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Montanans Behave
Date sent: Thu, 11 Oct 2001 10:47:06
-0600
To: mssa@mtssa.org
From: Gary Marbut/MSSA/TOS <mssa@mtssa.org>
Subject: Letter to the Chronicle
Editor
Bozeman Daily Chronicle
citydesk@gomontana.com
P.O. Box 1188
Bozeman, MT 59771
Dear Sirs,
The Chronicle published a letter by Kent Madin on 10/11, making light of the
prerogative of people to provide for their own personal protection, and criticizing
Bozeman-area Senator Jack Wells for his good efforts to empower people to protect
themselves.
It is worth noting that 34 of 50 U.S. states now have the "shall-issue"
type of concealed weapon permit (CWP) laws that Montana adopted in 1991. The
history in states with these laws is that the people with CWPs have even fewer
misadventures with firearms than do people like Madin who don't have CWPs (and
who presumably don't carry guns legally).
Further, Montana is the only state wherein the law prevents CWP-holders from
exercising their permits in some specified public places, a condition foisted
on Montanans by a bit of legislative chicanery in 1991. In all those other states
which do not prohibit CWP-holders from exercising their permits in the public
places limited by Montana law, there is no evidence whatsoever of permit misuse
by permittees in these types of places. Madin's assumption is that Montana citizens
are somehow less trustworthy, less able or less sane than the citizens of other
states. I disagree with that assumption. With few exceptions, I trust Montanans
to behave well.
Madin also facetiously suggests that otherwise trustworthy people with CWPs
should be allowed to fly armed on commercial aircraft to prevent terrorism.
Actually, this is a great idea. The counter is that these CWP-holders who have
proven themselves to be ultimately trustworthy on the ground must suddenly become
maniacs or accident-prone just because they step onto an airplane. Maybe Madin
projects such instability onto others because of his own personality, but I
assure you that most Montana citizens are more stable, and don't suffer sudden
personality changes just because they board an airplane.
Sincerely yours,
Gary Marbut, president
Montana Shooting Sports Association
P.O. Box 4924
Missoula, Montana 59806
406-549-1252
Note: MSSA is the primary political-action organization for gun owners in Montana,
and achieves passage of pro-gun legislation in each session of the Montana Legislature
(see "Successes" at www.mtssa.org). Marbut is also past president
of the Montana Rifle and Pistol Association, a past member of the Board of Directors
of Gun Owners of America, a longtime and current officer of the Western Montana
Fish and Game Association (Montana's oldest organization of sportsmen and women
- founded in 1911), and vice-chairman of the Governor's Advisory Council for
Concealed Weapon Permits.
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