Campus Carry in Montana 

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED HERE IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE LEGAL ADVICE. FURTHER, READERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR VERIFYING ALL THE INFORMATION CONTAINED WITHIN THIS DOCUMENT FOR THEMSELVES AND SHOULD SPEAK WITH A COMPETENT ATTORNEY IN THEIR STATE. 

Are there differences between private and public colleges and universities? 

The Montana Board of Regents unfortunately holds the sole discretion over university carry policy due to a ruling from the Montana Supreme Court in 2022. The recently passed constitutional carry legislation that enforced the right to carry on college campuses was struck down, resulting in policy adoption by universities that restricts the carrying of firearms statewide. 

What can students do to appeal for their Second Amendment rights if they are on an unfriendly campus? 

Students would be inclined to reach out to state representatives for more legislative pushback against the court decision that enforces the right to carry statewide on campuses. 

What would the penalty be if a student is found with a weapon on campus grounds? 

Montana Code section 45-8-361 clarifies that a student may be charged a fine of up to $500 and face 6 months in prison. 

For campuses who would allow campus carry but are prevented from doing so by their state law, what are some things the university can do to aid students? 

Universities would also be inclined to reach out to state representatives for more legislative pushback against the court decision that enforces the right to carry statewide on campuses, and request that the power of the Board of Regents be limited.