Montana Constitution is in peril

The Montana Constitution is in peril and its consequential protections towards citizens are at risk.

My name is Liam Edwards and I am an intern at the Montana Public Interest Research Group. The current Montana Constitution has offered protections for us for over 50 years. It guarantees our right to privacy, right to a clean and healthful environment, and the right to oversee government proceedings.

These rights are important because they guarantee public land and water access. Public access to land and water means a lot in Montana. We use our access to land and water for hunting and fishing which is more than a part of our income; it is our way of life.

A future where private entities can control which natural land and water sources are available for public use is not a future for the average Montanan. It is a future for the wealthy elite. I am writing today as a call to action for defending our constitution.

A growing majority of state legislators plan to hold a constitutional convention to replace it entirely.

The voters of Montana should protect our rights by voting against those who plan to strip our rights from us.

Liam Edwards, Missoula