Letters to the editor June 18

Responsible gun ownership

I read that Senate candidate Tim Sheehy was endorsed by the NRA. If that is true, it just goes to show how far the NRA has fallen from an organization that supports hunters and promotes gun safety to a hyper-partisan arm of the gun industry. 

Why would the NRA champion a candidate who says he shot himself in the arm in Glacier National Park? Of course, Sheehy’s story that his gun accidentally fell on the ground and discharged, lodging a bullet in his arm, might not even be true. He also claims he was shot by friendly fire in Afghanistan. Once? Twice? Who knows because he’s told multiple conflicting stories describing the same wound. 

Both Sheehy and NRA leadership seem to be as confused as ever about what constitutes a responsible gun owner but those of us who have lived in Montana for some time know Sheehy hardly represents responsible gun ownership. And behind closed doors, Sheehy also knows the NRA is irresponsible. Politico reported Sheehy was caught saying, “I’m not the biggest fan of the NRA, because I don’t think the NRA is really, truly worried about Second Amendment rights. I think they’ve really become a mouthpiece for the gun industry.” 

Responsible gun owners will be voting for Jon Tester in November.

— Beckie Squires, Helena

Benefit of SB 442

This past state legislative session, a unique and rare coalition of Montanans came together in support of SB 442. Sponsored by State Senator Mike Lang, R-Malta, SB 442 used the budget surplus from marijuana tax revenue to fund county road repair and construction, provide permanent property tax relief to disabled veterans or their widowed spouses, increase funding for addiction rehabilitation services, and create robust conservation tools to protect land and water habitat.  

Unfortunately, this popular bill was vetoed by our governor in the 11th hour of the Legislature, and our legislators failed to override the veto. The Montana Association of Counties, which advocates for our county leaders at the legislature, stated that “No governor in the history of Montana has ever taken such a state-centric position that blatantly disregards the needs of Montanans.” 

Farmers, ranchers, rural law enforcement and medical personnel, veterans, as well and hunters and anglers would have all benefited from this bill.

It is important that when our leaders are out of step with the people they serve, that we the people hold them accountable. I encourage our leaders to listen to the majority of Montanans, and support similar legislation should it arise in the coming 2025 Legislature. 

— Margo Hunter, Bigfork