Court rules against law bucking federal gun rules

HELENA (AP) — A federal appeals court is ruling against state laws designed to buck federal gun rules.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday agreed with a lower court's decision that struck down the Montana Firearms Freedom Act.

The 2009 Montana law attempted to declare that federal firearms regulations don't apply to guns made and kept in that state. Other pro-gun states subsequently passed similar laws.

But the Justice Department successfully argued that the courts have already decided Congress can use its power to regulate interstate commerce to set standards on such items as guns.

The Montana Shooting Sports Associated said it expected the appeals court would rule against the law.

But the group lauded the court for granting it standing to take its claim to the U.S. Supreme Court.