Changes to concealed carry permits in Cascade County

GREAT FALLS — Getting a concealed carry permit in Cascade County is about to get a little easier.

Cascade County Sheriff Jesse Slaughter said in a Facebook video on Monday: “Here at the Cascade County Sheriff’s Office, we want to help you further your Second Amendment right.”

Starting December 1st, the Cascade County Sheriff’s Office is reducing the price from $55 to $50. Renewals will still be $25. In addition, fingerprinting will no longer be required.

Sheriff Slaughter explained, "You just have so many things when you come into an office and you take over after you win an election. Obviously, with all the major priorities we had to do, it wasn't something we had to get to right away. It's my duty as the Sheriff to be able to help people with their Constitutional rights to my fullest extent."

Sheriff Slaughter also announced that in 2021, he and the Sheriff’s office firearms instructor will host two CCW qualification classes a year.

Learn more on the Cascade County Sheriff's Office website, which includes this overview:

1. 18 years of age or older
2. A valid Montana driver's license or other form of identification issued by the state that has a picture of the person identified.
3. An applicant must have been a resident of the state for at least 6 months. Full-time military, please contact Lieutenant Landon Koteskey at 406-454-7689.
4. Shall be required by the sheriff to demonstrate familiarity with a firearm by:
   1. Completion of a hunter education or safety course approved or conducted by the department of fish, wildlife, and parks or a similar agency of another state
   2. Completion of a firearms safety or training course approved or conducted by the department of fish, wildlife, and parks, a similar agency of another state, a national firearms association, a law enforcement agency, an institution of higher education, or an organization that uses instructors certified by a national firearms association
   3. Completion of a law enforcement firearms safety or training course offered to or required of public or private law enforcement personnel and conducted or approved by a law enforcement agency
   4. Possession of a license from another state to carry a firearm, concealed or otherwise, that is granted by that state upon completion of a course that is the same as (a)-(c) above.
   5. Evidence that the applicant, during military service, was found to be qualified to operate firearms, including handguns.
   6. A photocopy of a certificate of completion of a course described above, an affidavit from the entity or instructor that conducted the course attesting to completion of the course, or a copy of any other document that attests to completion of the course and can be verified through contact with the entity or instructor that conducted the course creates a presumption that the applicant has completed a course described above.