HELENA, Mont. (AP) — The Montana Senate on Tuesday tentatively approved a measure along party lines granting state lawmakers the right to carry concealed firearms in the state Capitol and on other state property.
Senate President Scott Sales, a Republican from Bozeman, took the lead in pushing his chamber in supporting the proposed law.
"It would be very nice to have the protection a firearm would afford if someone wants to execute or wants to go forward with that threat," Sales said. "Even with four or five police officers in this building, they can't be everywhere."
Sales said lawmakers need to protect themselves from constituents who sometimes threaten bodily harm.
In recent days, he said, members of the public, some from out of state, have called him "a poor excuse for a human being" and threatened to "knock the smile off" his face.
Along mostly party lines, 33-17, the Senate chamber agreed with Sales and tentatively approved the bill that would allow lawmakers and their sergeants-at-arms to carry concealed firearms, if they have the proper permit, at the statehouse and other state facilities. Sergeants-at arms usually enforce decorum and protocols during legislative floor sessions.
Democratic Sen. Carlie Boland of Great Falls took the lead for most Democrats against the measure.
Current law prohibits anyone from bringing in a concealed firearm to the Capitol, even if that person can legally do so elsewhere. Signs are posted at the building's main entrances informing the public that no firearms are allowed.
Boland said she would feel no safer knowing a colleague was armed. "You have no idea who's carrying. So you really don't know that they are carrying, and I'm not sure it really gives a sense of safety here," she said.
Boland suggested that tighter security, including metal detectors at the Capitol's entryways, would be a better deterrent against armed intruders.
Boland and most Democrats also objected to a separate bill that would allow restaurant patrons to bring concealed firearms to restaurants, arguing that the combination of guns and alcohol could lead to violence at eateries.
But the Republican-led chamber rejected that argument, endorsing the restaurant measure 31-19, with Sales arguing that diners are already legally allowed to openly carry firearms to establishments.
Both measures had already been approved by the House, although the House will have to review the measure granting concealed weapons privileges to sergeants-at-arms.