South Dakota House to vote on allowing permitless carry

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) – A bill that would allow people to carry concealed handguns without a permit is headed to the South Dakota House for a vote.

The House State Affairs Committee approved the bill 10-3 Monday. It has already passed the Senate and Gov. Kristi Noem, a Republican, has said she supports permitless carry.

The South Dakota Sheriffs’ Association testified Monday that they don’t oppose the idea but would prefer it apply only to South Dakota residents. A separate bill that includes that restriction hasn’t been scheduled for a hearing yet.

Sen. Brock Greenfield, a Clark Republican, argued to the committee that his bill does away with a background check that duplicates one people have already done when they purchased a handgun.

Rep. Jamie Smith, a Sioux Falls Democrat who opposed the bill, says there’s been no need shown to change the law.

AP-WF-01-29-19