Montana GOP Eyes 2027 Bills to Align State Gun Law With ATF Shift

Three Montana Republican lawmakers are drafting bills for the 2027 session that would rewrite state law on suppressors and short-barreled rifles and shotguns, but until that happens, Montana's existing restrictions are still the ones that count.

Key points

• Who's behind it: Sen. Wylie Galt requested the bill drafts in September, with Sen. Carl Glimm and Rep. Braxton Mitchell set to carry matching Senate and House versions.
• Why now: The push follows ATF's October 9 nonenforcement policy on certain NFA registration, approval and tax-stamp requirements for suppressors and short-barreled firearms.
• What's actually broken: Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen has flagged three state-law conflicts, including language treating an unregistered suppressor as evidence of unlawful purpose and a hunting exception tied to a federal tax stamp.
• What hasn't changed: ATF still requires Form 4473 and background checks, and it says federal nonenforcement does not override state restrictions — meaning Montana's current statutes remain enforceable.
• Timeline: No bill numbers exist yet; the fate of these measures gets decided when the legislature convenes in January 2027.

Quick take

This is a state cleanup job chasing a federal policy shift that could itself get reversed by a court, Congress, or the Justice Department. Montana gun owners shouldn't treat ATF's enforcement discretion as a green light for anything the state still criminalizes on paper. Until Helena actually passes something, the smart move is assuming Montana's old rules still apply.

Read the full story: Brandon Curtis