HELENA - The Senate voted 27-23 Friday to approve legislation that would give future horse slaughterhouses and processing plants in Montana protection from court injunctions seeking to stop them.

House Bill 418, carried in the Senate by Sen. Ryan Zinke, R-Whitefish, would allow privately owned horse slaughterhouses in Montana and protect them against legal challenges to the plant's license. This means a court could not order an injunction against a facility once construction has begun.

The bill also requires that anyone challenging a slaughterhouse post a bond worth 20 percent of the construction costs or the value of the existing facility.

After passing the House 66-33, HB 418 was quickly voted through the Senate Agriculture Committee and onto the Senate floor.

The bill's hearings were long, emotional debates between farmers, ranchers and horse lovers. Senators said they have received hundreds of letters and phone calls from constituents on the issue.

Zinke said the bill is based on the traditional Montana viewpoint that horses are livestock and should have as much purpose in death as they did in life.

But many opponents viewed horses as treasured pets and pieces of Montana's heritage. Other critics of the bill questioned why this industry should be singled out for immunity from lawsuits.

Gun-rights legislation provokes heated debate

A Laurel Republican wants to remove the need to register concealed weapons in Montana cities or towns, a move opponents say creates a 'shoot first" mentality.

Rep. Krayton Kerns' House Bill 228 would allow concealed weapons in city limits without registration and would allow gun owners to brandish their weapons in harmless self-defense. This means owners could exhibit their guns or point them at something other than a person as a means of defense.

The bill also says Second Amendment rights apply to hotels, motels and apartments. Currently, landlords and hotels have the right to decide if guns are allowed on their premises.

Kerns said current concealed weapon qualifications would still apply, meaning felons could not carry a gun and concealed weapons would not be allowed in banks and government buildings.

Supporters included gun organizations and individual citizens concerned about their safety. Brian Judy of the National Rifle Association said the bill enforces a citizen's fundamental right to bear arms and to be considered innocent until proven guilty.

"This bill puts individual safety ahead of public safety," Judy said.

But the opposition – mainly county attorneys, policies and sheriff's deputies – warned HB 228 will only help criminals commit more crimes.

Representatives from the University System also opposed the bill, saying it would create a loophole to allow guns in dormitories and would threaten the safety of students.