill at: http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/2009/billhtml/HB0228.htm
Explanation at: http://progunleaders.org/Self-defense/
Attack by law enforcement administrators:
http://www.progunleaders.org/Legis09/ResponseMSPOAattack.html
Status: Passed by the House and transmitted to the Senate with Sections 5, 6, and 9 removed from the bill.
Action needed: Collect testimonials of support from current or former law enforcement officers and get those to MSSA or bill Sponsor Rep. Krayton Kerns. These will be needed soon.

HB 2 – Shooting Range Funding – Appropriations Committee (Natural Resources Subcommittee). This is part of the whole state budget, in House Bill 2. We are asking for $1.2 million of hunter license fee money be appropriated to the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks(FWP) budget by the Legislature for the Shooting Range Development Program (SRDP). Last biennium (two-year budget cycle) the Legislature appropriated $1 million. The FWP budget is reviewed by the Natural Resources Joint Subcommittee (NRJS) of the House Appropriations Committee and the Senate Finance and Claims Committee. The NRJS will begin its public hearings on HB 2 on 1/19, at 8:30 AM in Room 317C of the Capitol. This public hearing will last for several days. It is unknown at this time just when the FWP budget and the SRDP item will come up.
Status: Pending before House Appropriations Committee
Action needed: Ask members of the NRJS to be sure to put $1.2 million in HB 2 for shooting ranges.

SB 183 – Wolves – Senator Joe Balyeat. A bill to wrest control of wolves out of federal hands and assert Montana primacy in managing wolves to protect hunting opportunities, livestock, and people working and recreating outdoors.
Bill at: http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/2009/billhtml/SB0183.htm
Explanation at: http://www.progunleaders.org/Legis09/SB%20183%20Summary.html
Status: Approved by the Senate Fish and Game Committee; 5-4, party-line vote; sent to Senate floor for Second Reading.
Action needed: Ask all senators to approve SB 183 on Second Reading

HB 246 – Montana-made Firearms – Rep. Joel Boniek. A bill to challenge federal authority under the power of Congress to regulate commerce among the states, this bill declares that any firearms made and retained in Montana are not subject to any federal regulatory authority.
Bill at: http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/2009/billhtml/HB0246.htm
Status: Passed by House on Second Reading and re-referred to House Appropriations Committee.
Action needed: Ask members of House Appropriations to pass HB 246.

SB 185 – Non-resident College Student Hunting – Senator Joe Balyeat. A bill to allow non-resident, full-time college students in Montana to buy licenses for the same cost as residents, and to allow full-time college students from Montana temporarily living in other states to come home to hunt at the same price as residents.
Bill at: http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/2009/billhtml/SB0185.htm
Status: Passed by Senate and transmitted to House.
Action needed: None now.

HB 479 – Montana Home Guard Revitalization – Rep. Joel Boniek. A bill to flesh out the laws about the Montana Home Guard to allow a volunteer Montana corps to make trained and organized resources available to the Governor and county sheriffs in times of need – something between Neighborhood Watch and the Montana National Guard – more like volunteer fire departments but with a broader mission.
Bill at: http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/2009/billhtml/HB0479.htm
Status: Bill tabled by the House State Administration Committee.
Action needed: Too late – none.

HJ 14 – National Park Gun Regulations – Rep. Wendy Warburton. A Joint Resolution opposing a lawsuit by the Brady Campaign to block new regulations allowing self defense guns in National Parks, and urging the Montana Attorney General to intervene in that lawsuit to protect the rights of Montana citizens.
Resolution at: http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/2009/billhtml/HJ0014.htm
Status: Passed by the House Judiciary Committee – on Second Reading 2/23.
Action needed: Ask House members to pass HJ 14.

HB 427 – Rep. Joel Boniek. A bill to repeal 87-3-123, M.C.A., “Use of silencers or mufflers on firearms forbidden. No person may take into a field or forest or have in his possession while out hunting any device or mechanism devised to silence, muffle, or minimize the report of any firearms, whether such device or mechanism be operated from or attached to any firearm.” This Prohibition-era law is overbroad, unenforced, and needs to be repealed.
Bill at: http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/2009/billhtml/HB0427.htm
Status: Bill failed on Second Reading in House.
Action needed: CRITICAL – Ask House members to revive and pass HB 427.

SB 80 – Elect Board of Regents – Senator Dan McGee. MSSA has waged a three-year campaign to persuade the Board of Regents and U-system campus managers that they may not contravene the Montana Constitution and strip students, employees and other of their constitutional right to bear arms, but to no avail. The BoR and campus managers have been unwilling to enter into any substantive negotiations on this topic. BoR members are heavily insulated and unaccountable because they are appointed, rather than elected. SB 80 would set a referendum for Montana citizens to vote to change the Constitution to make BoR members elected, instead of appointed. MSSA supports this change. This bill needs support of 2/3 of the Legislature to pass and get the issue on the ballot.
Bill at: http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/2009/billhtml/SB0080.htm
Status: Passed by Senate 20-30 and sent to House needs 100 total votes to pass.
Action needed: Little hope for this bill, unfortunately.

HJ 26 State Sovereignty – A Resolution asserting state sovereignty has been introduced by Rep. Mike More as HJ 26.

This is the Montana version of a similar Resolution that is being introduced in a number of other states, including New Hampshire.

Remember, the Montana Constitution says, at Article II, Section 2, “The people have the exclusive right of governing themselves as a free, sovereign, and independent state.”

Some will say that these are just words on paper and don’t really mean anything. I disagree.

These words are a part of the contract by which Montana was engendered as a socio-political entity. The very existence of the construct called the “State of Montana” is dependent upon this contract among Montana people, a contract giving the state defined and limited powers.

One of these limitations is the terms of Article II. Section 2, which limits the authority of the State to contract with the other states. That is, by its very charter, the State is not authorized to lock itself politically into being a mere administrative region of that creature of the several states, the federal government, nor may the state surrender the rights and prerogatives of individuals to the federal government.

HJ 26 addresses these issues and relationships.

Bill at: http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/2009/billhtml/HJ0026.htm
Status: Assigned to House Judiciary Committee for public hearing on 2/23.
Action needed: Ask House Judiciary members to pass HJ 26.

Bills opposed

HB 36 sponsored by Rep. Kendall VanDyk (failed in House Judiciary Committee) and SB 92 by Senator Larry Jent (passed by Senate and sent to House). Called “castle doctrine” bills, these two bills are identical, do nothing to improve existing Montana law, and have been introduced so the sponsors can claim to have introduced “pro-gun” legislation. Both bills have had hearings before the Judiciary Committee in their respective chambers, and both are on hold awaiting outcome of HB 228 and other political winds.

HB 490 sponsored by Rep. Kendall VanDyk. Requires the Division of Motor Vehicle Licensing to give Social Security Numbers for all licensed drivers to the Secretary of State, ostensibly to use to verify voter registration lists for summoning jury pools. This expanded use of SSN is an additional invasion of the right to privacy at Article II, Section 10 of the Montana Constitution. Juries can be drawn without providing everyone’s Social Security Numbers to yet another array of government officials. The voter identification card is the LAST piece of identification in Montana that is NOT cross-indexed in computers with SSNs.
Status: Passed by the House and sent to the Senate.
Action needed: None right now. We should oppose this when it comes up for a committee hearing in the Senate in March.

Action items – bills now critical

Last chance for several bills.

I have prepared a review of where all our bills are (I’ll send it today), but there is action pending tomorrow on several bills that NEEDS YOU PRIORITY ATTENTION. Here’s the deal:

HJ 26, the Montana states rights and sovereignty resolution will have its public hearing before the House Judiciary Committee tomorrow, Monday 2/23. Send messages to Judiciary members asking them to support HJ 26. (Hint: This is important to protect Montanans from federal gun control, i.e., Blair Holt Firearms Eventual Confiscation Act).

HB 246, Montana-made guns, has been sent to the House Appropriations Committee (maybe an attempt to kill it). Send messages to House Appropriations Committee members asking them to approve HB 246.

HB 427, repeal archaic suppressor law, was voted down by the House on Second Reading. Contact House members and ask them to revive and pass HB 427.

SB 183, to get Montana control of wolves, will be up in the next couple of days before the full Senate. Contact Senate members and ask them to support SB 183.

HJ 14, supporting guns in National Parks, will be on Second Reading on the House floor tomorrow (Monday). Contact House members and ask them to support HJ 14.

REASON FOR URGENCY NOW. This coming Friday is “Transmittal,” the day by which all House bills must be approved and transmitted to the Senate (except appropriations of money) and all Senate bills to the House, OR THEY ARE DEAD! We have ONLY THIS LAST WEEK to persuade legislators to act on these critical bills!

If you need more information about any of these bills, get it HERE.

Act now! Please! All of these bills could die a final death this week without your help. If you want good gun and hunting laws in Montana, you have to become a player – you must commit some time at critical points to contact legislators. Your contacts DO make a difference.

Thanks loads,

Gary Marbut, president
Montana Shooting Sports Association
http://www.mtssa.org
author, Gun Laws of Montana
http://www.mtpublish.com

Suppressors on Second Reading, House today

MSSA’s bill to repeal an archaic law making it a crime to be “in the field or forest” with a firearm suppressor, HB 427, is up for Second reading on the House floor today, sometime after 1 PM.

If you are by your computer and can send messages to House members either by email, using the online message form or by phone at 444-4800, that would be great. Ask House members to please support HB 427.

This Second reading action will be over by 3PM today (Friday).

I’ll put some talking points for messages below.

Gary Marbut, president
Montana Shooting Sports Association
http://www.mtssa.org
author, Gun Laws of Montana
http://www.mtpublish.com

===========================

Talking points, HB 427

1. This archaic law is so poorly written it criminalizes benign conduct (such as being outdoors with a suppressor).

2. This law is not used by FWP.

3. FWP can still prosecute criminal use of suppressors (poaching) under the criminal laws in Title 45.

4. Suppressors do nothing to dampen the sonic boom of rifle bullets.

5. If “stealth hunting” is not fair chase, we will need to ban archery hunting.

Action Needed – Wolf bill goes to Senate floor

Good news and we need your help! Please see below what we need you to do for SB 183 right now!

The Senate Fish and Game Committee held its public hearing on MSSA’s wolf bill, the “Montana Wolf Recovery Act” (SB 183) yesterday AND acted on SB 183 the same day (unusual but not unheard of). The Committee made some agreeable amendments to SB 183 and passed it by a vote of 5 to 4.

Senator Shockley (R-Victor) supported the bill (thanks Jim) but very reluctantly (he needs messages thanking him for support). Other Republicans on the Committee also supported SB 183 including Greg Barkus (R-Kalispell), John Brenden (R-Scoby), Debby Barrett (R-Dillon – a VERY strong supporter), and bill sponsor Joe Balyeat (R-Bozeman).

All Democrats on the Committee opposed SB 183. I was mildly surprised that Steve Gallus (D-Butte) opposed, as there is SO much support for wolf control in Butte. Also opposing was Joe Tropila (D-Great Falls) who will often support our gun and hunting bills. Also opposing were Trudi Schmidt (D-Great Falls) and Larry Jent (D-Bozeman).

SB 183 will come up within a couple of days on the Senate floor for Second Reading.

It is VERY IMPORTANT that you contact your senator and any other senators to urge them to support SB 183. I’ll give you some talking points below.

Steve Gallus might swing to support if he gets enough messages, especially from folks in the Butte area. Joe Tropila might swing to support if he gets enough messages, especially from the Great Falls area.

All senators need to be contacted, either by email, via the online message form, or by calling 444-4800 and leaving a message.

Remember, keep the messages civil and BRIEF – legislators have VERY short attention spans at this point.

Thanks to those folks on this list who showed up to support SB 183 at the hearing. That REALLY makes a difference.

PLEASE get messages in to YOUR senator and any other senators you wish asking them to please support SB 183 on Second Reading.

If you need more information about SB 183, go HERE.

Thanks loads for your support.

My brief talking points are below. Articulate any of them you like, or your own, in forming your messages to senators.

Gary Marbut, president
Montana Shooting Sports Association
http://www.mtssa.org
author, Gun Laws of Montana
http://www.mtpublish.com

HJ 26 introduced – state sovereignty

A Resolution asserting state sovereignty has been introduced by Rep. Mike More as HJ 26.

This is the Montana version of a similar Resolution that is being introduced in a number of other states, including New Hampshire.

Remember, the Montana Constitution says, at Article II, Section 2, “The people have the exclusive right of governing themselves as a free, sovereign, and independent state.”

Some will say that these are just words on paper and don’t really mean anything. I disagree.

These words are a part of the contract by which Montana was engendered as a socio-political entity. The very existence of the construct called the “State of Montana” is dependent upon this contract among Montana people, a contract giving the state defined and limited powers.

One of these limitations is the terms of Article II. Section 2, which limits the authority of the State to contract with the other states. That is, by its very charter, the State is not authorized to lock itself politically into being a mere administrative region of that creature of the several states, the federal government, nor may the state surrender the rights and prerogatives of individuals to the federal government.

HJ 26 addresses these issues and relationships.

Gary Marbut, president
Montana Shooting Sports Association
http://www.mtssa.org
author, Gun Laws of Montana
http://www.mtpublish.com

Wolf bill – Thursday

This is a reminder that MSSA’s “Montana Wolf Recovery Act”, SB 183, will have its first public hearing before the Senate Fish and Game Committee this Thursday beginning at 3 PM in the Capitol in Helena.

Sponsor Senator Joe Balyeat tells me that the wolf advocates will turn out in force and that if we don’t fill the place we will lose the bill.

Many, many of you have complained about the impact of wolves you see on dwindling game animal populations during hunting season. You’re right. Our hunting heritage is going to the wolves. This may be our last chance to turn this around!

To do this you MUST saddle up and come to Helena for this hearing.

I know, that’s a pain! But it’s what you just have to do if you want to impress the Legislature to pass SB 183.

The Senate Fish and Game Committee may reserve a larger-than-usual room for this hearing. I’ll let you know by Wednesday what room the hearing will be in.

If you can come (I sure hope you can), please review my suggestions about testifying before a committee at:
http://www.progunleaders.org/Legislative%20Process/hearing.html

Bring your friends to speak too!

Hope to see you there.

Best wishes,

Gary Marbut, president
Montana Shooting Sports Association
http://www.mtssa.org
author, Gun Laws of Montana
http://www.mtpublish.com

More ammo?

Mark Springer tells me he’s putting together another bulk ammo order with HSM. I don’t know any details about the order or process. Mark says to contact him if you are interested.

Mark Springer, CR (mark@dayspringrestoration.com)
President, Principal, Dayspring Restoration

Missoula: 406.541.4911
Kalispell: 406.257.4911
Toll Free: 800.555.3803

www.dayspringrestoration.com

Gary Marbut, president
Montana Shooting Sports Association
http://www.mtssa.org
author, Gun Laws of Montana
http://www.mtpublish.com

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