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Less than a week after Utah became the 17th state to adopt constitutional or permitless concealed carry, Montana became the 18th. Thanks again to Rob Vance, we have the picture showing the growth of freedom.
Gov. Greg Gianforte (R-MT) signed House Bill 102 on Thursday, February 18th. The bill extended permitless carry to incorporated towns and cities within Montana.
Gov. Gianforte said at the signing ceremony, according to the Montana Free Press:
“Our Second Amendment is very clear: The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed,” Gianforte said at a bill signing ceremony Thursday afternoon. “Every law-abiding Montanan should be able to defend themselves and their loved ones.”
The exceptions contained in the bill include secure police facilities, Federal buildings, courtrooms, and K-12 schools. Note that universities are not included in that list.
Additionally, the measure forbids the state university system from restricting firearm possession on campuses beyond requiring gun owners to have safety training akin to a hunter’s education course and safety measures such as requiring that firearms be transported in cases and stored with gun locks. The university system will also be allowed to forbid gun possession by students who have been formally disciplined for substance abuse or “interpersonal violence,” and prohibit possession by attendees at football games and other events that are supervised by armed security guards.
The university’s Board of Regents are reportedly studying the bill to see whether they plan to challenge it insofar as it applies to universities. However, as the governor’s press secretary said, ““The Board of Regents has the authority to oversee and manage the university system, but it does not have the authority to take away Montanans’ constitutional rights.”
If things continue along the path they are on, Tennessee may become the 19th state to adopt permitless carry. That would be very significant as it would add 6.8 million more citizens not having to ask government permission to exercise their right to bear arms.