MISSOULA — A Montana court has denied changes to wording in a ballot referendum that would limit local governments’ ability to enact their own gun restrictions.
The Missoulian reports that the Montana Supreme Court ruled Tuesday to uphold the language because it satisfied state law requiring the proposal to be easily understood and written without creating prejudice for or against the issue.
Officials say state Attorney General Tim Fox wrote the referendum in response to a 2016 Missoula ordinance requiring background checks for all gun purchases made in the city.
Multiple organizations including the city say the ballot measure would take away a local agency’s ability to restrict firearms from parks, public assemblies and schools.
Advocates of the measure say it wouldn’t restrict the school board’s firearm regulations on campus grounds.