MT - HB 228 - Self Defense Bill Signed By Our Governor S.!

[Catherine]

Sender: Gary Marbut-MSSA <mssa@mtssa.org>
Subject: OK, break out the champagne
Date: Tue, 28 Apr 2009 13:34:51 -0600
To: mssa@mtssa.org

Dear MSSA Friends,

It's confirmed. The Governor signed HB 228, our Self Defense bill, this morning. The fat lady has sung, and it's time to celebrate.

http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/2009/billhtml/HB0228.htm

There are a lot of people to thank for the passage of HB 228.

First, thanks to all of YOU for your staunch support. Thanks for traveling to Helena to testify, and thanks for the avalanche of messages to committee members and other legislators. Legislators report that they received more messages in support of HB 228 than for ANY other bill, ever. YOU made a difference!!

Second, thanks to sponsor Rep. Krayton Kerns (R-Billings) for doing a great job of carrying the bill. He invested a LOT of effort in HB 228.

Third, thanks to the NRA for (finally) supporting this landmark legislation. The NRA was fully onboard and fully engaged this session, especially the NRA State Liaison for Montana, Brian Judy who has long been a friend to Montana gun owners, even when the NRA in D.C. was hanging back.

Fourth, thanks to Rep. Deb Kottel (D-Great Falls) for her heroic support of HB 228, in both the House and Senate. Deb's support made a LOT of difference and showed some other Democrats that HB 228 was NOT a partisan, party-line issue, but a "people" issue.

Fifth, thanks to all those other legislators who enthusiastically supported HB 228 and never wavered on the principles involved.

Sixth, thanks to those brave law enforcement professionals who bucked the current and came out publicly in favor of HB 228

Finally, thanks to Governor Schweitzer for signing HB 228, both for doing what he promised in MSSA's Candidate Questionnaire, AND for being a true Montanan by supporting HB 228.

It wouldn't be amiss for every one on this list to send a one-line email to Rep. Kerns and Rep. Kottel thanking them for their valiant support of HB 228.
"Krayton Kerns" <drkerns@rbbmt.org>
"Deborah J. Kottel" <Debk@cccsmt.org>

Put "Thanks for HB 228" in the Subject line.

BTW, thumbs down for the few law enforcement administrators and prosecutors who are so afraid of armed citizens that they lied and claimed end-of-life-on-Earth in opposing HB 228. You need to work locally to replace these people. They just don't have a Montana attitude.

Whew!! I think it's time now to go burn some powder (if there's any available).

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