SDGO members advance Right to Self-Defense

Bills passed to fortify self-defense laws and open state parks to CCW

Gun owners have made their voice heard loud and clear in the last two months.

With the strong support of SDGO members and supporters, two solid pro-gun bills have become law.  House Bill 1134 reinforces your right to stand your ground in self-defense.  It clarifies that you can meet force with force to protect yourself, your family and anyone else threatened with violence.  It also reiterates your right to defend your property.

Most importantly, this Right to Self-Defense bill establishes that you do not have a duty to retreat from anywhere you have a right to be.  This means that the law is on your side if you decide that it would be safer to defend yourself rather than attempting to flee from an attacker.  The Right to Self-Defense bill helps make your community a safer place to live.  It is built on a simple concept: South Dakota’s laws should favor the innocent victim, not the violent criminal.

This is the kind of common sense that would seem obvious.  Unfortunately, many politicians opposed it.

SDGO Members Win the Day for Right to Self-Defense Bill

When HB 1134 was introduced in mid January, gun owners registered their support.  The House of Representatives passed the bill, but only after weakening it with amendments.  Then the opposition stiffened. Word around the Capitol was that even the watered down House version of HB 1134 was likely to be defeated in the Senate. 

SDGO alerted its members via mail and email and focused the grassroots action where it was needed most.  Support for the self-defense bill began pouring in.  Within days, hundreds of phone messages and emails piled up on the Senators’ desks.

Thanks to this positive pressure from SDGO members, the Senate did an about face.  The watered down House amendments were stripped off and the original bill sailed through the Senate with only one dissenting vote.

The adage “When politicians feel the heat, they see the light” proved true once again.  The Right to Self-Defense bill may very likely have died in the Senate without strong grassroots action from SDGO.

No Right to Carry on Public Land

SDGO members also worked to pass a bill that deals with the Right to Carry.  Until now, it has been illegal to carry a handgun for self-defense in any South Dakota state park, campground, recreational area, or lakeside use area.

Before this battle, most gun owners weren’t aware that their right to bear arms has been severely restricted in approximately 100,000 acres of public land spread out over 120 different locations around the state.

Under current law and administrative rules, anyone forced to defend himself with a handgun in these areas could face criminal charges.  South Dakota law gives the Game Fish & Parks authority to control and prohibit the use of firearms (SDCL 41-17-1.1[8]).    Under this authority, GFP had simply outlawed uncased firearms throughout the entire state park system.  The only exception was for licensed hunters during established hunting seasons.  Not even concealed pistol permit holders have been allowed to carry a firearm for self-defense.

Gun Owners Win Concealed Carry in Parks Issue

SDGO members joined gun owners from across the state in raising an outcry against this outrageous denial of the right to bear arms by calling for the passage of House Bill 1173.  The bill states that no state agency can adopt or promulgate any rule that prohibits concealed pistol permit holders from carrying a concealed handgun.

While this stops short of recognizing your constitutional right, it does move South Dakota in the right direction.  Under HB 1173, you are still required to obtain a government license.  But it is a good first step toward full recognition of your Right to Carry and your right to self-defense.

Thanks to the strong support of SDGO members and others, HB 1173 passed the Legislature unanimously and was signed into law.  It will take effect on July 1st.

Following this public outcry and the passage of HB 1173, the Game Fish & Parks Commission met to consider an amendment to the South Dakota Administrative Rules, chapter 41:03:01:16.  The amendment allows individuals who possess a concealed pistol permit to carry a concealed handgun in the state park system at any time.

SDGO delivered more than 700 signed petitions to the Commission in favor of the change, and many SDGO members showed support via email.  The Commission adopted the rule change unanimously.  According to Matt Snyder with the Game Fish & Parks, the change is effective immediately and should be finalized within the next month.

No-Compromise Grassroots Action Advances Right to Arms

SDGO members can be justly proud of what they have accomplished in the last two months.

The Right to Self-Defense is absolutely foundational.  Everyone has the right to defend innocent life, whether at home or abroad; and when the police aren’t there to help, action must be taken.  Bottom line, law-abiding citizens shouldn’t have to worry about being prosecuted or sued for doing what the Constitution and common sense say they have the right to do.

SDGO members have once again proven that they have a resounding voice, and that they will not tolerate politicians who want to legislate away their rights.  The SDGO membership has also brought unity to the gun rights community.

In past years, some gun rights leaders have divided gun owners by accepting anti-gun compromises.  But thanks to the strong no-compromise pressure from SDGO, not one anti-gun backroom deal got off the ground this year.  Instead, the gun leaders who have compromised in the past were on board working to write and pass solid pro-gun bills.

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