Despite passage by both the state House and Senate, South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard on Friday vetoed legislation that would have deregulated concealed carry in the state, according to a report at Reuters.com.
The House had passed the “permitless” carry measure by a 37-30 vote, and the Senate had approved it by an overwhelming 23-11 margin.
In South Dakota, it is already legal to carry a firearm openly, as long as the individual is not prohibited by law from possessing a firearm. However, under current law, if a firearm becomes covered by a coat or if a woman prefers to carry a firearm for self-protection in her purse, he or she would need to possess a CCHL. This legislation would have given South Dakotans the freedom to choose the best method of carrying for them, based on their attire, gender and/or physical attributes.
The legislation would also have kept in place the current permitting system so that people who obtain a permit could still enjoy the reciprocity agreements that South Dakota has with other states.