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

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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.