Governor Greg Gianforte announced Friday that Montana is the fourth most gun-friendly state in the United States.
“As Montanans, we are proud of our Second Amendment-protected right to keep and bear arms and know we have a responsibility to preserve it,” Republican Gov. Gianforte said in a statement. “We will continue to maintain Montana as a sanctuary for liberty and free enterprise, and we will always defend the rights of law-abiding Montanans.”
According to his office, the rankings were published by Ammo.com, a brand that describes itself as “more than just selling high-quality ammo at a good price. It’s about arming fellow patriots in the war of ideas.”
In its review of Montana, Ammo.com said the state “allows open and concealed carry with no registration or permit requirements. There is no sales tax in Montana, so your firearms will be a bit cheaper than in most other states. You can also get a Montana CCW (Carry Concealed Weapon) to legally carry in 34 other states (while Montana recognizes the CCWs of 43 other states).”
It described Gianforte as “as pro-2A as you could wish for.”
The Montana Department of Justice notes that anyone licensed to own a firearm may carry it concealed without a permit, although there are exceptions, such as in state agencies.
Earlier this year, another group released a ranking of guns and Montana. Everytown For Gun Safety, which calls itself “the largest gun violence prevention organization in America,” said Montana ranks 47th in the nation for “weak gun laws.”
Everytown’s press release states that a firearm suicide occurs every 46 hours in Montana and that the state has the third highest rate of firearm suicides in the country. In an average year, there are an estimated 228 firearm deaths in Montana and 83% of firearm deaths among children and teens are suicides, according to Everytown.
Ammo.com’s more recent rankings evaluated states on their laws, their interactions with other states, their taxes and the “voting history” of legislators and governors. Gianforte’s office described its work in the press release.
“During his first year in office, the Governor made Montana a constitutionally permitted gun-bearing state and prohibited the enforcement of any federal law, executive order, rule or regulation affecting the possession, transfer or use of any firearm, magazine or firearm accessory in Montana,” Gianforte’s office said in a press release.
His office also said the governor had “consistently defended the Second Amendment rights of Montana citizens against federal government overreach,” including in a letter last February to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland.
Montana is home to more than 150 gun and ammunition companies, the highest number per capita in the country, according to the governor’s office.
“And to support them, last spring Governor Gianforte protected Montanans’ retirement savings through environmental, social and governance investments and protected Montana’s gun industry from discrimination,” the press release said.
It also said that the 22 most gun-friendly states are governed by Republican governors. In the 2024 rankings, Montana is behind New Hampshire, West Virginia and Arkansas.
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