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Efforts to bring concealed carry to college campuses in Montana was shot down on Tuesday when nine moderate Republicans and one conservative voted along with House Democrats to reject Senate Bill 143.
Following the announcement, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America applauded the defeat of what’s been called the ‘guns-on-campus’ bill.
“Today our leaders in the House stood up for the safety of all of Montana’s students. Montana’s colleges and universities know what’s best when it comes to protecting our students and educators, and now they can keep making critical public safety decisions that best fit their unique campuses,” said Pamela Owen, a volunteer with the Montana chapter of Moms Demand Action, in a Tuesday press release.
“As a parent, sending a child off to college comes with enough safety concerns. Worrying about whether students in our children’s classes are carrying guns shouldn’t be one of those concerns,” Owen continued. “We applaud our elected officials in the House for standing on the side of public safety and rejecting this dangerous piece of legislation.”
However, supporters of the legislation like House Speaker Austin Knudsen feel that the Second Amendment extends beyond the home and to any place that a person has a lawful right to be.
“Your constitutional right to defend yourself does not end at a college campus,” the Republican lawmaker said. “It should not end at a college campus.”
While the battle may be lost, the war is not yet over. Whether it’s later this week, this year or even next year, expect the pro-gun faction of Montana’s legislature to continue the fight to bring concealed carry to college campuses and universities.