Everytown, Montana Moms Demand Action Applaud House’s Rejection of Legislation That Would Have Forced School Boards to Allow Hidden, Loaded Guns in K-12 Schools

HELENA, Mont. – The Montana chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, a part of Everytown for Gun Safety, today applauded lawmakers in the House for rejecting House Bill 385, legislation that would that would have forced K-12 school districts to let full-time employees – including teachers, guidance counselors, librarians, coaches and janitors – carry hidden, loaded handguns in schools.

STATEMENT FROM PAMELA OWEN, VOLUNTEER WITH THE MONTANA CHAPTER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA:

“I’m thrilled by the House’s vote today. The idea that forcing K-12 schools to allow full-time employees to carry hidden, loaded handguns somehow made our children safer defied all common sense – and today our legislators recognized that. By rejecting this bill, our legislators are supporting our public schools’ administrators and teachers – and preserving our children’s rights to learn without a gun in every classroom. Montana has a long history of responsible gun ownership and today’s vote proved that Montanans want it to stay that way. Montana Moms Demand Action volunteers and many other Montanans urged the House to reject this bill, and I’m very pleased our elected leaders listened to their constituents.”

STATEMENT FROM JOHN MOFFATT, MEMBER OF THE EVERYTOWN SURVIVOR NETWORK WHO WAS SHOT AND CRITICALLY WOUNDED WHILE SERVING AS THE VICE PRINCIPAL AT FERGUS HIGH SCHOOL IN LEWISTOWN DURING A 1986 SHOOTING THAT KILLED A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER:

“I’m extremely relieved by today’s House vote on HB 385. As a victim of gun violence and a former school administrator, I know that more guns in schools are not the answer. I know there was absolutely nothing I could have done if I had been armed at the time I was shot. Montanans recognized the gaps in logic in HB 385 and brought those flaws to their elected officials’ attention. I’m am proud of our lawmakers for voting on the side of public safety today.”