Early gun bills include proposals for schools, background checks

Montana is home to more than 60 one-room schools, the most of any state. One, the single-room Hi-Line elementary school in Galata, relies on Shelby's police department for protection – but Shelby is 23 miles away.

That's why Rep. Casey Knudsen, R-Malta, said he plans to support legislation this session that would allow school officials to carry concealed firearms.

"I really see it as a benefit for our rural schools to have some kind of protection for students," Knudsen said. "That way they wouldn't have to rely on cops that would take a half an hour or longer to reach the school."

Rep. Seth Be...