Constitutional Carry Bill Filed in South Dakota

Thanks to the South Dakota Gun Owners (SDGO) and Representative Don Kopp, a Constitutional Carry Bill has been filed in the South Dakota Legislature.

 

The South Dakota Constitutional Carry Bill (HB 1015) mirrors current law already on the books in Vermont, Alaska, Arizona and Wyoming.  It removes the penalty for carrying a concealed handgun without a permit and does away with the 5-day waiting period required before you can carry a handgun for self-defense.

 

It also removes the mandatory permit fee, which is nothing more than a tax on your Second Amendment rights.

 

Finally, it eliminates intrusive, government-mandated background checks for law-abiding citizens.  Thanks to legislation passed last year which SDGO opposed, gun owners can now be forced to undergo international background checks.  The 5-day waiting period can become a 6-month ordeal while results are pending from Interpol.

 

The Constitutional Carry Bill does NOT do away with the permit, just the requirement to obtain one before you can exercise your right to self-defense.  The pistol permit system will remain in place for those who want a permit for concealed carry reciprocity in other states.

 

“Constitutional Carry” simply means the Second Amendment is all you need in order to exercise your right to self-defense.  No one should be forced to get a government permit to exercise a God-given right.

 

Criminals don’t stop to get permits before they commit crimes with handguns. The pistol permit requirement has yet to prevent a crime, but it does keep law-abiding people from defending themselves.

 

“This is a common-sense bill that provides safety for South Dakota families and matches the clear intent of the Second Amendment,” Rep. Kopp told news reporters.  “South Dakota should not be making self-defense a crime.”

 

Kudos to both the South Dakota Gun Owners group and Representative Kopp.

 

***Ed Randazzo, is a nationally syndicated author. He has been a conservative activist and consultant for over 30 years and is currently the Chief News Editor of Life and Liberty Media***