[mamelukesabre]

I believe it. But I’d bet a dollar that at least 75% of those firearms are, for all practical purposes, useless to a militia.

muzzle loaders, antiques, novelties, rimfire rifles and pistols, small guage shotguns, oddball calibers, etc.

[ElkGroveDan]

But I’d bet a dollar that at least 75% of those firearms are, for all practical purposes, useless to a militia.

Well you'd be wrong. The average Montanan doesn't have the income to collect eclectic odd firearms. They own rifles, shotguns and large caliber handguns -- and they use them.

I lived their for four years, and really miss that state.

[Spktyr]

Need I remind you that even an oddball caliber round, if placed in the appropriate place, can change the world?

Or do you think that the 6.5x52mm Carcano was a “mainstream round?”

[Robert357]

I believe it. But I’d bet a dollar that at least 75% of those firearms are, for all practical purposes, useless to a militia.

Give them a couple of years

You might check out the following....http://www.mtssa.org/successes.phtml

Machine guns and silencers - killing old laws. As a holdover from the Prohibition era, Montana had laws making it illegal to possess full auto firearms using pistol-caliber ammo, or silencers, both in conflict with current federal law. MSSA succeeded with a bill (SB427, 1999) to wipe these archaic laws off the books.

[Montana4Jesus]

I wouldn’t bet your life on that one. Most of my friends have at least 2 shotguns (12 and 20 gauge), 2-3 rifles (22-250, 243 and 7MM, 30-06, 308, etc) for small and big game, 2-3 pistols including 9mm, 40 caliber and 44 magnum. Every one of which will put a big hole in you. Not to mention the 50 calibre muzzle loader for the coyotes.

[Dead Corpse]

A heavy rock has militia utility. As does a butter knife, a box of toothpicks, an empty mason jar, or a 500' roll of CAT 5e cable.

Improvised or antiquated weapons aren't ideal, but to categorically ignore certain classes of weapons just because they aren't as effective as an M134-D or an M60-E3 is just plain ignorant.

[Bear_Slayer]

1) Any working gun in any caliber can kill a person.

2) Our guns are very functional to us.

We own lots of long range deer, antelope, and elk long-rifles.

Large caliber handguns to ward off man & bear.

Shotguns, usually of large guage.

[roamer_1]

I believe it. But I’d bet a dollar that at least 75% of those firearms are, for all practical purposes, useless to a militia.

Then you'd be wrong- At least in the Rockies and the Missouri Breaks. There is hardly a house that doesn't have multiple guns... 7mm, 30.06, 30-30, 308 are a dime a dozen. 12 ga, 20ga shotguns are everywhere, pistols run toward .357mag, .45, and 9mm, and are plentiful.

Kids learn to shoot dang near before they learn to read, and usually bag a deer before entering junior high school. You'd be hard pressed to find a kid that hasn't gone plinkin' gophers, and every pickup has gun racks.

Guns aren't just keepsakes here-abouts, they're a way of life.