South Dakotans are still required to obtain a permit in order to carry a concealed weapon. House Bill 1010 was deferred to the 41st day Thursday after a hotly contested debate in the House Local Government committee. SDPB’s Cassie Bartlett has this report on why the measure failed.
Proponents of House Bill 1010 believe that South Dakota’s current law of requiring a permit to carry a concealed weapon infringes upon the Second Amendment right to bear arms. They believe that the fee for a permit is more like a tax and a payment for freedoms. Opponents disagree and say this bill would make it more difficult for law enforcement officials to determine if a person can legally carry a hidden gun. Committee chair Representative Tim Rounds says he initially supported the measure, but changed his mind after hearing testimony.
“The unintended consequences of this bill would not allow our law enforcement officials to do their job, which is our responsibility as legislators to provide the tools to our people to protect the citizens of South Dakota. That is a very key component besides the common sense responsibility. We have to provide the tools to protect the citizens from those that would do them harm,” Rounds says.
Rounds says the concept of the bill represents a message the state could send to the federal government about having gun rights infringed upon, but the possible consequences aren’t right for the state. For South Dakota Public Broadcasting, I’m Cassie Bartlett in Pierre.