Pistol permit police-radio database bill passes House --
Anti-gunners are trying to rush it through Senate
South Dakota Gun Owners E-mail
Alert
PO Box 3845, Rapid City, SD 57709
(605) 737-5583
LibertyTeeth@sdgo.org
http://www.SDGO.org
(February 10, 2005) – Thanks to the backroom deal brokered by lobbyist David Conway and Majority Leader Larry Rhoden (R-Meade Co.), the database bill (HB 1209) was rammed through the House of Representatives.
In an unprecedented vote, this controversial gun control bill passed unanimously. Obviously, anti-gunners voted for HB 1209 because it gives them something they’ve always wanted. The more pro-gun politicians were misled by the false claim that the bill contains safeguards.
Now it goes to the Senate Judiciary committee. HB 1209 would allow a police operated central registry for concealed pistol permit holders. If it passes, the door will be wide open to the misuse of permit information, mainly to profile gun owners.
Once a pistol permit police-radio database has been set up, the permit information can then be linked to the permit holder’s license plate or driver’s license number. Used in this way, the permit information would mislead our officers by suggesting that if you have a pistol permit, you are a threat. (For background on HB 1209, click here)
Mr. Conway’s organization, South Dakota Shooting Sports, is affiliated with the NRA. Unfortunately, he has used this relationship to obtain an NRA endorsement for the new anti-gun database bill. Anyone who reads this endorsement will wonder if the NRA has actually read the bill (you can read the NRA endorsement here). It appears that they have also become victims of the misinformation and downright falsehoods being spread about HB 1209.
Action:
1. Please call the Senate Lobby on Friday, Feb. 11 and leave a message for as many of the Senators listed below as you can. The bill will likely be brought to a vote on the morning of Monday, February 14th.
The number is
(605) 773-3821.
Your message can be as simple as “Please vote NO on
HB 1209. It isn’t good for gun owners or law-enforcement.”
As you may know, you can leave a message for two Senators with one call. A legislative page should be there all day tomorrow to take your call from 8am to 5pm, CST, and will deliver your messages to the legislators’ desks.
You can also email them, using the sample message below to direct your comments. Your message can be sent to the address listed under each Senator’s name, or to be sure your message is delivered, click on his name to use the online legislative email system. Each Senator should be able to pick up your message sent via the system while he is at the Capitol.
You can expect the politicians to respond to your call or email with claims that you have been misinformed. If one of them tries to blow smoke in your face, we encourage you to respectfully tell them that the bill clearly allows a database in Section 2, subdivision (5). They will doubtless tell you that the amendments added in committee safeguard against abuse. But the amendments are simply smoke and mirrors. They are cleverly worded, but provide NO actual safeguards. (You can read an analysis of the bill here)
Senate Judiciary Committee
Gene Abdallah – Chair
Lee Schoenbeck – Vice-Chair
2. Call or email NRA-ILA South Dakota Liaison Keith Wood. Ask him why the NRA is supporting a gun control bill like HB 1209. He may repeat to you the misinformation and downright falsehoods that he has received from David Conway. Mr. Wood has no doubt been told that the recently offered amendments safeguard against any abuse. Please let him know that in reality, the amendment are simply smoke and mirrors. They are cleverly worded, but provide NO actual safeguards. (Once again, you can read an analysis of the bill here)
NRA-ILA Liaison Keith Wood
(703) 267-1204
---Sample message---
Dear Senator:
I am strongly opposed to HB 1209. It is not good for gun owners and it is not good for law-enforcement.
I urge you not to be taken in by the smoke and mirrors in this bill. First it strictly prohibits any kind of registry. Then it specifically exempts law-enforcement from that prohibition. Then it reiterates that law-enforcement may use the database in the physical presence of a permit holder but does nothing to prohibit an officer from accessing that same database at any time.
It is undeniable that HB 1209 does indeed provide for the establishment of a police operated central registry for concealed pistol permit holders without ensuring that the permit system will not misused to profile gun owners.
Please vote NO on HB 1209, and please let me know what you intend to do.
Sincerely,
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