This article ran in the Helena Independent Record and various other papers around the state in early spring. In light of the concealed weapon bill during the 2007 Legislative Session (HB 340)...and the distinct possibility of a similar bill in the 2009 Legislative Session, we thought this might be an article of interest.
Lawmakers conceal, carry
by Jennifer McKee
State Rep. Ed Butcher has been packing heat for 30 years.
“I carry at all times,” the Winifred Republican said in a recent interview.
Today, Butcher carries a .38 caliber pistol, but back in 1979 it was a .22 handgun that he says saved his life.
A man was coming at him intending to kill him, Butcher believes.
“He didn’t think I carried a gun,” he said. Butcher pulled out his .22 pistol and held it to the man’s forehead. You’ve never seen eyes get so big so fast, Butcher said. The man backed down.
“It’s one of those things where I’d probably be dead in that situation if I hadn’t had it,” said Butcher. “It saved my life once and I’m a firm believer in it.”
Butcher has never again drawn his concealed pistol. He is one of nine state lawmakers with a concealed weapons permit, a Lee Newspapers investigation shows, and the only one to ever brandish the firearm. Most of the nine lawmakers said they seldom carry a concealed weapon, but like the freedom of being able to do so.
Since 1991, state law has allowed Montanans to pay $50 and apply for a permit to carry a concealed handgun. County sheriffs issue the permits after conducting a background check and requesting proof of some kind of gun training.
Today, 15,976 Montanans have concealed weapons permits; that’s about 2 percent of the state’s adult population. State lawmakers, however, are almost three times more likely to have a concealed weapons permit. A recent Lee Newspapers investigation shows that while not one statewide elected official has a concealed weapons permit, nine of the 150 lawmakers do, or 6 percent of the total.
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