Elk Foundation Files Motion to Intervene in Wolf Litigation

From Blue Heron Communications:

MISSOULA, Mont.—The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation has filed a motion in Missoula federal court to enter an amicus curiae brief supporting state-regulated wolf hunting in Idaho and Montana. If the motion is granted by U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy, RMEF documents will be considered in Molloy’s decision on whether to allow or stop the hunt.

A hearing is scheduled for Monday and a ruling could follow soon afterward.

A coalition of 13 environmental groups filed an emergency injunction asking Molloy to stop the planned hunt and return wolves to the endangered species list. Read more

Montana Rally In Support Of Wolf Management

A grass roots effort is underway to form a rally in Missoula, Montana in support of wolf management in that state. The rally will take place at the Russ Smith Federal Court House on Monday August 31st at 7:30 AM. The group will demonstrate their opposition to the recent filing by Earth Justice and openly profess support for state management.

Montana’s Firearms Freedom Act Battle Against Obama’s Power Grab

Many conservative Americans and those who still understand and cherish the United States Constitution as the glue that keeps our nation free, cheered at the signing of the Montana Firearms Freedom Act, an act signed by Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer and set to take effect on October 1, 2009. The Act essentially declares that any guns or certain parts manufactured in Montana and remain in Montana are not subject to the strong arm of the federal government. It’s an ambitious battle that could have sweeping consequences for Americans and derail the Statists’ progressive, manipulative, incrementalism aimed at total control over free citizens of this country.

Much of the basis for formulating this act has been the attempted revival of the 10th Amendment. Read more

Idaho’s Plans For Wolf Management

Gun Groups To Sue Over Montana-Made And Retained Firearms

MISSOULA, MT – the Montana Shooting Sports Association (MSSA) and the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) have formed a strategic alliance to litigate the principles of the Montana Firearms Freedom Act (MFFA), passed by the 2009 Montana Legislature and signed into law by Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer.

The MFFA declares that any firearms made and retained in Montana are not subject to any federal authority, resisting Congress’s dramatically expanded use of the interstate commerce clause to justify Washington’s regulation of virtually all of the private economy. The MFFA also applies to firearm accessories and ammunition. Read more

Montana’s Trap-Free Initiative In Conflict With Constitution

The Montana Trap-Free Public Lands Initiative would ban trapping on public lands if passed. This appears to be in direct conflict with the Montana State Constitution.

Gary Marbut, President of the Montana Shooting Sports Association and the originator of the language that exists in the Montana Constitution that protects the heritage of hunting, fishing and trapping, responds to the initiative with comments accordingly. Read more

Idaho Regional Fish And Game Supervisor Clarifies Wolves Destruction On Elk Herds

I’ve always had a certain degree of sympathy for employees of any state fish and game department. They are much like a baseball umpire. Every call they make, one side agrees and the other doesn’t. One thing though can be said about the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. At lease one regional supervisor, Mark Gamblin, understands that the Internet is a resource that needs to be utilized whether his organization likes it or not. The Internet has become a powerful resource of information – some good and some not.

It seems that Gamblin has been monitoring the discussions going on at Ralph Maughan’s blog, an overtly pro wolf advocate site. It also appears that Gamblin has had enough of the rhetoric being written there, that he decided to post his own comments in order to clarify the positions of the Idaho Fish and Game Department and dispute a few of the talking points being used there. Read more

Pat Goodale Practical Firearm Training

Hunting/Precision Rifle Course – (24 Hours, 300 Rounds)

Pat Goodale Practical Firearm Training (PFT)

Yellowstone Rifle Club – Billings, MT

September 25-27, 2009

PFT will be offering a three day courses for hunters, which is essentially field courses adapted from Precision Rifle specifically for centerfire rifle hunters. This course provides a thorough exposure to precision/hunting rifle use, beginning with fundamentals of safety, manipulation, rifle theory, marksmanship, zeroing, firing positions, and field shooting. Most shooting is at reasonable distances (25-250 yards), however long range (300-600 yards) shooting is taught and expected. Read more

Firearms Freedom Act Website

In order to foster the Firearms Freedom Act movement, I have obtained the domain of:
http://www.firearmsfreedomact.com/

I intend this to be an information and networking point for this cascading movement.

It would be very helpful in getting this new Website to pop up on search engines if you would help propagate this link/URL on Websites and blogs wherever you hang out in the virtual world.

Thanks for whatever you can do.

Best wishes,

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

Action needed – NOW

The Associated Press reports that Montana’s Senator Max Baucus will support Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor.
http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2009/07/31/bnews/br73.txt

This notwithstanding that MSSA, the NRA, GOA and CCRKBA all oppose confirmation of Sotomayor.

There is little doubt that Sotomayor is soft on or hostile to the Second Amendment. She deliberately dodged Senator Coburn’s questions on the subject, certainly not something a nominee who respects the Second Amendment would do. A Senator from Montana who supports Sotomayor is clearly is not representing Montanans.

Max promised me that he’d turned over a new leaf on gun rights issues, and for a while it seemed as if he actually had. Apparently, Max doesn’t spend enough time in Montana to understand how strongly we feel about the right to bear arms. He also doesn’t understand that in Montana his word is supposed to be his bond.

For Max to support Sotomayor is a direct and serious disrespect of you, MSSA, and all Montana gun owners – it’s a slap in the face.

I wrote to the staffer who handles gun issues for Baucus, Heather O’Laughlin, and asked her to inform Max that MSSA opposes the Sotomayor’s confirmation. I received no response. I sent Heather another email asking her if she’d actually told Max about the MSSA opposition to Sotomayor (sometimes D.C. staffers think they run the office). Again, she didn’t respond. So, I don’t actually know if O’Laughlin told Baucus of MSSA’s opposition. If not, Max needs to find somebody new to fill that office slot.

Nevertheless, the buck stops with Max. He’s the guy who wants your vote so he can return to Washington.

I urge you to forward this email to EVERY Montana gun owner for whom you have an email address.

ALL of you, send an email to
“Heather O’Loughlin”

Copy your email to
“Max Baucus”

Tell O’Laughlin to Tell Max: NO SOTOMAYOR!

Keep sending to Baucus. Keep sending to your friends.

The Senate vote on Sotomayor will be next week.

Maybe Max will get a clue about how strongly we feel about our right to bear arms in Montana.

Thanks for your help!!

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