On Tuesday, voters in Bozeman and Gallatin County received a mailing from the Republican Party. The oversized postcard showed a woman's corpse, hands bound, in a plastic bag. The caption read, "Is this your neighbor?" On the reverse of the piece, my picture, name, and cell phone number were given, along with an opinion of the vote I cast against House Bill 340.
House Bill 340 proposed to allow people to carry guns without a concealed weapons permit, to brandish a gun, to claim self-defense for any action, and to require prosecutors to delay filing charges for ten days for gun crimes if a defendant claims self-defense.
During testimony on the bill, law enforcement officials, including the Montana Police Protective Association, the Montana Association of Police Chiefs, Montana County Attorneys Association, and the Montana Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association, as well as citizens of both political parties, opposed House Bill 340. Cascade County Attorney Brant Light said, "House Bill 340 would give criminals a license to commit homicide in Montana."
The right of self-defense is already well-established in Montana law. Article II, Section 12 of the Montana Constitution states that, "The right of any person to keep or bear arms in defense of his home, person, and property, or in aid of the civil power when thereto legally summoned, shall not be called into question, but nothing herein contained shall be held to permit the carrying of concealed weapons." HB340 would have contradicted our own constitution. Additionally, self-defense is established as a natural right in Montana law. I completely support and defend a person's right to self-defense, and I was careful to check that our rights of self-defense would not be restricted by this bill. I cast my vote against HB340 because we as citizens should not be affronted by people with guns. We need the security of knowing that law enforcement can keep our communities safe. We should not be fearful that basic frustrations of everyday life will turn into gun crimes, and that those responsible for gun violence could not be held to their actions by claims of self-defense.
I am a gun owner, and a responsible citizen. The mailer that casts me as opposed to self-defense is wrong and distorts my values as a Montanan, a gun owner, and a citizen. This negative attack in the middle of a legislative session is unprecedented and creates bad blood at a time when bipartisan work is needed to govern.
I am most upset that such graphic and disturbing imagery and such a misleading message was mailed to my constituents. I respect and honor my friends and neighbors in House District 63, no matter what political belief anyone holds. No one deserved to receive such an appalling mailer, nor did I deserve to be so grossly misrepresented.
During the House of Representatives floor session Tuesday, Republican House leaders publicly apologized for the mailer. I appreciate their statement very much, but those in the Republican Party responsible for sending the mailer did a grave disservice to voters in my district and across Montana.
I am honored every day to craft good state law in our legislature and to represent the people of my district and of the state of Montana. Voting on legislation to protect my constituency is my duty, and I'm pleased to cast votes to give greater protections to all of us.
Do not believe the distorted negative attacks. They do not represent me, nor do they represent your interests.
JP Pomnichowski
Montana State Representative
House District 63, Bozeman/Gallatin County
