#MTGov Daily Rundown: Montana 2nd Amendment Activist Slams Bullock for Misleading Castle Doctrine Claim

Gary Marbut, President of the Montana Shooting Sports Association took Governor Steve Bullock to task yesterday for taking credit for Montana's Castle Doctrine law in Monday Night's gubernatorial debate.

“I’ve worked with the Legislature to make sure that you can protect your home and your property by passing the castle doctrine," Bullock said Monday Night.

Marbut, who championed the 2009 law that clarified Montana's Castle Doctrine provisions, called this assertion "flat wrong" and "sleazy." He noted that Montana has essentially had a Castle Doctrine policy since 1865 and that the 2009 law came about before Bullock was governor.

Gary Marbut, author of Gun Laws of Montana commented, “Bullock’s statement is flat wrong. Montana’s castle doctrine law, ‘Defense of an occupied structure,’ has been on the Montana law books since the Bannack Statutes of Montana territorial days, about 1865. That existing law was most recently clarified in 2009 in a bill signed by Governor Schweitzer, before Bullock was Governor.”

“It’s pretty sleazy,” Marbut continued, “for Bullock to claim credit for a law that was enacted just after the Civil War, long before he was born." -Ammoland, 9/21/2016


Marbut also noted that Bullock's claims that he supports the 2nd Amendment are not backed up by his record.

“'Bullock’s multiple vetoes of pro-gun bills passed by the Legislature and his false claim of credit for a law enacted before his parents were born paint an accurate picture of Bullock’s true disrespect for the right to keep and bear arms,' Marbut said." -Ammoland, 9/21/2016

Governor Bullock has quietly amassed an 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

Earlier this month, 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