MISSOULA — Montana Attorney General Tim Fox’s latest bid to challenge the city of Missoula’s gun regulations has been denied.
The Missoulian reports that Missoula County District Judge Robert Deschamps ruled a second time in favor of the city, which in 2016 enacted an ordinance requiring background checks on all gun sales.
Fox had voided the ordinance, arguing local governments don’t have authority to restrict gun sales. Deschamps earlier this month ruled in favor of a city lawsuit that asserted it did have that authority.
Fox asked Deschamps to reopen the case on Oct. 15. The judge denied the motion on Thursday, ruling that the Republican attorney general’s office “offers nothing new that would change the Court’s opinion.”
Fox spokesman John Barnes says Fox plans an appeal to the Montana Supreme Court.