Pro-gun bills pass first committee
South Dakota
Gun Owners E-mail Alert
PO Box 3845, Rapid City, SD 57709
(605) 737-5583
LibertyTeeth@sdgo.org
http://www.SDGO.org
Friday, January 27, 2006
Congratulations!
In the last week, SDGO asked you to voice your support for two pro-gun bills in the state Legislature. Your action has helped push both bills through the first committee with flying colors.
HB 1134 fortifies South Dakota’s self-defense laws. If passed, it will clarify that you may resist “by force or violence” if you or any family member is threatened. It also clarifies that you may come to the aid of any other person who is threatened with bodily injury. Finally, the bill would maintain your right to use force or violence to defend your property, and would establish that you do not have a duty to retreat from any place you have the right to be. This is perhaps the greatest benefit offered by HB 1134.
HB 1173 would limit the authority of state agencies to promulgate rules restricting concealed carry by pistol permit holders. This works hand-in-hand with the effort to change a current rule that outlaws carrying a handgun for self-defense in any South Dakota state park, campground, lakeside or recreational area. Not even folks who have a permit are currently allowed to carry in over 100,000 acres of public land spread out over 120 different locations around the state.
You can get background on these issues here: HB 1134 HB 1173
Action
If you have not yet contacted your state representatives about these bills, now is the time. They mainly need to hear that you support HB 1134. HB 1173 passed the committee unanimously and is likely to pass in the House. However, you can ask your representatives to support both with the same message, which can be as simple as “Please vote YES on HB 1134 and HB 1173.”
You can leave a message for both your representatives at the Capitol. The number for the House Lobby is (605) 773-3851. Messages can be left for up to two representatives with each call between the hours of 8:00 am and 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday.
You can identify your representatives on the State Legislative website: http://legis.state.sd.us/sessions/2006/mem.htm You will also find their contact info here if you would like to email or call them directly. If you email, your message need be no more than “Please vote YES on HB 1134 and HB 1173” in the subject line.
You can find out who your legislators are here: http://capwiz.com/gunowners/dbq/officials
You can view the names of the representatives who have co-sponsored the bills at the links below. Please be sure to express your approval to your representatives if they are on the bill.
HB 1134: http://legis.state.sd.us/sessions/2006/bills/HB1134p.htm
HB 1173: http://legis.state.sd.us/sessions/2006/bills/HB1173p.htm
Finally, you can view the committee votes on the bills here:
HB 1134: http://legis.state.sd.us/sessions/2006/rollcall534.htm
HB 1173: http://legis.state.sd.us/sessions/2006/rollcall572.htm