Seidel defends gun rights record

Voters throughout the Hi-Line will get postcards in the mail soon imploring them to support various candidates in the Nov. 2 election.

Dana Sapp Seidel, the Democratic candidate for the Montana House of Representatives, will send some out herself. She had a copy for people at the annual Democratic dinner to see Saturday night.

But she has a special card for Gary Marbut, president of the Montana Shooting Sports Association. Marbut's organization supported Seidel's opponent, Rep. Wendy Warburton, R-Havre, in the hotly contested race.

Marbut said Seidel had failed to respond to the association's questionnaire, leading him to believe that Seidel was "hostile" to Second Amendment rights.

That got the avid shooter peeved.

Seidel unveiled the card — a massive poster that shows her at the shooting range.

The poster brought cheers from the crowd of Democrats.

Seidel said she is a lifelong hunter and is active in the Havre Trap Club.

She said there are usually two or three shotguns in the corner of her home, a fact that upsets her three young daughters.

"It doesn't always make it conducive to bringing boys home," she said, laughing.

Others at the dinner, held at the Havre Eagles Club, said they understood Seidel's position.

House Speaker Bob Bergren, D-Havre, rolled his eyes at the mention of Marbut's name.

"If Gary Marbut is against you, you are doing something right," he said.

(Full details in Monday's Havre Daily News.)