Rep. Lee Deming’s Defend the Guard Act (HB 527) was heard in committee today and passed later tonight with a 7-6 vote. This is the second time in the bill’s history nationwide that it has passed through a committee, and the first time was in Arizona only a couple of weeks ago.
The tide is turning. I’m very grateful for everyone who helped get Montana’s bill to this point and testified today—we had about 20 proponents in the room and online in the hearing—and for Rep. Deming for his unwavering support and defense of this bill. As Rep. Deming said in the hearing today, when the opposition asks why Montana should be the first, why not?
“If we were to pass this, we'd be the first state in the union to pass this. And I've heard from some folks that Montana can't be first. If this is going to happen, we can't be first. And I just wonder about that. You know, why not? Montana has been first in a lot of things, and I think this is a great idea. And I think it honors the sacrifices that these people have made for us. And so why not be the first in the nation to do this, and have the other states follow?”
The Defend the Guard Act is one of the most important bills that could be passed by the Montana legislature this session. I’ve been a passionate supporter since I learned about it five years ago in my high school honors civics class, which Rep. Deming himself taught, and it’s great news that we will be able to hear him defend the bill on the House floor.
If you want to learn more about the bill, watch this video linked below:
More info:
• Message your legislator and tell them to support HB 527 here!
• Sign the Bring Our Troops Home petition for Montana’s Defend the Guard here.
• Read my written testimony in support of the bill here.
• Find my 20-minute interview with Retired Lt. Col. Darin Guab on why he supports the bill here.
• Read my substack article: MT Rep. Lee Deming talks Defend the Guard and Nullification
• A case for optimism is that Montana passed this endless wars resolution last session, and only five legislators voted against it.
• Ep. 97 MT Rep. Lee Deming: Taxation is Theft, Defend the Guard, and more:
• I interviewed Sgt. Dan McKnight of Bring Our Troops Home in one of my earliest podcasts (3-9-20) to talk about the movement to Defend the Guard. I had no idea what I was doing (and still don’t), so it’s pretty fun to listen back:
• Also, I just saw that Bring Our Troops Home sent this out in their newsletter this morning. Wow. What an honor:
Liam, this was your bill. I just carried it.
Great news! Grateful for all and especially your stalwort commitment Liam.