Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Montana bill would add 2–10 year gun sentence for firearms used in drug trafficking
Summary
Sponsor Rep. Denise Baum said HB 287 would let prosecutors seek a penalty enhancer when a firearm is knowingly possessed or used during felony drug trafficking; law-enforcement witnesses urged a local tool while an opponent warned of constitutional risk. No vote was taken today.
Representative Denise Baum introduced House Bill 287, saying it would allow prosecutors to seek a sentencing enhancement when a person "knowingly possesses or uses a firearm" while committing felony drug-trafficking offenses such as criminal distribution or criminal possession with intent to distribute dangerous drugs. Baum said the measure targets armed drug dealers, not people with addictions, and described the statutory process for filing a notice under the enhancement statute and the separate fact-finding the court or jury must make.
Supporters framed the bill as a public-safety tool. Ed Zink, chief of criminal litigation for the Yellowstone County Attorney's Office, described local drug- and gun-related enforcement experience and said many cases with firearms are routed to federal prosecutors, which can delay state…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
