South Dakota Senate Committee Strikes Down Gun Rights Expansion Resolution
Jose Nino
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On the morning of February 6, 2024, the South Dakota Senate Judiciary Committee shot down a ballot measure that would have increased gun rights in the state.
On a 7-0 vote, the Senate Judiciary Committee sent SJR506 to the 41st legislative day, thereby killing the bill. There is no 41st day during a legislative session of the South Dakota State Legislature, which is a tactic that’s used by legislators in the state to kill controversial legislation.
Senator Julie Frye-Mueller from Rapid City sponsored the resolution.
The measure would have imposed limits on when firearms could be seized from individuals charged with felonies or in domestic abuse situations.
On top of that, the bill would have scrapped sales taxes on guns, ammunition, reloading supplies, and certain firearms accessories.
Proponents said the bill would strengthen and guarantee South Dakotans’ Second Amendment rights and send a clear message to gun manufacturers that the state is a great place for them to do business in.
South Dakota’s case demonstrates that the passage of pro-gun legislation is not always a given in red states. Many of these red states are filled with pro-establishment politicians who like to continue business as usual politics and fight hard to preserve the status quo. For example, it took years of hard-fought activism to finally get Constitutional Carry passed in South Dakota in 2019.
South Dakota is currently ranked in 7th place according to Guns & Ammo magazine’s best states for gun owners rankings. This is an excellent ranking. However, there’s still much more that South Dakota can do to boost its pro-gun profile.
If South Dakota wants to attain the vaunted position of the #1 pro-state in the US, it should continue passing pro-gun legislation no matter the circumstances.
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