South Dakota Moms Demand Action, Everytown Applaud Defeat of Dangerous Bill That Would Have Dismantled State’s Permit Requirement for Carrying Concealed Handguns

PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, today applauded the final defeat of H 1072, which would have dismantled the state’s concealed carry permit requirement, during a veto override session. If lawmakers had overridden Gov. Dennis Daugaard’s veto of H 1072 today, the bill would have let certain weapons offenders, drug offenders and people with histories of violence carry hidden, loaded handguns in public.

Last month, Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund and the South Dakota chapter of Moms Demand Action released a poll conducted by SurveyUSA on behalf of Everytown that found 89 percent of South Dakota voters surveyed – including 90 percent of gun owners – support the law requiring a permit to carry a concealed handgun in public places. As reported in the Argus-Leader, the poll showed “a majority of Trump voters, Republicans, permit holders, conservative voters and gun owners supported the state’s existing concealed carry requirement in the poll, joining a large majority of left-leaning voters.”

Opponents of H 1072 included the South Dakota Sheriffs Association, the South Dakota Police Chiefs Association, the South Dakota State’s Attorneys Association and the South Dakota Fraternal Order of Police.

South Dakota now joins Virginia, Utah and New Mexico as states that have defeated permitless carry proposals this year. Last month, Montana’s governor vetoed a permitless carry proposal.

STATEMENT FROM JULIE PARKER, VOLUNTEER WITH THE SOUTH DAKOTA CHAPTER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA:

“Our permit requirement is a basic safety standard that’s part of our proud tradition of responsible gun ownership, and it’s supported by the vast majority of South Dakotans, including most gun owners.

“I’m grateful to the governor for taking action to protect all of us from the new and needless risks this bill would have introduced. His veto made clear he listened to the grave concerns of law enforcement groups and to the overwhelming majority of South Dakotans who opposed this bill.”