Letter to the Editor - Protect the Montana Constitution in November

Editor,

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, formerly of Chinook