About the author, Gary Marbut
Gary Marbut grew up on a 5,000-acre working cattle a ranch in
western Montana. He enlisted for three years in the U.S. Army
(1966-1969), then spent a year traveling Europe, putting 20,000
miles on a motorcycle from North Africa to Scandinavia, paying his
way mostly by performing American folk music. Upon return to
the U.S. from Europe, Gary spent a decade in and around Fairbanks,
Alaska, working as a firefighter/paramedic for the Fairbanks Fire
Department, repairing Volkswagens, building log homes, and engaging
in various adventures.
Upon return to Montana, Gary founded and became president of the
Montana Shooting Sports Association, the primary political advocate
for gun owners and hunters in Montana. Since its founding,
MSSA has gotten 63 pro-gun and pro-hunting bills through the Montana
Legislature.
Gary lives near Missoula, Montana, writes, manufactures shooting
range equipment, and teaches various aspects of safe firearms use
and self defense. He has graduated over 3,800 students from
day-long classes qualifying students to apply for Montana concealed
weapon permits. Gary shoots competitively in the disciplines
of practical pistol and long-range rifle. Gary is also
accepted in state and federal courts as an expert concerning
firearms safety, self defense, use of force and related
topics. Gary lives in a 2,400 sq. ft. home he designed and
built in 1980 as a model or residential energy conservation.
Gary is married to Ellen, a CPA and RN, and has two sons, Scott and
Ty. Scott is retired from a career in the U.S. Army Special
Forces, during which he received a Bronze Star for service in
Iraq. Ty works in development and provision of Online
education.
Gary has held jobs in (has been paid to do) the following:
Advertising Salesman; Auto Mechanic; Carpenter; College Instructor
(Fire Science and Emergency Medicine); Consultant (Energy
Conservation/Solar, Public Policy, and Residential Design); Computer
Programmer; Courier; Grantsman; Firefighter (Structural); Heavy
Equipment Operator; Homebuilder; Legislative Lobbyist; Log Home
Builder; Manufacturer; Millworker (Forest Products); Musician
(Guitar/Vocal); Paramedic (Advanced Life Support); Pesticide
Applicator; Plumber; Political Activist; Public Administrator
(Emergency Medical Services); Ranch Hand/Cowboy; Sergeant-at-Arms;
Ski Instructor; Ski Patrolman; Ski Area Builder, Small Business
Owner; Solar Installer; Soldier; Teacher (first aid, skiing, rescue,
firearm safety, self defense, shooting skills and more) Tour Guide;
Welder; Wholesale and Retail Sales; Writer (Magazine Articles and
Books); Vacuum Cleaner Salesman; and General Laborer.
