By Ray Lautenschlager

Executive Director

Gun owners have once again played a major role in shaping the political landscape in South Dakota.

Thanks to the action of SDGO members and supporters, pro-gun legislators won and anti-gun politicians were soundly defeated in the Primary Elections last month.

This sends an important message: politicians who vote against the right to arms will pay a high political price at election time.

Dave Knudson, the anti-gun candidate for governor

During his tenure in the Legislature, state Senator Dave Knudson amassed one of the worst anti-gun records in South Dakota history.

He sponsored legislation to register and profile gun owners and voted to allow the left-leaning media to blacklist concealed pistol permit holders. He also used his position as Senate Majority Leader to torpedo nearly every pro-gun bill that came up.

Two years in a row, he led the effort to kill legislation recognizing that adults on college campuses have the same right to self-defense as any other adult in South Dakota. He also tried to give city-level politicians and bureaucrats nearly unlimited authority to enact sweeping gun bans. For his anti-gun shenanigans, Knudson earned a “D” rating from the NRA, just one step away from a full “F.”

Two years ago, Knudson began his campaign for governor. All told, he raised around one million dollars with a donor list that reads like a who’s who of leftists in South Dakota.

SD Wildlife Federation endorses anti-gun Knudson

But Knudson knew his left-wing record was a liability, and he worked hard to cover it. He campaigned as a “conservative,” vehemently denied his anti-gun record and secured endorsements from lobbyists like Chris Hesla, Executive Director of the South Dakota Wildlife Federation. Knudson also won the endorsement of the two largest newspapers in the state.

South Dakota Gun Owners was one of the few state-wide organizations to openly and actively oppose Knudson for his left-leaning record. SDGO began publishing his numerous anti-gun votes in the mail and at key events more than a year before the election. Staff and volunteers distributed thousands of leaflets and sent thousands upon thousands of mail pieces before the election.

SDGO helps give Knudson “old fashioned thumping”

On Election Day, Sen. Knudson’s left-leaning record caught up with him. Thanks to the action of gun owners and others across the state, he came in third in a field of five candidates with a little less than 16% of the vote.

In his own words, Knudson described his defeat as “an old fashioned thumping.”

JP Duniphan attempts a comeback

Some gun owners may remember former state Senator JP Duniphan as one of the most anti-gun politicians in the state. She sponsored or voted for virtually every anti-gun bill to be introduced during her career in the South Dakota Legislature.

In 2006, SDGO played a major role in helping political newcomer Dennis Schmidt defeat Duniphan. After winning the Rapid City District 33 Senate seat, Schmidt championed gun rights at the state Capitol and sponsored numerous pro-gun bills. This year he decided to retire, leaving the Senate seat open for the 2010 Primary Elections.

Duniphan did extensive polling in March to determine if voters remembered her left-leaning record. It had been four years, and she clearly found that many folks just didn’t know about her. In April, Duniphan jumped into the race to run against pro-gun Representative Elizabeth Kraus for the state Senate in District 33.

Anti-gun Sen. Duniphan positioned to win

"I bring a conservative philosophy to a wide range of issues," Duniphan proclaimed in a news release announcing her candidacy. Throughout the race, she tried very hard to paint herself as “a good, old fashioned conservative Republican.”

Nothing could be further from the truth. Duniphan had spent her time in the Legislature pushing schemes like the Anti-Gun Central Registry and the Lautenberg Gun Ban, and had cast numerous left-leaning votes on many other issues.

But despite her bad track record, Duniphan had a good chance of success early in the race. She had substantial financial backing from anti-gun millionaire and state Senator Stan Adelstein. Many voters were not aware of her left-leaning record, and she ran a very aggressive campaign filled with conservative rhetoric.

Pundits suggested that Duniphan could win unless the voters were fully informed about her true record.

SDGO members turn the tide to defeat Duniphan

That’s where the action and support of the SDGO membership proved to be crucial. Throughout the campaign, South Dakota Gun Owners took Duniphan to task with thousands of mail pieces and thousands of phone calls highlighting her radical anti-gun votes and her attempts to deceive the voters. The Tea Party PAC also joined the effort by publishing Duniphan’s numerous votes for increased taxes.

Duniphan responded to SDGO’s accountability campaign with a very shrill, last minute attack full of blatant falsehoods against her opponent, Elizabeth Kraus.

But Duniphan’s dirty politics didn’t do her any good. On Election Day, she went down hard in one of the most dramatic state Legislative races in quite awhile.

Kraus won 74% of the vote. Duniphan got 26%. This landslide victory for gun owners was won largely by SDGO members and supporters.

Pro-gun champion elected

SDGO also played a key role in electing pro-gun Representative Tim Begalka to the state Senate in District 04. During his tenure in the state House, Begalka sponsored solid pro-gun legislation like the Self-Defense in Vehicles Act and legislation to protect gun owners from firearms confiscation during a disaster or emergency.

Thanks in large part to support from SDGO, Begalka won the Senate race with 62% of the vote.

Numerous pro-gun candidates win unchallenged

Gun owners also won several other races because the left failed to field candidates. Pro-gun stalwarts Rep. Tom Brunner and Rep. Don Kopp faced no challengers for their state House seats in last month’s Primaries.

Strong pro-gun Representatives Mike Verchio, Lance Russell, Phil Jensen and Betty Olson also ran unopposed. And pro-gun Representatives Jason Frerichs and Dan Lederman ran unopposed for the state Senate.

SDGO played a significant role in electing several of these pro-gun legislators in years past, and each of their easy victories this year demonstrates the strength of the pro-gun vote.

SDGO flexes grassroots muscle for gun rights

Gun owners did very well in the 2010 South Dakota Primary Elections, thanks to South Dakota Gun Owners members and supporters.

SDGO is the only gun rights organization actively working to elect pro-gun leaders and defeat anti-gun politicians in South Dakota. The numerous victories won last month were made possible in large part by the action and support of the SDGO membership.

Now gun owners must focus on the fast-approaching elections this fall. The battle in 2010 for the right to arms has just begun.

Focus shifts to November General Elections

Now gun owners must focus on the fast-approaching elections this fall. There are more than 20 races for the state Legislature alone that will heavily impact gun rights. Add to that the Governor’s race, the Congressional race and others, and the 2010 General Elections become even more crucial.

The battle in 2010 for the right to arms has just begun.