Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen made waves Monday with his fiery response to a reported request from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) to observe gun shows in the state. Speaking on Montana Talks radio, Knudsen made it clear that any surveillance by the Canadian agency would not be welcome and likened the proposal to authoritarian tactics, drawing a pointed comparison to practices by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Knudsen revealed that the RCMP had contacted Montana’s Department of Justice and Division of Criminal Investigations, seeking to monitor gun shows in Bozeman and Kalispell. These events are known for their robust turnout among firearms enthusiasts, and the request was allegedly tied to concerns about cross-border gun smuggling. However, Knudsen did not mince words in rejecting the proposal.
“My hair is absolutely on fire,” Knudsen said, adding that he immediately instructed his agencies to deny any cooperation. He went on to emphasize that Montana would not allow foreign surveillance at its gun shows, declaring, “If [Canadian Prime Minister] Justin Trudeau wants to surveil his citizens, he can conduct surveillance in Canada.”
Knudsen compared the RCMP’s alleged activities to Chinese surveillance practices in the United States, pointing to “service centers” reportedly tied to Chinese intelligence and a case in New York where two individuals were charged with operating a covert Chinese “police station.”
New to me, Meta has banned all non-state owned news in Canada. What is this, North Korea?! pic.twitter.com/IkYc01ZLRk
— Matt Shupe (@MattShupePR) November 24, 2024
“This is not China. We do not need Trudeau conducting China-style surveillance here in America,” Knudsen said, underscoring his commitment to preserving Montanans’ constitutional rights and local sovereignty.
This isn’t the first instance of alleged Canadian surveillance in Montana. In 2022, an undercover RCMP officer with Canadian license plates was reportedly caught monitoring attendees at a gun show in Great Falls. That operation was part of a gun-smuggling task force, according to Cascade County Sheriff Jesse Slaughter.
These revelations have reignited tensions over foreign interference, especially in states like Montana, where gun rights are fiercely defended.
Knudsen tied this incident to what he sees as troubling developments in Canada, citing the arrest of journalist Ezra Levant and increased restrictions on independent media. His comments highlight growing concern among conservatives about government overreach both at home and abroad.
Knudsen also suggested that the Biden administration might allow such activities, though there is no indication of federal involvement in this case.
By Monday afternoon, the Montana Department of Justice reported that the RCMP appeared to back off its plans. “It sounds like they have suspended their most recent plans to spy on Montana gun shows,” said a DOJ communications director. However, state officials remain vigilant, warning that any future attempts at foreign surveillance would be met with firm resistance.
