Unfortunately yesterday, Governor Steve Bullock (D) vetoed Senate Bill 295, NRA-supported legislation to allow the use of suppressors while hunting. At the same time, Governor Bullock signed into law his own version of SB 295, House Bill 250. While HB 250 contains language less clear and concise that SB 295, the result is much the same: Montana hunters are now permitted to use legally owned suppressors while hunting.
As previously reported, there are numerous benefits to hunting with suppressed firearms. These benefits include the decrease of noise complaints frequently used as an excuse to close hunting lands throughout the country, the lessening of recoil and muzzle rise resulting in increased accuracy of hunters, and the reduction in muzzle report to hearing-safe levels, limiting the risk that the hunter or anyone with the hunter will suffer permanent hearing loss if they fail to use hearing protection.
Thank you to NRA members and Second Amendment supporters who contacted their elected officials in support of this important hunting legislation. Also, thank you to those legislators who voted to allow Montana hunters to lawfully use suppressors while hunting.