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Commissioner Faults Shooting Association for 2014 Violations

Group did not provide enough detail about its contributors, commissioner says

By Molly Priddy

HELENA — Montana’s campaign regulator says the Montana Sports Shooting Association violated state campaign laws in the 2014 elections.

Commissioner Jonathan Motl says in the findings released Wednesday that the group did not provide enough detail about its contributors.

The association’s federal political-action committee took in $4,744 in contributions that weren’t attributed to individual donors. In 2014, the group only spent money on Montana elections.

The group said the money came from fundraisers such as rifle matches. Motl says political committees must report collections made at fundraising events.

Motl says the group also failed to name on its statement of organization the 18 candidates it supported or opposed through independent expenditures in the 2014 elections.

Association president Gary Marbut says he is speaking with attorneys about Motl’s findings.

Most campaign finance violations are resolved through a settlement and fine.