#MTGov Daily Rundown: Bullock is No Friend of Gun Owners

Last week, three pro-2nd Amendment groups touted their endorsement of Greg Gianforte in Helena and criticized Governor Bullock for his anti-2nd Amendment record.

"Gianforte and John Velleco, chief operating officer of the Gun Owners of America, also chastised Bullock for vetoing a pair of bills last year: One that would have allowed any legal gun owner in Montana to carry a concealed weapon without a state permit and another that would have barred state or local officials from enforcing any new federal firearms bans.

'(Gov. Bullock) just doesn’t seem to trust the people with their firearms,' Velleco said." -MTN News, 9/132016


Gianforte, meanwhile, is a staunch defender of the 2nd Amendment.

"'The 2^nd Amendment is very clear: It says our right to bear arms shall not be infringed,' he told reporters gathered at the Helena Trap Club. 'I will defend that constitutional right when I’m elected.'” -MTN News, 9/13/2016


Governor Bullock quietly amassed his own anti-2nd Amendment track record. During his tenure, the governor has vetoed multiple bills that would have enhanced the right of Montanans to keep and bear arms.

"The Senate also passed a measure to prohibit local law enforcement from assisting in the enforcement of future federal gun laws. Both bills passed on party-line votes.

They face another vote Thursday before heading to Governor Bullock, who vetoed similar legislation in the 2013 session." -MTN News, 3/11/2015

"Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock on Friday vetoed a pair of Republican-sponsored gun rights bills, including one that would allow almost any adult to carry a concealed weapon in Montana without a permit." -Missoulian, 3/27/2015


One of those bills would have pushed back against President Obama's unconstitutional executive overreach on guns. Bullock vetoed the bill. However, AFTER Obama actually issued an executive order on guns, Bullock criticized the decision.

"Bullock also vetoed HB203, which would prohibit any state or local officials in Montana from enforcing any future federal restrictions on gun or weapon magazine ownership." -Missoulian 3/27/2015

"But this discussion is too important for the President to circumvent Congress with the stroke of a pen.” -Billings Gazette, 1/5/2016