South Dakota Soon to Become 14th Constitutional Carry State
On Thursday, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem who has only been on the job since early January, signed her first bill.
“I believe this legislation will further protect the Second Amendment rights of the citizens of South Dakota and this country,” she said.
Senate Bill 47, which goes into effect on July 1st, allows the carrying of a concealed weapon without a permit.
Nonprofit gun safety group Everytown for Gun Safety said Senate Bill 47:
“… would allow people to carry hidden, loaded handguns in public without a permit, threatening public safety in South Dakota.”
The Executive Director of the NRA-ILA, Chis Cox said of bill:
“This law is a common-sense measure that allows law-abiding South Dakotans to exercise their fundamental right to self-protection in the manner that best suits their needs.”
Law enforcement officials, including the South Dakota Sheriff’s Association, and democrat lawmakers called for the bill to be limited to residents of the state of South Dakota.
Senate Bill 47 would only apply to those individuals who are already eligible for a concealed carry permit. Meaning those individuals who were previously barred from carrying a concealed weapon for reasons such as felony convictions, and misdemeanors for weapons or controlled substances, are still not allowed to carry concealed.
This bill makes South Dakota the 14th state to allow permitless concealed carry. Other states which do not require a CCW permit are, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Vermont, West Virginia, Wyoming, New Hampshire and North Dakota.
A longtime proponent for the right to keep and bear arms, Governor Noem said:
“It’s special for me to be signing a bill into law that protects our Second Amendment rights,” Noem said.
“On behalf of the NRA’s five-million members, we would like to thank Governor Noem for her leadership on this critical issue,” said Cox.
Open carry has long been allowed without a permit as long as it is outside the boundaries of schools, courthouses, and places with alcohol sales over 50%
What do you think of South Dakota no longer requiring a permit to carry a concealed weapon? Good idea or no? Leave a comment below to let me know.