HELENA — Montana lawmakers are considering a bill to make careless gun handling a criminal offense.
Democratic Rep. Willis Curdy introduced House Bill 539 in the House Judiciary Committee Thursday on behalf of the Hellgate Civilian Shooters Association.
The proposal would prohibit handling a gun on public land with disregard for the safety of people or property.
Hellgate Civilian Shooters Association President Lon Dale says there’s currently no way to keep drunk or rule-breaking people from using firearms at gun ranges on public property leased by the state to shooting associations.
Dale says people who break gun range safety rules sometimes refuse to leave and that law enforcement has refused to arrest them.
Opponents say the bill is overly vague and would infringe on people’s gun rights.