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[Basil Fishbone]

----- Original Message -----
From: Gary Marbut-MSSA
Sent: Sunday, February 03, 2013 9:53 PM
Subject: MSSA Bills scheduled for hearings - a bunch of them!


Dear MSSA Friends,

A bunch of MSSA bills have been scheduled for public hearings before the House Judiciary Committee on the mornings of February 12th and 13th.  This is your chance to show up and speak in favor of these bills, or if you can't attend, to send in written or electronic messages.  All the information you need to do either of those I've posted for you at:
http://progunleaders.org/Legislative%20Process/

If you can only send in electronic messages, wait to send them until the day before or the day of the public hearing.

I have updated the info for MSSA's bills list at:
http://progunleaders.org/Bills2013

I'll paste below the list of bills up on 2/12 and 2/13.  There MAY be two other "gun bills" added to the roster on 2/12 and 2/13 - stay tuned.

If you plan to come to Helena (I sure hope you do) and you will need to stay overnight, book a motel room soon as they tend to fill up.

Also, it's looking as if we will be able to schedule our two tax-related bills before the House Taxation Committee for the morning of Thursday, February 14th.  These two include the bill to exempt shooting ranges from property tax (HB 223), and the bill to encourage the production of smokeless powder, primers and brass in Montana (no bill # yet - soon - to go to the Tax Committee because of the 20-year tax amnesty included).  NOTE:  This latter bill may be the most important, long-term gun-related bill of the 2013 session, even though we definitely have other important ones.

Best wishes,

Gary Marbut, President
Montana Shooting Sports Association
http://www.mtssa.org
Author, Gun Laws of Montana
http://www.MTPublish.com

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

HB 240, Clarify constitutional provisions and law related to board of regents/u-system
Assigned to House Judiciary, hearing 2/12, Rep. Cary Smith

HB 302, Prohibit state enforcement of any federal ban on semi-auto firearms/magazines
Assigned to House Judiciary, hearing 2/12, Rep. Kerns

HB 303, Federal law enforcement officers should communicate with sheriff (Sheriffs First)
Assigned to House Judiciary, hearing 2/12, Rep. Kerns

HB 304, Generally revise concealed weapons laws (permitless carry inside cities and towns)
Assigned to House Judiciary, hearing 2/13, Rep. Kerns

HB 358, Revising laws related to the offense of carrying a concealed weapon (dealing with “prohibited places”)
Assigned to House Judiciary, hearing 2/13, Rep. Kerns

HB 205, Eliminate prohibition on firearm sound reduction devices in the field (eliminate the last suppressor prohibition)
Assigned to House Judiciary, hearing 2/13, Rep Kerns

[Basil Fishbone]

For those who do not know, Montana's legislature meets for 90 days every other year.  So it is crunch time.

Basil

[Basil Fishbone]

----- Original Message -----
From: Gary Marbut-MSSA
Sent: Friday, February 08, 2013 10:07 PM
Subject: Game Time - a batch of pro-gun bills next week


Dear MSSA Friends,

I've heard a lot of people talking about threats to the Right to Keep and Bear Arms lately, many asking what they can do to defend their rights.

In Montana, we don't "defend" the RKBA, we "assert" the RKBA.  In the State of Washington, the legislature's House Judiciary Committee is having a "gun bills" day on Wednesday, at which the Committee will consider several ANTI-GUN bills.

This coming week in Montana, we will have THREE "gun bills" days, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday! in which two committees will consider about 12 PRO-GUN bills.

This coming week is your chance as an involved citizen to actually assert the RKBA in Montana - to make a difference.  I sure hope you will pitch in.

I have updated the list of introduced bills at:
http://progunleaders.org/Bills2013/

In addition, I hope that four of the bill drafts listed under "Coming soon" will get introduced and have public hearings this week also - stay tuned.

If you haven't figured out the Legislative Process yet, how to get involved, and how to get messages to legislators, please review the information I've assembled for you at:
http://progunleaders.org/Legislative%20Process/

I sure hope a bunch of you have already made plans to be in Helena and at the committee hearings to speak in favor of these bills.  I hope that ALL of the rest of you plan to send messages requesting support to committee members for EVERY ONE of our bills.

Its GAME TIME folks.

Thanks loads for your help.

Gary Marbut, President
Montana Shooting Sports Association
http://www.mtssa.org
Author, Gun Laws of Montana
http://www.MTPublish.com

[Basil Fishbone]

 
----- Original Message -----
From: Gary Marbut-MSSA
To: mssa@mtssa.org
Sent: Friday, February 15, 2013 3:26 PM
Subject: Good news - more


Dear MSSA Friends,

The following bills passed the House Judiciary Committee today, most on a 12/8, party-line vote:

HB 205 - Remove suppressor prohibition for hunting
HB 240 - Campus carry - deny Board of Regents power to suspend rights
HB 302 - Ban enforcement new fed gun control
HB 303 - Sheriffs First (we lost one R vote - don't know who yet)
HB 304 - Permitless carry (inside cities)
HB 358 - Remove prohibited places for CWP-holders
HB 384 - Clarify student (non)expulsion for firearm locked in vehicle
HB 446 - Revising the crime of Disorderly Conduct (to NOT include "firing firearms") (we gained two D votes - don't know who yet)

These bills will soon be coming to the House floor for Second Reading for debate, possible amendment and vote.  On the day before and the morning of Second Reading for each of these bills, we need to be prepared to flood all House members (Representatives) with messages asking for their support.

HB 223, to exempt non-profit shooting ranges from property tax is still in the House Taxation Committee awaiting executive action.
HB 468, to encourage the production of smokeless powder, primers and brass in Montana, is scheduled for public hearing before the House Taxation Committee for next Thursday, 2/21 (NOTE:  This may be MSSA's bill with the most far-reaching import for this session.  Plan to be there if you can.)
HB 459, to prohibit refusal of medical treatment to a person who declines to provide firearm information, is scheduled for a public hearing before the House Judiciary Committee on next Tuesday, 4/19.
SB 145, to make CWP info private, has passed the Senate and has been sent to the House.

Stay tuned for more ...

Gary Marbut, President
Montana Shooting Sports Association
http://www.mtssa.org
Author, Gun Laws of Montana
http://www.MTPublish.com

[Basil Fishbone]

 
----- Original Message -----
From: Gary Marbut-MSSA
To: mssa@mtssa.org
Sent: Friday, February 15, 2013 3:26 PM
Subject: Good news - more


Dear MSSA Friends,

The following bills passed the House Judiciary Committee today, most on a 12/8, party-line vote:

HB 205 - Remove suppressor prohibition for hunting
HB 240 - Campus carry - deny Board of Regents power to suspend rights
HB 302 - Ban enforcement new fed gun control
HB 303 - Sheriffs First (we lost one R vote - don't know who yet)
HB 304 - Permitless carry (inside cities)
HB 358 - Remove prohibited places for CWP-holders
HB 384 - Clarify student (non)expulsion for firearm locked in vehicle
HB 446 - Revising the crime of Disorderly Conduct (to NOT include "firing firearms") (we gained two D votes - don't know who yet)

These bills will soon be coming to the House floor for Second Reading for debate, possible amendment and vote.  On the day before and the morning of Second Reading for each of these bills, we need to be prepared to flood all House members (Representatives) with messages asking for their support.

HB 223, to exempt non-profit shooting ranges from property tax is still in the House Taxation Committee awaiting executive action.
HB 468, to encourage the production of smokeless powder, primers and brass in Montana, is scheduled for public hearing before the House Taxation Committee for next Thursday, 2/21 (NOTE:  This may be MSSA's bill with the most far-reaching import for this session.  Plan to be there if you can.)
HB 459, to prohibit refusal of medical treatment to a person who declines to provide firearm information, is scheduled for a public hearing before the House Judiciary Committee on next Tuesday, 4/19.
SB 145, to make CWP info private, has passed the Senate and has been sent to the House.

Stay tuned for more ...

Gary Marbut, President
Montana Shooting Sports Association
http://www.mtssa.org
Author, Gun Laws of Montana
http://www.MTPublish.com

[Moonbeam]

Thanks for the continual updates, Basil.

[Basil Fishbone]

Dear MSSA Friends,

Time to crank up the emails, messages, phones and faxes.

Two important bills are up for Second Reading before the Montana House tomorrow (Friday, 2/21):

HB 240 University system may not deny constitutional rights (campus carry)
HB 358 Exempting CWP-holders from "prohibited places"

PLEASE get messages (email, legislative message form, phone, fax) to all the House members you can in support of these bills.  Your message should be very short, something like, "Please support HBXXX.  It is supported by the NRA and MSSA (and in the case of HB 240, for Republicans, is in the Party Platform)."

This is crunch time for these two bills.

MSSA's bill to encourage the manufacture of smokeless powder, primers and cartridge brass (HB 468) had a hearing before the House Taxation Committee today.  Mixed reviews.  The most key person in this Committee may be Rep. Kelly Flynn (R-Townsend).  It would be VERY helpful to get messages to the House Tax Committee members (especially Flynn) asking them to support HB 468.

I flubbed one.  I didn't get notified and missed that there were four of our gun bills up on the House floor for Second Reading today.  Fortunately, they all passed.  the bills and votes were:

HB 205 - Suppressors 62/38
HB 302 - Prohibit local enforcement of new fed gun control 55/44
HB 304 - Permitless carry 60/40
HB 446 - Fixing Disorderly Conduct ("firing firearms") 61/38

Plus, I was able to pull a rabbit out of a hat today to get our "Safe travel to work" bill introduced, now HB 571.  This bill clarifies that an employee's property right in his or her vehicle prevents an employer from making it a termination offense for the employee to have a firearm locked in the employee's vehicle in the employer's parking lot.  There will be a public hearing on HB 571, probably before the House Judiciary Committee, probably on next Monday.  Stay tuned on this ...

We are near the legislative "transmittal" date, February 29th, the date by which all House bills must be transmitted to the Senate, and Senate bills to the House.  Any bills which don't make "Transmittal" are lost.  There is a later deadline for tax and revenue measures.  So, we have a little time to try to resurrect our bill to exempt shooting ranges from property tax (HB 223), and to work the powder/primer manufacturing bill (HB 468).

PLEASE contact House members about HB 240 and HB 358, up for Second Reading tomorrow.  Also, please contact House Tax Committee members about HB 468, the bill to encourage the manufacture of ammunition components in Montana.

Thanks loads,

Gary Marbut, President
Montana Shooting Sports Association
http://www.mtssa.org
Author, Gun Laws of Montana
http://www.MTPublish.com

[Basil Fishbone]

  ----- Original Message -----
From: Gary Marbut-MSSA
To: mssa@mtssa.org
Sent: Saturday, February 23, 2013 7:17 PM
Subject: Current bills status


Dear MSSA Friends,

Here is a wrap of where we are to date with various bills.  Note that Transmittal is on 2/28, the date by which all House bills must be passed to the Senate, and visa versa, or the bills are dead.  There are exceptions to Transmittal (a later date) for tax/revenue bills and for referenda.

HB 358 – Prohibited places.  Our efforts to swing votes for a reconsideration on the House floor today were NOT successful.  HB 358 is almost certainly dead for this session.

HB 205 – Eliminate prohibitions on suppressors.  Passed House and transmitted to Senate.

HB 223 – Property tax exemption for shooting ranges.  Tabled in House Taxation Committee.  (We're trying to figure out how to resurrect HB 223.  Since it's a tax bill, it's subject to a later Transmittal deadline.)

HB 240 – University system cannot deny constitutional rights (campus carry).  Passed House and transmitted to Senate.

HB 302 – Prohibit local enforcement of new federal gun control.  Passed House and transmitted to Senate.

HB 303 – Sheriffs First.  Passed committee.  No House floor action scheduled (this is a referendum so it has a later Transmittal deadline – and it won't have to go to the Governor, but will go to a vote of the people if approved by the Senate).

HB 304 – Permitless carry (inside cities).  Passed House and transmitted to Senate.

HB 384 – Clarifying student expulsion over guns.  Failed 49-51 on House Second Reading today.

HB 446 – Revise definition of Disorderly conduct (not “firing firearms”).  Passed House and Transmitted to Senate.

HB 468 – Encourage manufacture of powder, primers and brass.  Awaiting action in the House Taxation Committee (I've submitted amendments to cure some perceived defects and bring along some reluctant Representatives.  HB 468 is subject to a later Transmittal date since it is classified as a tax bill.)

HB 459 – Medical privacy for gun owners.  Awaiting House floor action on Second Reading pending Transmittal on 2/28.

HB 571 – Safe travel to work.  Awaiting public committee hearing.  (HB 571 is written as a referendum so it has a later Transmittal date.)

SB 145 – CWP information confidential.  Passed Senate and Transmitted to House.

Gary Marbut, President
Montana Shooting Sports Association
http://www.mtssa.org
Author, Gun Laws of Montana
http://www.MTPublish.com

[Basil Fishbone]

There is the final third reading coming up, but it is usually a formality.

Folks,

HB 459, to revise privacy laws related to medical treatment and firearms (you cannot be denied medical treatment because you refuse to answer questions about firearms) passed House Second Reading today with a vote of 68-32.  If we get a similar vote in the Senate, HB 459 will be veto-proof.
 
--------------------
 
HB 384 is MSSA's bill to clarify that schools are not REQUIRED to expel a student for a year if the student should innocently forget to remove a hunting rifle from a vehicle before parking in the school parking lot.

HB 384 was amended on the House floor on Second Reading by a vote of 99-1, and then passed Second Reading by 55-45.


Gary Marbut, President
Montana Shooting Sports Association
http://www.mtssa.org
Author, Gun Laws of Montana
http://www.MTPublish.com



 

[Basil Fishbone]

Dear MSSA Friends,

Two bills are scheduled for public hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, March 6th.  They are:

HB 205, suppressors - remove existing state restrictions, and

HB 302, to prohibit Montana and local officials from enforcing any new federal gun control enacted after 1/1/2013.

The Senate Judiciary Committee meets at 8 AM in room 303 of the State Capitol.

Also, the House Judiciary Committee will have a public hearing on SB 145 on Thursday, March 7th.  SB 145 is the bill to make concealed weapon permit information confidential.  House Judiciary meets at 8 AM in Room 137 of the State Capitol.

To review the legislative process, how to communicate with legislators, and how to testify before committees, please review the information I have posted for you at:
http://progunleaders.org/Legislative%20Process/

Get your comments in to legislators the day before or the day of the public hearing, or show up and be counted.

Thanks,

Gary Marbut, President
Montana Shooting Sports Association
http://www.mtssa.org
Author, Gun Laws of Montana
http://www.MTPublish.com

[Basil Fishbone]

From: Gary Marbut-MSSA
To: mssa@mtssa.org
Sent: Thursday, March 07, 2013 9:24 AM
Subject: Bills update - Action items


Dear MSSA Friends,

As the second half of the legislative session begins, much of the action on MSSA bills will move to the Senate, since MSSA chose to start most of our bills in the House.

For general information, I have just updated the status of all MSSA bills at:
http://progunleaders.org/Bills2013/

Action is needed on some MSSA bills right now.  Here are the bills at issue right now:

SB 145, Require all information on a concealed weapon permit application confidential
Hearing, House Judiciary 3/7, Sen. Eric Moore

HB 205, Eliminate prohibition on firearm sound reduction devices in the field
Hearing Senate Judiciary, 3/6, Rep Kerns

HB 302, Prohibit state enforcement of any federal ban on semi-auto firearms/magazines
Hearing Senate Judiciary, 3/6, Rep. Kerns

HB 466, Revise offense of disorderly conduct (“firing firearms” is NOT a crime)
Hearing Senate Local Government, 3/8, Rep Schwaderer

Please get messages to House Judiciary Committee members to support SB 145.

Get messages to Senate Judiciary Committee members to support HB 205 and HB 302.

Get messages to Senate Local Government Committee members to support HB 446.

Do all ASAP.  If these bills die in committee for lack of support, they are dead.

If you've forgotten how to get messages to committee members, see:
http://progunleaders.org/Legislative%20Process/

Thanks loads for your ongoing help!

Gary Marbut, President
Montana Shooting Sports Association
http://www.mtssa.org
Author, Gun Laws of Montana
http://www.MTPublish.com

[Basil Fishbone]

----- Original Message -----
From: Gary Marbut-MSSA
To: mssa@mtssa.org
Sent: Monday, March 11, 2013 7:51 PM
Subject: Legislative update - 03/11/2013


Dear MSSA Friends,

Here's what's coming up immediately or soon.  Please stay on top of this stuff - we're on the third of four laps.

Immediate:

SB 145, Require all information on a concealed weapon permit application confidential; passed House Judiciary 3/8, Scheduled for House Second Reading 3/12.  Contact House members in support of this bill.

HB 302, Prohibit state enforcement of any federal ban on semi-auto firearms/magazines; amended and passed by Senate Judiciary 3/7. Scheduled for Senate Second Reading 3/12.  Get messages to senators no later than 1 PM on 3/12 to support this bill.

HB 205, Eliminate prohibition on firearm sound reduction devices in the field; passed Senate Judiciary 3/7, scheduled for Senate Second Reading 3/12.  Get messages to senators no later than 1 PM on 3/12 to support this bill.

HB 446, Revise offense of disorderly conduct (“firing firearms” is NOT a crime); Hearing Senate Local Government, 3/8.  Get messages to the members of the Senate Local Government Committee if you want this bill to pass.

Soon:

HB 240, Clarify constitutional provisions and law related to board of regents/u-system (includes Campus Carry); Hearing Senate Education Committee 3/18, 3PM.  Be prepared to show up or get messages in to Senate Education Committee members in support of this bill.

HB 304, Generally revise concealed weapons laws (permitless carry inside cities and towns); referred to Senate Judiciary (hearing expected 3/18, 8AM).

HB 459, Revise privacy laws related to medical treatment and firearms (medical providers may not refuse service if patients refuse to answer gun questions); Assigned to Senate Judiciary (hearing expected 3/18, 8AM).

I've just updated our total bills list at:
http://progunleaders.org/bills2013

Gary Marbut, President
Montana Shooting Sports Association
http://www.mtssa.org
Author, Gun Laws of Montana
http://www.MTPublish.com

[Basil Fishbone]

Dear MSSA Friends,

Yesterday (Friday) Governor Bullock vetoed HB 304, MSSA's permitless carry (or repeal coat control) bill.  No veto message available yet.

HB 240 (university authority - campus carry) will have a vote in the House on Monday about whether of not to concur with (bad) Senate amendments.  We want the House to NOT concur with Senate amendments so HB will go to a conference committee to fix the bad Senate amendments.

HB 446 (fixing disorderly conduct - eliminating "discharging firearms" as a crime) has passed House and Senate and has been transmitted to the Governor.  You should contact the Governor (444-3111 or governor@mt.gov) and ask him to support HB 446.  HB 446 got a barely veto-proof majority in House and Senate, although Governor Bullock could veto it anyway just to force a veto override vote (he might win that if the Dems go into lock to protect the Governor).  When you contact the Governor, you might mention that any law that is violated tens of thousands of times each year with no enforcement only breeds disrespect for the law.  Plus, any law that depends entirely on selective enforcement for its administration is very bad public policy.

HB 459 (medical privacy for gun owners) has passed House and Senate and has been transmitted to the Governor.  You should contact the Governor (444-3111 or governor@mt.gov) and ask him to support HB 459.  HB 459 got a little stronger veto-proof majority in House and Senate.  When you contact the Governor, you might say that you don't want information about your gun ownership recorded in electronic medical files that are widely shared (New York just used widespread invasion of electronic medical files to identify gun owners and force them to disarm or suffer criminal penalties under NY's new gun control laws).

House Resolution 5 (encouraging firearms manufacturers in states with oppressive gun laws to "Come to Montana") has passed the House.  It is a done deal.

Senate Resolution 34 (encouraging firearms manufacturers in states with oppressive gun laws to "Come to Montana") has passed the Senate.  It is a done deal.

SB 133 has been our stealth prohibited places bill.  Originally, it was a bill intended to allow investigators for the public defender system to carry firearms.  However, it was so poorly drafted that it actually made no effective change in Montana law at all.  I informed the sponsor (Senator Rosendale) of this problem, but he chose to run with the bill as-was anyway.  So, when it came to the House, it was amended to allow anyone with a CWP to use the CWP in one of the "prohibited places" in 45-8-328 (bars, banks and public buildings).  The Senate did not concur with House amendments, so SB 133 has been assigned to a conference committee (three members from the Senate and three members from the House) to try to develop a bill that both the House and Senate can accept.  Appointed from the Senate were Sen. Ripley, Chair; Sen. Rosendale and Sen Driscoll.  Appointed from the House were Rep. Wagoner, Rep. J. Bennett, and Rep. MacDonald.  Driscoll from the Senate and MacDonald from the House are both Democrats and both virulently anti-gun.  However, they likely won't matter.  The fate of SB 133 will be in the hands of the four Republicans, Ripley and Rosendale from the Senate, and Wagoner and Bennett from the House.  If you want SB 133 to come out of the conference committee in good form and you wish to contact these legislators, your message should be to leave SB 133 in its House-passed form.

HB 205, MSSA's suppressor bill, is still languishing in the Senate, awaiting delayed Second Reading action.  Senator Chas Vincent is carrying HB 205 in the Senate, and is trying to get senators and people from the Governor's office to attend local shooting range exercises demonstrating just what suppressors do, and don't do.  The Legislature only has two weeks left, and I don't know when HB 205 will move in the Senate.  FWP has put out the word to ranchers that if HB 205 is passed, all of the ranchers' livestock will be killed silently by criminal hunters with suppressed firearms and they won't learn about that until they discover all the bodies in the pasture (FWP's active disinformation campaign), so legislators from the ag community are leery about HB 205.

That's all for now.  Get messages in on the active bills.

Gary Marbut, President
Montana Shooting Sports Association
http://www.mtssa.org
Author, Gun Laws of Montana
http://www.MTPublish.com