A judge has temporarily blocked a new Montana law allowing the concealed carry of firearms on public university campuses.
Helena District Court Judge Michael McMahon wrote the Montana University System would suffer irreparable injury without a temporary restraining order on the concealed carry law, which was set to take effect on campuses Tuesday.
The Board of Regents is ultimately trying to have the law declared unconstitutional, arguing the Legislature stepped on the university system’s statutory authority to manage itself.
Judge McMahon set a June 7 hearing for the state to make its case why an injunction shouldn’t be issued against the law.
For now, the university system’s current policy banning guns on campus remains in place.
The Montana Federation of Public Employees is expected to file its own district court challenge to the concealed carry law and several other new university-related laws Tuesday.
The Montana Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected similar challenges from the union and university system, saying they should first play out at the district court level.
Kevin Trevellyan is Yellowstone Public Radio’s Report for America statehouse reporter.
