Last updated on 2012.12.18
The first gun bill of the 2012 Legislature lifts some permit requirements off law-abiding handgun owners in South Dakota. House Bill 1015 says that as long as you're not breaking any other law, you don't need a permit to carry a pistol or revolver.
Specifically, HB 1015 exempts law-abiding citizens from these four statutes:
- 22-14-9 requires a permit to carry a concealed handgun on your person or in your vehicle.
- 22-14-9.1 says that if you're carrying your concealed handgun, you have to have your permit in your physical possession or be able to show your permit at the police station within 24 hours.
- 22-14-9.2 allows properly permitted residents of states with whom we have reciprocity agreements to tote their concealed handguns around South Dakota.
- 22-14-10 says you don't have to have a permit to carry a handgun in your car, as long as you unload that weapon and stow it in the trunk, a closed compartment, or a container that's too big to hide on your person or in your clothes.
Essentially, this bill makes a concealed handgun without a permit a secondary violation. Keep your nose clean, and you don't need a permit to pack a pistol. But if you disturb the peace or sell pot and the cops find a pistol in your pocket, they can charge you under the pistol permit statutes.
Exemption from the interstate reciprocity statute seems particularly broad. HB 1015 would make existing concealed weapons reciprocity agreements with South Dakota superfluous. Whether or not your state has a reciprocity agreement with us, under HB 1015, when you reach the South Dakota border, you could take your pistol out of the trunk, load it, and put it in your hidden holster. Or, perhaps in a nod to our hotly sought-after firearms industry, visitors could stop by the gun shop, pick up a few pistols, and walk down Main Street Deadwood or Sturgis fully armed, just to get into the Wild West spirit. As long as they don't speed or jaywalk, they're cool.
And heck, since getting those unpermitted concealed firearms back across the border through those other over-regulated states would be such a hassle, maybe those visitors will just pitch a tent and stay here in South Dakota! Yay, economic development!
The sponsors of HB 1015 are Representatives Don Kopp, Phil Jensen, Stace Nelson, Betty Olson, Lance Russell, and Mark Venner and Senator Tim Begalka, all rootin'-tootin' Republicans. Watch out for Rep. Hal Wick, who may try to amend HB 1015 to make it a misdemeanor not to carry a sidearm.
Can we use this Bill to "profile" the crazy legislators?
Oh, John, I can guarantee HB 1015 will be on the next GOP "scorecard."
Bring on the crazy! So do you suppose they had outside help crafting this one or is it homegrown.
The state is facing some serious budget issues and this is what we get? Rapid City schools forced into huge layoffs and these Republicans decide that this is important.
Any bets on what's next? I've got my money on something to do with gay people and marriage.
Please strip these people of any committee assignments if they are going to use the state as their own little petri dish of wingnuttery.
Looks like South Dakota and Montana are competing for the stupidest red state legislators yet again:
http://intelligentdiscontent.com/2012/01/07/this-week-in-tin-foil-from-montana-republican-legislators/
Tucson gun show held on anniversary of Giffords shooting.
Red state collapse.
Hey, I smoked pot with Mark Venner: he can't even own a gun.
If the SD legislature passes these statutes residents with Montana and Colorado MMJ cards carrying their guns and their medicine with them will be targeted at the borders.
Prison/industrial complex: economic development in the chemical toilet.
Glad you saw this Corey. With all the peoblems this state has and they're bringing up stupid-yes I said stupid- bills up like this this. My son is a deputy sheriff and we worry about him enough without something stupid like this. What's the reasoning behind this? Incredible
Hal Wick is a pilot. Where do they want all these hand guns to legally show up.
Duh...drug testing proposed for state legislators:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/07/unemployment_n_1189989.html
Duh…drug testing proposed for state legislators:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/07/unemployment_n_1189989.html
A great story Larry and a great idea.
In one of those weird circumstances where morons intersect with good ideas, I support the bill. However, I suspect every one of the sponsors supports the idea of keeping firearm possession illegal for me, a pot felon. Moronic intersection with good sense never lasts long.
...and you would be wrong Mr. Newland...
Why don't you post your views on "drug" prohibition on your website, Mr. Nelson?
"The state is facing some serious budget issues and this is what we get?"
What budget problem? They can even spend the entire budget on Medicaid and other federal programs.
@rcjMontgomery: Interesting: after HB1015, the concealed handgun bill, got shot down, lawmakers submitted HB1248, which is nearly identical.
7 minutes ago