By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Concealed RepublicanConcealed Republican
  • Home
  • Latest News
  • Guns
  • Politics
  • Videos
Reading: Montana Bill Expanding Shooting Sports Opportunities Draws More Debate Than You Might Expect
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Font ResizerAa
Concealed RepublicanConcealed Republican
  • News
  • Guns
  • Politics
  • Videos
  • Home
  • Latest News
  • Guns
  • Politics
  • Videos
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • Advertise
  • Advertise
© 2022 Foxiz News Network. Ruby Design Company. All Rights Reserved.
Concealed Republican > Blog > News > Montana Bill Expanding Shooting Sports Opportunities Draws More Debate Than You Might Expect
News

Montana Bill Expanding Shooting Sports Opportunities Draws More Debate Than You Might Expect

Jim Taft
Last updated: April 6, 2025 4:47 pm
By Jim Taft 5 Min Read
Share
Montana Bill Expanding Shooting Sports Opportunities Draws More Debate Than You Might Expect
SHARE

Montana is most definitely Second Amendment-friendly territory, so the big debate over the language in HB 899 wasn’t about whether or not the state should spend taxpayer dollars to increase access to a public range. 

Instead, the back-and-forth between lawmakers and those testifying about the bill during last Thursday’s meeting of the House Business and Labor Committee was about how best to accomplish that goal. 

Originally the bill established a State Shooting Complex Development and Oversight Task Force, which, as the title suggests, envisions the creation of one large shooting sports facility somewhere in the state. But critics of the plan argue that Montanans would be better off with using the money to build more ranges around the state; smaller in scope, to be sure, but providing additional access points for gun owners to safely train with their firearms without having to drive for several hours. 

“Please use the money that we provide, at least a portion of it to build more ranges or perhaps improve those you have. Investing in the future of hunting and shooting sports is why we pay the money,” said Nephi Cole, Firearm Industry Trade Association of America director of government and state affairs.

“What Montana needs is a safe and simple place for people to shoot all over the state and not one central shooting complex. It’s going to be hours and hours away from Montana gun owners,” said Gary Marbut, Montana Shooting Sports Association president.

It appears those concerns were heard loud and clear by committee members, because HB 899 no longer refers to a shooting complex, except in one paragraph that directs members of the task force to “review all shooting facilities in the region and develop preliminary specifications, plans, and features for the Montana state shooting complex.”

Everywhere other mention of a “state shooting complex” in the bill, however, has been replaced by the phrase “facilities and improvements,” including the name of the task force, which would now be titled the Facilities and Improvements Development and Oversight Task Force.

If Montana already had a robust number of public ranges, then adding a big complex that could host regional, national, and even international shooting events would make sense. But while the state’s Department of Fish and Wildlife provides grants and assistance to privately operated ranges, they don’t oversee any public ranges whatsoever. I agree with Marbut that the first priority for lawmakers should be to develop a series of publicly-operated and state-owned shooting facilities across the state; in both population-rich areas around Billings, Missoula, and Bozeman as well as more remote locations in Big Sky country. I think it would be beneficial to ensure that these wouldn’t just be outdoor ranges, but would include some regional indoor ranges as well. Given the harshness of Montana’s winters, an indoor range, even if somewhat limited in size, would be a big benefit to gun owners across the state.

Of course, there’s no reason the Montana legislature couldn’t do both: build out a a significant number of smaller ranges accessible to the public and create a world-class shooting sports complex that could bring in thousands of competitors every year, which in turn would generate revenue that could go back into range creation and maintenance. The only thing stopping lawmakers would be the price tag, but I think the tax dollars generated by a large shooting sports complex would at least offset that cost, and could help fund the upkeep of the smaller, more numerous ranges Marbut and Cole want to see spread throughout the state. 

Read the full article here

You Might Also Like

Rosie O’Donnell has fled America, will return when all citizens ‘have equal rights’

Video: Gang of thugs on bicycles surround, pummel lone victim in broad daylight until he’s on his back, barely moving

Navy veteran mayor torpedoes activist’s comparison of POWs, MIAs, and LGBTQ people

Los Angeles wildfires kill 10 as details emerge about victims

American Madison Keys wins Australian Open, upsets No. 1-ranked Aryna Sabalenka

Share This Article
Facebook X Email Print
Previous Article Happy scam: Why the ‘hell’ of parenthood actually sets you free Happy scam: Why the ‘hell’ of parenthood actually sets you free
Next Article The Dismal Science and the Trumpian Tariff Hullabaloo The Dismal Science and the Trumpian Tariff Hullabaloo
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

- Advertisement -
Ad image

Latest News

Scott Jennings Warns Elon About His ‘Ridiculous’ Third Party Stunt [WATCH]
Scott Jennings Warns Elon About His ‘Ridiculous’ Third Party Stunt [WATCH]
Politics
Active Shooter Killed Outside McAllen, Texas Border Patrol Annex
Active Shooter Killed Outside McAllen, Texas Border Patrol Annex
Politics
Loose Ends In The Epstein Case Continue To Fuel Speculation
Loose Ends In The Epstein Case Continue To Fuel Speculation
Politics
Michigan Man Shot and Killed After Opening Fire at Texas Border Patrol Facility
Michigan Man Shot and Killed After Opening Fire at Texas Border Patrol Facility
News
Chip Roy honors heroes saving kids in deadly Texas flood and exposes media lies on ‘The Glenn Beck Program’
Chip Roy honors heroes saving kids in deadly Texas flood and exposes media lies on ‘The Glenn Beck Program’
News
Officer shot at ICE facility as border czar blames political rhetoric
Officer shot at ICE facility as border czar blames political rhetoric
News
© 2025 Concealed Republican. All Rights Reserved.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Press Release
  • Advertise
  • Contact
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?