The House Education Committee killed a bill Monday that would have changed enhanced permit rules for concealed carry on South Dakota campuses.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Dylan Jordan, R-Clear Lake, would have allowed carrying a concealed handgun without an enhanced or restricted-enhanced permit on the campuses of Board of Regents schools and technical colleges.
The committee killed the legislation on a 9-6 vote.
Student governments at both South Dakota State University and the University of South Dakota opposed the bill.
Anna Hundt, government affairs chair for the SDSU Students’ Association, told the committee that the senate unanimously approved a resolution opposing the bill during an emergency meeting Friday.
“I have no doubt that this bill is aimed at keeping more South Dakota students safe, but as leaders of our student body, we have significant concerns that the outcome will be the opposite of its intent,” Hundt said.
Hundt said enhanced permit training covers South Dakota firearms law and the lawful use of force.
“It trains students on what scenarios include proper use of force and what scenarios do not,” Hundt said. “In high-stress situations, a trained student will have the knowledge of how to act within the law, but more importantly, within what is logistically necessary to keep everyone safe.”
Ellie Hart, USD’s student body vice president, represented the USD Student Government Association, which also voted unanimously to oppose the legislation. Hart argued that the committee should listen to the students who are on campus.
“If the proponent testimony is correct, and me, as a young woman and a young student, am most at risk, then I’m the most qualified person in this room to tell you that our campuses are safe,” Hart said.
Supporters of the bill argued that the enhanced permit requirement is an unnecessary barrier to self-defense.
Levi Taglioli, a USD student and founder of Conservative Students for South Dakota, disagreed that the bill would reduce campus safety.
“This is a campus carry bill to respond to the Board of Regents,” Taglioli said. “We do have gun control on campuses. That’s what this (the current policy) is.”
Taglioli also said the enhanced permit class focuses on legal instruction rather than firearm handling.
“It is not a safety briefing. It doesn’t teach you how to use a gun. It teaches you the law,” he said.
Concealed carry was not allowed on South Dakota college campuses until the Legislature and Gov. Larry Rhoden passed a law allowing it for permit holders last year. Concealed carrying is generally allowed without a permit in South Dakota, except in places where a permit and notice are required or in places where only approved people are allowed to carry guns.
Nathan Lukkes, executive director and CEO of the Board of Regents, said universities do not track who carries concealed weapons on campus.
“We don’t know if 1,000 people are carrying or if two people are carrying because we don’t ask,” Lukkes said.
According to Lukkes, the Board of Regents has received no complaints about the current policy since it was implemented.
