“The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.”

Whitefish High School student Chet Billi is matter-of-fact in explaining how he thinks students can be better protected from mass school shootings.

Billi, 17, is drafting a citizen-initiated ballot proposal that would allow teachers from elementary school through college to carry concealed handguns if they have permits. He believes that in a situation where time is of the essence, allowing teachers to carry guns could save lives.

“Even in a small town like Whitefish where the police are two minutes away, that’s a lot of time for somebody to kill a lot of people,” Billi said. “In an off chance that something like that does happen here, I think a teacher that happens to be responsibly carrying a concealed handgun could put a stop to it quickly without having to cower in the classroom hoping the police get there in time.”

Billi is working with Montana Shooting Sports Association President Gary Marbu on crafting the language of the initiative.

If it passes a legal review, the secretary of state’s office will clear Billi to collect the 24,175 signatures required to place it on next year’s election ballot.

A bill was rejected by the Montana House this year that would have allowed concealed weapons on college campuses. Billi said the legislation piqued his interest.

“I’m an avid firearms enthusiasts and gun rights are a big deal to me,” Billi said. “It bothers me that after tragedies, it’s the law-abiding citizens punished and nothing is done to stop the criminals.”

While Whitefish has a school resource officer on campus, Billi says the officer is not at the school enough to prevent a shooting tragedy.

“If [the officer] was there all the time, non-stop, during school hours, that would be ideal,” Billi said.

“I don’t like the idea of relying on one guy with a firearm in the building,” he added.

He believes his initiative has the potential to garner support if it makes it to a vote.

“Montana has that kind of culture and there’s the kind of people in Montana that once this gets on the ballot, I think it’s got a pretty good chance of passing,” he said.

Billi said he’s heard comments of support from teachers in Whitefish.

“It’s surprising with the political landscape in Whitefish, there are actually a lot of teachers that support me on this,” he said.

However, online commentary from news reports about his initiative have been less supportive, he said.

“It’s people you can tell have never had an experience with a firearm,” he said of the comments. “They don’t know anything about them and don’t know how it works. Their arguments come from a basis of ignorance to firearms.”

Billi describes himself as a “very principled person” and always thought he would enlist in the U.S. military after graduation. But recently, he’s shifted his vision for the future more toward politics.

“I wanted to enlist because I felt like that was the place where I could best fight for my principles,” Billi said. “But with the way the political arena is right now, I have a feeling I could protect and fight for my principles a lot better in the field of politics.”

After he turns 18 this fall, he is considering a campaign for a seat in the Montana Legislature. He plans to run as a Republican, and isn’t sure yet if he’ll go for a seat in House District 5 or 6.

“I’d really like to run for HD5 because it’s close to home,” Billi said.

If he loses a campaign, he plans to enlist in the military.