Montana lawprohibits people from carrying concealed weapons inside city, town or logging camp limits and also contains some limits on carrying concealed weapons outside of city limits. However, a person may carry concealed weapons in many instances if he or she has a valid Montana or out-of-state permitto do so. Applicants must also be a state resident for 6 months prior to application and 18 years old.
No weapons, concealed or otherwise, are allowed in school buildings in Montana, no matter where they are located.
Even with a concealed weapons permit, you may not carry a concealed weapon in the following places:
buildings owned or leased by the federal, state or local government
financial institutions
any place where alcoholic beverages are sold, dispensed and consumed
Law Enforcement Officers
Federal legislation signed in July 2004 exempts current and retired law enforcement officers from Montana's concealed weapon statute. Any qualified law enforcement officer with proper identification can carry a concealed weapon, overruling state concealed weapons laws to the contrary.
Montana is a traditional open carry state. Localities are substantially preempted, but have limited power to prevent and suppress the carrying of concealed or unconcealed weapons to a public assembly, publicly owned building, park under its jurisdiction, or school, and the possession of firearms by convicted felons, adjudicated mental incompetents, illegal aliens, and minors. Please see http://opencarry.org/
Can I carry a gun in Glacier National Park?
The written rules from the Glacier National Park state that all firearms must be rendered inoperable and stored unloaded.
When is a concealed weapon permit required?
A permit is necessary only when the weapon is wholly or partially concealed by your clothing or wearing apparel and you are carrying the weapon within the official boundaries of a city or town or the confines of a logging, lumbering, mining or railroad camp. You DO NOT need a permit to carry a weapon in your vehicle, while working or recreating in the outdoors (outside the noted town or other boundaries), etc.
Can I apply for an out-of-county permit?
Your Concealed Weapon Permits is recognized throughout the state of Montana however you should apply for your permit at the county in which you reside.
What qualifies as proof of firearms training?
Montana law recognizes any of the following training resources:
(a) completion of a hunter education or safety course approved or conducted by the department of fish, wildlife, and parks or a similar agency of another state;
(b) completion of a firearms safety or training course approved or conducted by the department of fish, wildlife, and parks, a similar agency of another state, a national firearms association, a law enforcement agency, an institution of higher education, or an organization that uses instructors certified by a national firearms association;
(c) completion of a law enforcement firearms safety or training course offered to or required of public or private law enforcement personnel and conducted or approved by a law enforcement agency;
(d) possession of a license from another state to carry a firearm, concealed or otherwise, that is granted by that state upon completion of a course described in subsections (3)(a) through (3)(c); or
(e) evidence that the applicant, during military service, was found to be qualified to operate firearms, including handguns.
Where can I get certified training?
Military or law enforcement service, the Montana Department of Fish, wildlife & Parks (hunter education courses) and the National Rifle Association are common sources. We do NOT recommend private training vendors but list the following local resources (in alphabetical order) as having submitted approved training outlines: Marksman’s Enterprise, Jim Crews, PO Box 556, Stevensville, MT 59870, phone 777-3557; Montana Handgunning, L.L.C., Mark Kowack, PO Box 311, 140 Cherry Street, Hamilton, MT 59840, phone 363-1336; and Montana Shooting Sports Association, Gary Marbut, PO Box 4924, Missoula, MT 59806, Phone 549-1252
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