March 7, 2021
Dear Senator Tester,
MSSA doesn't often contact you asking for specific
performance. Now, however, is a time when that is
unavoidable. We hear a lot of talk about various possible
gun control measures that are now or may soon be before Congress.
On behalf of Montana gun owners, we formally ask that you both
work and vote against any and every measure and motion that would
reduce or restrict the right to keep and bear arms that the people
have reserved to themselves in the Second Amendment to the U.S.
Constitution specifically from government interference.
We want you to know that Montana's legal gun owners feel very
strongly on this subject. Please do not convert law-abiding
Montana gun owners into federal criminals by attempting to impose
new laws and restrictions with which we are unlikely to comply.
Jon, you will probably remember that in 1994 Senator Baucus broke
his career-long promises to Montana voters to never vote for gun
control when he became the enabling swing vote on a procedural
motion that allowed the passage of both the Brady Law and the
Feinstein semi-auto and magazine bans. For that betrayal,
Baucus deservedly earned enmity of Montana gun owners and very
active opposition by MSSA. We sincerely hope that nothing
like that 1994 betrayal of Montana gun owners will occur in 2021.
Additionally, if Steve Bullock had not accrued such a
well-documented anti-gun record, he might well have won his
challenge against Steve Daines. This is, after all, Montana.
Please inform us of any votes you cast, procedural or otherwise,
to oppose, obstruct, or block new federal gun control, so we may
share that information with Montana gun owners. We would
prefer to acknowledge your efforts to oppose federal gun control
than to criticize you for having supported or enabled it.
Finally, you are encouraged to share this letter with others who
may pressure you to vote for any gun control. Hopefully,
this letter will help you explain to those others how and why you
must properly represent Montana.
Sincerely yours,
Gary Marbut, president
Montana Shooting Sports Association
https://www.mtssa.org
Author, Gun Laws of Montana
http://www.mtpublish.com