10/19/2026
REPUBLICANS ANNOUNCE LEGISLATION TO PROTECT HUNTERS' HEARING AND POCKETBOOKS, END RESTRICTIONS ON SUPPRESSORS
MARTINSDALE, FLATHEAD VALLEY, SAVAGE, Mont.— Republican senators and representatives from across Montana today announced bill(s) that will be introduced in the upcoming legislative session to align Montana law with recent federal reforms, repealing restrictions on fi***rm suppressors (silencers) as well as short-barreled ri**es and sh****ns (SBRs and SBSs).
Sen. Wylie Galt, R-Martinsdale, requested the draft legislation months ago and has been working with leaders in both legislative chambers to get the policy ready ahead of the 2027 session. To speed up the restoration of Montanans’ Second Amendment rights as much as possible, lawmakers plan to introduce duplicate bills in both chambers and fast track them to the governor’s desk.
“We never want to see the feds get ahead of Montana on protecting Second Amendment rights, so we’re going to axe these unnecessary regulations as fast as possible,” Galt said. “This policy is especially beneficial to hunters as we eliminate the paperwork and fees standing between them and using a suppressor to protect their hearing. As hunters head out into the field this fall, they can be confident that this is the last season with unnecessary restrictions and taxes on their ability to use suppressors.”
Rep. Braxton Mitchell, R-Columbia Falls, and Sen. Carl Glimm, R-Kila, will take Galt’s draft legislation and sponsor the bills in their respective chambers.
“I’d like to thank everyone who’s gotten us to this point where we’ll have concise legislation ready to introduce months before the session even begins,” Mitchell said. “Special thanks to Attorney General Austin Knudsen for working with the ATF to set the stage for our bills.”
“We’ve all been chomping at the bit to get this done for Montana sportsmen and hunters since the court ruling,” Glimm said. “With the ATF’s new guidance making it clear that the only thing standing between shooters and freedom is Montana law, we’re going to update those laws immediately.”
The ATF’s new guidance followed an announcement by U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche that the Department of Justice would not appeal an August decision made by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, which held that certain provisions of the National Fi****ms Act were unenforceable. Using the Department’s enforcement discretion, Blanche made the policy decision to apply the guidance to everyone, and not only to those covered by the injunction in Silencer Shop Foundation v. ATF.
ATF announced it will no longer enforce the requirements for individuals to apply and receive ATF approval before making or transferring short-barreled ri**es, short-barreled sh****ns, and suppressors (silencers), nor enforce registration or the $200 tax, according to the ATF.
The federal guidance does not supersede state and local laws covering those fi***rms, necessitating Galt, Mitchell, and Glimm’s legislation to bring Montana law into alignment with federal policy.
“Republicans are united on delivering this win for hunters, recreational shooters, and fi***rms enthusiasts. We’re excited to start moving this Republican priority legislation as soon as the legislative session starts,” said Speaker of the House Brandon Ler, R-Savage, and President of the Senate Matt Regier, R-Kalispell.
The 70th session of the Montana Legislature begins on January 4, 2027. Lawmakers will meet at the State Capitol on November 11, 2026 to elect the leaders of their respective caucuses, form committees, and conduct other preparations for the session.
