PIERRE, S.D. — The South Dakota Senate advanced legislation Wednesday allowing permit holders to carry concealed weapons on public university and technical college campuses after adopting amendments and adding safety restrictions.
The vote was 33 to 2.
Senate Bill 100, introduced by Sen. Mykala Voita, R-Bonesteel, would prevent public higher education institutions from restricting concealed pistols for enhanced permits, restricted enhanced permits or reciprocal permit holders. The measure also protects the right to carry stun guns and chemical sprays.
“South Dakota is a constitutional carry state,” Voita said. “For far too long, we have allowed the constitutional rights of students and staff to be trampled on by policy.”
The amendment creates exceptions for areas containing hazardous materials, research facilities and spaces with MRI equipment. It also requires armed security and metal detectors at special events where weapons would be prohibited.
The SDSU Students’ Association voted 17 to 6 to oppose the originial version of the bill in early February.
Chief of Staff Rylee Sabo brought up concerns about the differences in age on campus.
“There are people that are under the age of 18 coming onto this campus all the time, in addition to having the preschool on campus,” She said. “They have [firearm] restrictions for schools K through 12, so I just feel like there’s a lot of gray area there and it feels a little “ishy” to me. I also feel like a lot of the wording of the bill is kind of vague, where we don’t really see exactly what’s going to be prohibited and how.”
Sen. Blake Gibney voted not to oppose the bill.
“The truth of the matter is that law-abiding citizens are going to be unarmed on this campus if Senate Bill 100 is composed and doesn’t go through,” He said. “That leaves all these perpetrators; if you look across the historical scope of the United States, none of them looked at codified law before shooting up a school. None of them said, ‘Well, it’s illegal.’”
Under the legislation, permit holders must complete training and demonstrate proficiency with their firearm to obtain a permit.
The measure now moves to the House.
Todd Epp of the South Dakota Broadcasters Association contributed to this report.
