Courtesy of Chad Coppess/South Dakota Tourism
The South Dakota Legislative Session runs through March 28 at the State Capitol in Pierre.
South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden signed a bill into law Monday that would allow concealed pistols on public college campuses.
Senate Bill 100 allows people with an enhanced permit, restricted enhanced permits or reciprocal permit holders to carry concealed pistols, stun guns and chemical sprays on public university and technical college campuses.
“One of my favorite things about South Dakota is how much we respect freedom — especially our Second Amendment freedom,” Rhoden said during a bill-signing ceremony, on Monday.
According to the bill, pistols and ammunition must be stored in a locked case or safe when it is not being carried. Institutions may restrict the carrying or possession of these items in air-quality-controlled labs, locations needing security clearance, special events with armed security and metal detectors and labs with flammable liquids, dangerous chemicals and hazardous gases.
In early February, the SDSU Students’ Association voted 17 to 6 to oppose the bill. Chief of Staff Rylee Sabo expressed her concern about the range of ages that could be affected by the change.
“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.”