HB 1278 amended into anti-gun nightmare
State Affairs Committee votes to allow a host of city-level gun bans
South Dakota Gun Owners Email Alert Network
PO Box 3845 Rapid City, SD 57709
605.415.4299
March 4, 2009
Senator Gene Abdallah (R-Sioux Falls) is at it again.
Many will remember that in years past, Sen. Abdallah supported every single anti-gun bill to be introduced.
In 2006, SDGO took him to task for his anti-gun record, forcing him to spend 4 times more money to win re-election. As a result, Sen. Abdallah stopped introducing anti-gun legislation and actually voted pro-gun several times.
But it now appears that he is beginning to forget the lesson of 2006. Earlier today, Sen. Abdallah joined the anti-gun crowd in their efforts to create a patchwork of anti-gun restrictions all over the state.
As you may know, city officials are banning guns in South Dakota. Regardless of whether you possess a concealed pistol permit, these bureaucrats and politicians say you cannot carry a handgun to defend yourself on city property.
SDGO introduced HB 1278 to end this outrageous denial of your right to self-defense.
The State House passed the bill, 46 to 20, and soundly defeated efforts to gut the bill with anti-gun amendments.
But now Sen. Abdallah and six left-leaning members of the Senate State Affairs committee voted to gut HB 1278 with the very same anti-gun amendment. They have changed it from a very simple pro-gun bill to one of the most anti-gun bills to hit South Dakota in years.
If passed, the new HB 1278 would give cities the authority to ban guns on virtually all city property. This means that your concealed pistol permit would be useless in every city park. It would be useless on every city bus, at the library, the civic center and numerous other locations.
If Sen. Abdallah’s mutilated version of HB 1278 passes, you could be arrested simply for defending yourself in towns all across South Dakota.
ACTION:
Please contact Sen. Abdallah and the six other committee members who voted for extensive city gun bans. Politely inform them of your strong displeasure toward their anti-gun vote.
Voting to allow city gun bans (Anti-gun)
Sen. Gene Abdallah - sen.abdallah@state.sd.us
Sen. Bob Gray - sen.gray@state.sd.us
Sen. Gary Hanson - sen.hanson@state.sd.us
Sen. Nancy Turbak Berry – sen.turbakberry@state.sd.us
Sen. Dave Knudson - sen.knudson@state.sd.us
Sen. Thomas Dempster - senatordempster@sio.midco.net
Sen. Scott Heidepriem - sen.heidepriem@state.sd.us
Then contact your Senator, even if you’ve already done so. Ask him or her to oppose the amended version of HB 1278 and to support the effort to change the bill back to its original form. You can use the Sample Message below to direct your comments.
If you don’t know who your Senator is, click here: http://capwiz.com/gunowners/state/main/?state=SD&view=myofficials Simply scroll down to”My Elected Officials,” enter your address and city and click “GO.”
Phone: Call the Senate Lobby at (605) 773-3821 to leave a message. A legislative page should be there between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. to take your call.
Email: Click on the following link to send your Senators an email online: http://legis.state.sd.us/email/LegislatorEmail.aspx Choose his or her name from the drop down.
-------------------Sample Message-------------------
Dear Senator:
I’m appalled that HB 1278 has been amended to allow cities to ban guns.
My right to bear arms in self-defense is guaranteed by Article VI, Section 24 of the South Dakota Constitution. In its current form, HB 1278 is a complete denial of this foundational right. As it stands, the bill doesn’t even provide for self-defense when I go for a walk in my city park!
HB 1278 would now allow every town and county to completely nullify South Dakota’s concealed pistol permit. This is the exact opposite of the original intent of the bill.
Please support the efforts to amend HB 1278 back to its original form. It is currently completely unacceptable. A vote for HB 1278 as it stands could not be considered as anything but an anti-gun vote.
Thank you for your consideration. South Dakota Gun Owners will let me know how you vote.
Sincerely,
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If you’d like to do more, please thank the two committee members who stood firm against city gun bans.
Voting to stop city gun bans (Pro-gun)
Sen. Russell Olson – http://legis.state.sd.us/email/LegislatorEmail.aspx?MemberID=24
Sen. Larry Rhoden – http://legis.state.sd.us/email/LegislatorEmail.aspx?MemberID=88
Click here for more on the city gun ban issue