Montana Joins 17 Other States To Constitutionally Carry Firearms

[G.L.R.]

Montana Joins Constitutional Carry States

March 2, 2021

Montana joined 17 other states that allow constitutional carry on Feb. 18 when Gov. Greg Gianforte signed House Bill 102 into law.

The measure takes effect June 1 and includes a variety of other measures that ease the burden of lawful residents who want to exercise their right to self-defense. "On behalf of the NRA's more than five-million members, we thank Gov. Gianforte for his leadership in recognizing the right of law-abiding Montanans to defend themselves and their loved ones without being required to seek government permission," said Jason Quimet, executive director, NRA-ILA. "The NRA will continue standing up and stepping forward to protect and preserve our most basic, fundamental freedoms here in Montana and across the United States." Other states that already recognized constitutional carry include, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming.

Despite that growing roster, the number of concealed carry permits nationwide continues to rise. The latest report from the Crime Prevention Research Center, with figures from 2020, indicates 19.48 million Americans currently hold one—a 34-percent increase since 2016. The total grew by more than 800,000 when compared to 2019, despite the increased number of constitutional carry states and regions that either slowed or stopped their issuance due to COVID-19 concerns... Last year's record-setting pace of firearm sales—driven largely by safety concerns raised during the pandemic and widespread social unrest— ...

American Rifleman | Montana Joins Constitutional Carry States
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2021/3/2/montana-joins-constitutional-carry-states