From the December 2008 Idaho Observer:

Our children suffer because our leaders lack knowledge

Montana and Mississippi are the only two states that do not recognize religious exemptions for children attending licensed daycares (Montana does, however, honor medical and religious exemptions for the Hib vaccine in the daycare setting.). To compel Montana’s respect for individuals whose religious beliefs prohibit them from knowingly defiling their bodies with live and dead viruses, animal DNA and chemicals of known toxicity, a group of parents and concerned citizens formed to change the law. A bill sponsored by Rep. Rick Jore was drafted and introduced in the Montana House in February, 2007.

As HB 465, the bill to provide a religious exemption to vaccination for children attending licensed daycares passed out of committee but was defeated 52-48 when it arrived on the floor for a vote.

VacLib webmanager Dewey Duffel, one of the concerned citizens advocating passage of the bill, noticed that the arguments opposed to the bill were woefully uninformed and the state reps making them on the floor prior to the vote were merely repeating the same misconceptions and fear-generating arguments vaccine proponents have been using for decades to confuse and frighten people into compliance with compulsory vaccine laws. The arguments included reps mistakenly using the term "immunization" when they meant "vaccination" as if the two were interchangeable and how granting religious exemptions to some children in daycares could be a "death sentence" to babies who have not yet been "immunized."

In the Fall of 2008, the group reformed under the banner of Montana Families for Health Freedom (MFHF). Duffel, a member of MFHF, set into motion a project to offer Dr. Tenpenny’s latest book and DVD combination to all Montana legislators. Tenpenny’s book, "Saying No to Vaccines - A Resource Guide for All Ages" contains a brief history of mandatory vaccination as well as eye opening information on the ineffective and harmful aspects of vaccinations. A letter was sent to all Montana legislators, 150 in all, offering the Resource Guide for free. Twelve legislators have accepted the books and by now have received their copies.