Update – Proposed Law Challenges Policy That Only Law Enforcement Officers Be Allowed to Carry Weapons on The University of Montana Campus [AUDIO]

Despite efforts by gun rights advocates to allow licensed gun owners to carry and store their weapons on campus, the University of Montana has a strict policy that prohibits anyone other than a police officer or federal official to carry a weapon.

Vice President for Integrated Communications Peggy Kuhr said Monday "here at the University of Montana, the only people who can carry a gun on campus are those who are actual law enforcement employees."

Kuhr said, however, "students who do want to use firearms, say for hunting purposes, must store those guns with the office of public safety." There is a storage locker in the Office of Public Safety where students can check their weapons out when they are needed.

A call to the Commissioner of Higher Education's office on the efforts in the legislature to force a change on that policy was not returned before this story was published.

Activist Gary Marbut, president of the Montana Shooting Sports Association testified before the Montana Senate Education Committee Monday, promoting HB 240, that would prohibit the Board of Regents from denying rights granted by not only the Montana constitution, but also the Second amendment to the U.S. constitution, allowing law-abiding citizens to carry their weapons on campus without restriction.

Gary Marbut, President of the Montana Shooting Sports Association

University of Montana Vice President Peggy Kuhr