US EditionPublished • loading... • Updated
Ninth Circuit Rules Montana’s Permitless Carry Limits Gun-Free School Zones
The ruling narrows federal gun-free zones to school property only, creating a legal loophole from Montana's 2021 permitless carry law, affecting law enforcement and residents.
- The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed charges against Metcalf and overturned the district court, calling its decision narrow.
- Montana's 2021 law rewrote firearms rules by enacting permitless carry and a state statutory license, directly licensing individuals by statute to comply with federal law, the court said.
- After dozens of calls, federal law enforcement arrested Gabriel Metcalf, who invoked the state license exception to dismiss charges under the Gun‑Free School Zones Act near Broadwater Elementary School, Billings.
- Attorneys and school lawyers say the ruling leaves federal gun-free zones limited to school property, with local school boards controlling grounds and law enforcement constrained until the Montana Legislature meets in 2027.
- Attorneys and lawmakers warn the statutory design may have nullified broader federal gun-free buffers, while Billings school officials and parents fear speaking publicly and have taken ad-hoc steps like covering playground views.
Insights by Ground AI
7 Articles
7 Articles
ABC FOX Montana+6 Reposted by 6 other sources
Montana law of unintended consequence: Legislature wipes out gun-free school zones
When the Montana Legislature set out to relax gun laws in 2021, the Republican-led effort wasn’t about eliminating gun-free school zones, it was to make it easier for residents to carry concealed weapons — something lawmakers believed aligned with the…
·Missoula, United States
Read Full ArticleCoverage Details
Total News Sources7
Leaning Left2Leaning Right0Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution67% Center
Bias Distribution
- 67% of the sources are Center
67% Center
L 33%
C 67%
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
