Legislature Convenes Today

Legislature Convenes Today

South Dakota Gun Owners E-mail Alert
PO Box 3845, Rapid City, SD 57709
(605) 737-5583
LibertyTeeth@sdgo.org http://www.SDGO.org

(Tuesday, January 13, 2004) – “No man’s life, liberty or property is safe while the Legislature is in session.”

The old saying is as true as it is humorous. Unfortunately, our property is now in jeopardy all year long, thanks to the Emergency Gun Grab law. As you may remember, this outrageous law was expanded in 2002, and empowers state officials to confiscate your private property, including your firearms, during an emergency.

Pro-gun Rep. Tim Begalka (R-Clear Lake) is sponsoring legislation to repeal this dangerous power by prohibiting the taking of private property against the will of the owner.

Action:

Please call the House lobby at (605) 773-3851 and leave the following message for your two Representatives:

Please support Rep. Begalka’s Property Rights Protection bill.

Then call the Senate lobby at 605-773-3821 and leave the same message for your Senator:

Please support Rep. Begalka’s Property Rights Protection bill.

A page (legislative assistant) will be there to take your call from 8am to 5pm, CST, and will deliver your messages to the legislators’ desks.

To find both your State Representatives and your Senator, click on this link and search by ZIP code: http://capwiz.com/gunowners/dbq/officials

If you are able to talk to your legislators while they are at home this weekend, that would be even better.

Several legislators and other South Dakota politicians have been trying to downplay this growing effort as an “over-reaction,” claiming that the Emergency Gun Grab law “has been on the books for years.”

This assertion is a half-truth. The law granting emergency powers to the governor was first passed in1949 for the purpose of civil defense. Far from allowing forcible seizure, the law authorized the governor to enter into agreements with willing individuals to procure equipment and supplies. Since then, the governor’s power has been gradually expanded, culminating in the tyrannical power to take private property against the will of the owner.

In any case, a bad law does not become good just because it has been around for a long time. Governor Rounds has confirmed that the Emergency Gun Grab does authorize the taking of private property, including firearms, without the consent of the owner. While Rounds may not use this law to abuse property and gun rights, he will not be in office forever. As Patrick Henry warned, we must not act as if only good men will hold office.

“Firearms stand next in importance to the Constitution itself. They are the American people’s liberty teeth and the keystone of independence.” – George Washington

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