Location, MSSA Annual Meeting; 3/6

The MSSA Annual Meeting will be held in Helena, Saturday, March 6th, in the meeting room of the Montana Historical Society (MHS). The MHS is across the street from the State Capitol building, the block immediately North of (downhill from) the Capitol, on the East end of that block. There is a parking lot just across the street to the East from the MHS building, between the MHS and the FWP headquarters building.

In case you haven’t been there before, the State Capitol is on the East end of Helena, only about five blocks West of I-15, and about three blocks South (uphill) from the main east/west thoroughfare through Helena.

Although the MSSA Annual Meeting starts officially at 10 AM, the very friendly MHS invites you to come at 9AM to look at its historical display. MHS may assemble a special display of historical and antique firearms specially for the MSSA meeting.

At Noon we will break for lunch, to reassemble at 1:30. The Meeting should be over by 4 PM.

Best wishes,

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

MSSA – 2009 in review – Join MSSA

In previous MSSA Annual Meetings, we’ve spent a lot of time going over an Annual Report of what MSSA has accomplished and been involved in during the past year.

To avoid that consumption of time at the Annual Meeting, I have written about MSSA 2009 activities and have posted that at:
http://www.marbut.com/mssa2009/

Please review this if you are curious about what MSSA has been doing for Montana gun owners and hunters in the past year.

MSSA membership. Many Montana gun owners and hunters are receiving the benefits of MSSA’s work, but are not members of MSSA. MSSA has the national reputation for being the most effective state-level pro-gun organization in the U.S., perhaps in the World. In the past 25 years, MSSA has gotten 54 pro-gun and pro-hunting bills through the Montana Legislature, all supporting your RKBA and the right to hunt in Montana. See some of our successes HERE.

MSSA membership is a GREAT investment. And, we are only as strong as our membership. If you are NOT a member, you should join. Join today!

You can download a mailable membership form from:
http://www.mtssa.org/membership.phtml

We’re working for you. Help us out with your support by becoming a member!

Best wishes,

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

Help needed – research

Dear MSSA Friends,

There is a small group of MSSA e-list members who’ve formerly volunteered to help me with research when needed.

My current need for research assistance is beyond the ability of the current small research group. Many of them appear to be busy with other stuff.

If you are reasonably computer savvy, can navigate the Internet and are willing to help, shoot me an email and I’ll respond with the details of the research project. It can be done in manageable pieces.

FYI, this has to do with our litigation over the Firearms Freedom Act.

Thanks loads,

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

MT. To Celebrate “Right To Keep And Bear Arms” Week Beginning March 1st.

*Editor’s Note* Below is an email message I received from Gary Marbut, President of the Montana Shooting Sports Association. It is a reminder to members of MSSA that beginning on March 1, 2010 will be the start of the Right to Keep and Bear Arms Week. As a bonus, Marbut included a short recap of how the RKBA Week evolved.

Celebrate!!

In 1991 MSSA got a bill passed setting aside the first week of March as the official week in Montana to celebrate our cherished Right to Keep and Bear Arms.

Here’s what the Montana law actually says: Read more

Lead shot ban narrowly defeated – report

You may have read or heard that the FWP Commission turned back the FWP Department’s proposed lead shot ban for upland game bird hunting on a narrow 3-2 vote.

The Missoulian/Lee Bureau story is located HERE.

From the story: “Fish, Wildlife and Parks Director Joe Maurier suggested looking at such a ban in certain areas in Montana after returning from a conference of wildlife managers.” Read more

MSSA Annual Meeting – March 6, Helena

Dear MSSA Friends,

The MSSA Bylaws require its Annual Meeting to be in Helena on the First Saturday in March of each year, March 6th this year.

This is the only physical meeting MSSA holds each year. It’s always been our policy to minimize statewide meetings because Montana is such a large place and it can be a burden on folks to travel to get together in one place.

We’re still working on the exact location of the Annual Meeting in Helena, but it will convene at 10 AM, we’ll take a break for lunch, and we should be done by 4 PM.

I will get out an additional announcement once we’ve nailed down the Meeting location in Helena.

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

Head Of Montana Shooting Sports Association Proposes Manufacture Of Youth Rifle

Gary Marbut, President of the Montana Shooting Sports Association and lone plaintiff in MSSA v. Holder, has proposed the manufacture of a youth .22 caliber rifle if the Montana Firearms Freedom Act actually becomes laws. It will be called the Montana Buckaroo.

The Montana Firearms Freedom Act was actually signed into law by Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer last year. The law states that any firearm or firearm accessory that is manufactured in Montana and is sold in Montana cannot be regulated by the Federal Government. Marbut’s proposed manufacturing of this youth rifle would fall under the rules of such a law. Read more

Classes upcoming in Bozeman area

FYI, from Steve Jaegers -

Hey Shooters!!
We have worked out a deal with Suarez International Training to come up to Montana to teach some of their gun fighting classes. The classes are being held at a private range just west of Three Forks in April, May and July. As you may know, the greatest expense in taking a top level training class is not the tuition or ammo costs, it’s the travel and lodging. By bringing them here to Montana we reduce the amount of time away from work, and the travel and lodging expenses.

The range has 1000+ yards available and plenty of room to run and move. If we can get these classes populated with at least 10 people, we can expect Suarez to make this a regular stop, and more advanced classes will find their way here. You will be allowed to camp on the range if you’d like. There is a porta potty on site and Three Forks is only a few miles down the road.

I have asked Gary if he would forward this to the MTSSA membership, and he has graciously agreed. We are a relatively small but active group of shooters who actually seek to better themselves with regular training, competition and testing our equipment Over the last 2-3 years I have worked hard to develop a relationship with Suarez International.

Suarez is a fight based gun training company that pushes the boundaries and tests the old square range theories on gun fighting. Thru these tests they have discovered that many of the “modern technique” dogmas are not only ineffective in a gunfight, but can get you killed!! Far from a diploma mill that treats students like cattle in their quest for dollars, SI seeks to develop a relationship with its students where each has something to teach the other. Their discussion forums can be found at http://www.warriortalk.com/ . Take some time to read thru some of the pinned topics and browse around.

I have high hope for all of you, and the future of classes coming to Bozeman of this caliber really depends on you to a large degree. Tell your buddies about this, even if you can only get one to show up, that is a huge victory. Here is the class info on the three classes we have scheduled for 2010 so far.

SW Montana upcoming classes.
April 24-25. Close Range Gunfighting < http://www.suarezinternationalstore.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=826 >
May 1-2. AK Rifle Gunfighting < http://www.suarezinternationalstore.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=827 >
July 17-18. Point shooting Progressions < http://www.suarezinternationalstore.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=840 >

CRG= Close range gunfighting. Covers conflicts at close ranges with the pistol. we will explore dynamic movement and aggressive close range techniques

PSP= Point shooting progressions. Roger Philips is about the only person in the country who has taken the old point shooting techniques and moved them into the modern age, added movement and the typical Suarez flair for busting the modern technique myths and inserting fight reality.

AK Rifle Gunfighting class will teach you to run the AK like it was intended. With techniques pulled from the Russian spetznaz and the Russian martial art, you’ll leave with a much greater appreciation of the abilities of the AK and no longer see it as an awkward implement for the conscript. Even if you do not have an AK, this class will teach you valuable skills to fight with a rifle. Bring your SKS or AR if you want!!

Here’s the full Suarez schedule… http://www.suarezinternational.com/tech.html

I am acting as the host for these classes, so if you need any information, then please let me know. All classes are being held at the Samuel Whitamore private range just west and south of Three Forks MT. I look forward to seeing you at the shoots. Get signed up ASAP as the classes will get canceled if there is not enough participation. Ill let you know if we get anything else scheduled.

If you need any ammo. I am a stocking dealer for Hunting Shack, and may have what you need in stock. Just call me or check out the web store at www.performanceammo.com

NOTE: if you cant get paid up in full then call the office directly and get them a deposit to reserve your spot. You will have up until 30 days prior to the actual shoot to get paid in full. Gabe is really good about this, and Us 1%ers need to get all the training we can now while we still can.

Thanks
Steve Jaegers
406-539-9667