A bill that recently passed both chambers of the Montana Legislature could make it easier to buy guns in Montana, but it could also put Montana in the middle of a state's rights battle.
Jim Mickelson has been selling guns at Shipton's Big R for years. If you want to buy a gun in Montana, you must fill out the front and back of a sheet, then Jim will call the FBI to make sure you're allowed to buy a firearm. If the FBI says it's okay, you can walk out of the store with your gun that day.
"It takes longer fill out the form that it does to get approval," Mickelson said.
Though the process doesn't take long now, House Bill 246 would make it even easier to buy a gun in Montana by eliminating the federal background check for guns made and kept in the state.
"The general perception is that the government will move to more control and so the citizenry of Montana is saying, 'we're voting for less control,'" he said.
The text of the bill also sets Montana up for a major state's rights battle, saying that commerce within the state is allowed to be controlled by the state alone as granted by the 9th and 10th amendments.
If the governor signs the bill, Mickelson said it's likely more gun manufacturers will want to come to Montana,
http://www.kulr8.com/news/local/42560492.html
for a full copy of the bill go to:
http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/2009/billhtml/HB0246.htm

Now if Gov BS will just sign it-- the people have spoken!!