Montana Senator Seeks Stronger Protections for Traveling Gun Owners
Jan 13, 2020

By: Ashleigh Meyer

As it seems Second Amendment rights are being threatened all across America, a proposed Montana bill comes as a breath of fresh air.

Senator Steve Daines (R) introduced a bill in December that seeks to increase protections for gun-carrying travelers crossing state lines, ensuring that when traveling through restricted jurisdictions, lawful gun owners would not be arrested or charged with possession of a firearm without probable cause from law enforcement.

Daines’ legislation would clarify the term transport as it is used in Title 18, Section 926A of the United States Code to “more comprehensively address the interstate transportation of firearms or ammunition.” The bill would expressly protect legal gun owners who are in possession of their weapons at the time of overnight hotel stays, fuel and food stops, emergency medical treatment or vehicle repair, or any other travel incidental.

In an interview with Fox News, Daines stated:

“This is about protecting law-abiding gun owners and their constitutional right to safely transport their firearms. Montanans want their Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms protected, and that’s what I’m fighting for.”

Steve Daines, who has been serving as Montana Senator since 2015, has been a steadfast supporter of Second Amendment freedoms. And it makes sense, as Montana ranks among the highest states for per capita gun ownership. An estimated 58% of households in the state own firearms, with the majority owning at least three.

According to a 2015 study conducted by Motovo, there are more guns in Montana than there are in several nations throughout the world. Even with the staggering number of guns in Big Sky Country, violent, gun-related crime remains fairly low on a national scale.

Daines also added that the transportation of legally owned firearms, including their ammunition and magazines, is a federally protected right, and any person or state that seeks to prosecute an individual transporting a legally owned weapon is in violation of that individual’s civil rights.

Jason Ouimet, Executive Director of the NRA, showed his support for Daines’ bill, stating, “On behalf of the NRA’s five million members, we thank Senator Daines for having the legislative courage to stand and fight against local bullies who were hoping to suppress our Second Amendment rights.”

The Bill: https://www.daines.senate.gov/...dia/doc/SIL19D13.pdf

https://www.gunpowdermagazine....raveling-gun-owners/

I wonder what Tester will have to say about it.

The issue of GFSZ would be a place to start. If memory serves, the 1,000 exclusion zone currently doesn't apply to CCW licenses of that particular state. A CCW from another state isn't safe from it. I'll have to find the relevant passage in the law - at one time, I thought it would only take a few words to be changed to protect out of state CCW holders as long as that state recognized it.