South Dakota
Gun Owners
2008 State Legislative Candidate Survey
1. Gun control advocates want handguns mechanically locked when not in use. Do you support or oppose government mandated use of trigger locks or other locked storage requirements?
2. Gun control advocates call for government licensing as a prerequisite to buying a gun. Billed as a “reasonable” control, such licensing systems usually include background checks, fingerprinting, high fees and "training" requirements. Do you support or oppose these forms of government licensing as a requirement for buying or possessing a gun?
3. Currently, South Dakota requires each applicant for a concealed pistol permit to undergo a background check.
3a. Would you support or oppose legislation adding fingerprinting or firearms training as further requirements for obtaining a concealed pistol permit?
3b. Would you support or oppose putting a photo ID on the permit?
4. Do you support or oppose laws requiring background checks on private firearms transactions?
5. Gun control advocates are calling for limits on the number of firearms that a law-abiding citizen may purchase in a specified time period, usually one per month. Do you support or oppose “one gun a month” laws that limit purchase of firearms by law-abiding citizens?
6. Gun control advocates want to prohibit 18-20 year-olds from possessing firearms. Such laws make it illegal for a person under the age of 21 to obtain a concealed pistol permit or carry a firearm except under very limited circumstances. Do you support or oppose laws that would prohibit an 18-20 year-old from possessing a firearm?
7. Many gun control advocates do not think private citizens should be able to own .50 caliber rifles. Do you support or oppose limitations on the private ownership of .50 caliber rifles?
8. In the past, taxes have been used to restrict firearms ownership. Do you support or oppose laws which would impose new taxes on the ownership, purchase or use of firearms or ammunition currently available to citizens?
9. Current South Dakota law is unclear as to whether a citizen needs a concealed pistol permit in order to possess a loaded handgun in a vehicle. Would you support or oppose legislation to clarify that a person does not need a permit in order to possess a loaded handgun in a vehicle for self-defense?
10. Current South Dakota law is also unclear as to how and when a citizen may possess a loaded handgun on snowmobiles, motorcycles and off-road vehicles. Would you support or oppose legislation to clarify that a person may carry a loaded handgun for self-defense while on a motorcycle, snowmobile or off-road vehicle?
11. Many gun control advocates seek to create so-called “gun free zones” in places like restaurants, preventing the law-abiding citizen from possessing a firearm. Would you support or oppose legislation that would prohibit citizens from bearing arms for self-defense in public places?
12. The South Dakota Board of Regents is currently using a “gun free zone” policy to ban the possession of firearms on state college campuses. Students or faculty who violate this policy could face expulsion or dismissal. Recently, the Regents attempted to pass legislation making it a crime under state law for anyone to possess a gun on campus. At the same time gun rights advocates tried to pass legislation requiring the Board of Regents to repeal their “gun free zone” policy. Would you support or oppose legislation that would allow law-abiding citizens to bear arms for self-defense on college campuses?
13. Vermont law recognizes that every citizen has the right to carry a gun, openly or concealed, except to commit a crime. Thus, with no license or government bureaucracy, citizens from Vermont, or any other state, can carry concealed firearms in Vermont. Would you support or oppose Vermont-style legislation, which would allow citizens to carry firearms openly or concealed, without a permit, for any reason except for the commission of a crime?