South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem has signed a new law that will open the door for more people to carry concealed weapons in the state.
On Thursday, Noem, a Republican, signed Senate Bill 47, which repealed requirements for South Dakotans to first obtain permits before carry concealed weapons.
The law take effect in July and would be the first time in 155 years that concealed handguns aren’t regulated in South Dakota.
It’s currently a misdemeanor in South Dakota for someone to carry a concealed pistol or to have one concealed in a vehicle without a permit. Senate President Pro Tem Brock Greenfield, the bill’s sponsor, says people are being asked to “lease back” their constitutionally protected right to bear firearms.
Previous Gov. Dennis Daugaard, also a Republican, vetoed a similar measure that would have allowed most South Dakota adults to carry concealed weapons without a state permit. South Dakota will join more than 12 other states with similar laws.
Story by KELO-TV
