Skip to Main Content
Last updated .

Child Access Prevention

Montana has no law that imposes a penalty on someone who fails to secure an unattended firearm and leaves it accessible to an unsupervised minor.

However, Montana does prohibit a parent, guardian, or other person having charge or custody of a minor child under the age of 14 from allowing the child to carry or use any firearms in public, except when the child is accompanied by a person having charge or custody of the child or under the supervision of a qualified firearms safety instructor or an adult who has been authorized by the parent or guardian.1 A violation of this statute constitutes a misdemeanor.2 The county attorney is required to prosecute reported violations of the law.3

State administrative regulations address storage of firearms in youth foster homes and licensed child care facilities.4

Safe Storage

Montana has no law that requires unattended firearms to be stored in a certain way.

Montana also does not require a locking device to accompany the sale of a firearm, and no state statutes require firearm owners to affirmatively lock their weapons.

MEDIA REQUESTS

Our experts can speak to the full spectrum of gun violence prevention issues. Have a question? Email us at media@giffords.org.

Contact
  1. Mont. Code Ann. § 45-8-344.[]
  2. Mont. Code Ann. § 45-8-345(1).[]
  3. Mont. Code Ann. § 45-8-345.[]
  4. Mont. Admin. R. 37.51.901(13) and 37.95.121(4).[]