Posted on 02/05/2008 4:45:06 PM PST by neverdem
PIERRE, S.D. (AP) -- A measure allowing law-abiding people to carry guns on the campuses of South Dakota's public universities was approved Monday by the state House of Representatives.
The House voted 63-3 to send the measure to the Senate after supporters said allowing students, faculty members and others to carry guns would help deter mass shootings.
"The only remedy for a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun," said Rep. Thomas Brunner, R-Nisland, the main sponsor of the bill.
HB1261 would prevent colleges and technical schools from restricting the right to carry or possess a firearm. Schools could require that guns kept in dormitories be stored in a locked gun safe.
The state Board of Regents, which governs South Dakota's six public universities, has opposed the measure, arguing that allowing students and faculty members to carry guns could make campuses more dangerous. If armed students or teachers exchange gunfire with a madman in a classroom or sports arena, more bystanders could be killed or injured in the crossfire, university officials said.
Only one other state, Utah, authorizes weapons on college campuses, university officials told lawmakers last week.
Brunner said he has two daughters in college, and one who just turned 18 wants a permit to carry a concealed weapon because she has to walk a half mile to her dormitory after parking her car. If criminals know law-abiding citizens might be armed, they will be less likely to consider attacking someone, he said.
Brunner said most mass shootings in recent years have occurred in areas where guns are prohibited. Murderers, such as the disturbed student at Virginia Tech last year, were able to kill many people because no one else was armed, he said.
One of lawmakers to vote against the bill, Rep. Larry Lucas, D-Mission, said he believes encouraging students to carry guns on campus could result in more people getting hurt or killed.
And Rep. Bill Thompson, D-Sioux Falls, said he is worried that encouraging guns on campus could lead to more murders, accidental shootings and suicides.
However, House Republican Leader Larry Rhoden of Union Center said the bill does not encourage students to carry guns. It merely confirms that students have the same constitutional rights as anyone else to bear arms, he said.
Rep. Manny Steele, R-Sioux Falls, said the guard who shot and wounded a gunman at the New Life Church in Colorado Springs in December helped save lives.
"I would certainly feel considerably safer knowing that law-abiding citizens could carry guns," Steele said.
Good work guys
Hooray for South Dakota
“The only remedy for a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun,” said Rep. Thomas Brunner, R-Nisland..
I like this guy..
Good pro-Second Amendment legislation.
Profound and dead on.
Pack the bags honey, a decent state has just appeared on the horizon.
fly over country is becoming more consistent...Larry?I ficked it fer yah, kiss my axe
I thought that but it sure is cold in the winter.
Bang
wimpy but refreshing
“The only remedy for a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun,”
Quote of the year.
“Pack the bags honey, a decent state has just appeared on the horizon.”
It’s also a state where every federal representative is a Democrat, so it’s not exactly perfect.
That statement stuckout like a sore thumb,,got propety outside Stockton , you close..?
One of lawmakers to vote against the bill, Rep. Larry Lucas, D-Mission, said he believes encouraging students to carry guns on campus could result in more people getting hurt or killed.
Hey Larry...there are more accidents in swiming and biking....
that’s right out of a standard hunter safety course.
Good Tagline,,
Unpack the bags honey. They’ve got termites up there too.
LOL
If their House can vote 63-3 for this bill I think the future of South Dakota looks very bright indeed. Some of those House members will seek state wide office in the future.
I’ve been wanting to move to that state, it just those winters... tough on Florida boy.
That’s it, I’m moving to South Dakota. I love cold weather anyway.
If I decide to go to college, I’m going to Utah, or this fine state if it gets done whenever.
Easily controlled: require marksmanship training and
Practice
Practice
Practice
And require frangible ammunition (Glasers, etc.) for on-campus carry...
In other words, practice real gun control!
Wow! That is good news indeed..........
Makes me want to consider moving there for not only the pheasant hunting but their gun friendliness........
LOL! I'd rather be caught in a cross fire than the direct target of an unopposed shooter anytime.......
Better take your mukluks, I’ve lived there and it is COOOLLLDD. Hunting is pretty darn good though.
Barack Obama Running on his Religion
Judge Rules for the City in Gun Sting of Dealers (Bloomberg's straw man "illegal gun" scheme)
From time to time, I’ll ping on noteworthy articles about politics, foreign and military affairs. FReepmail me if you want on or off my list.
yeah,
it’s pure you can’t reduce it any smaller and it you can’t mistake what it means.
ping
Any good performing arts colleges there? My daughter needs a safe place to go ... she’s looking at NYU and CMU right now.
I'm in and from NYC. Sorry, but the performing arts are the least of my interests.
GRRRRREAT news! WOOOOHOOOO! Thanks for posting.
Too many dems. Count me out, he said from California. LOL
My thought exactly....
Gee...I wonder if John Thune knows that he's changed parties to become a RAT? John is a very fine Republican Senator from SD.
Our SAS State Coord gave testimony to the House to help get this bill passed....Yeah!
My apologies, I got my Dakotas mixed up.
Yuppies should listen up. Swimming and biking are more dangerous to participate in than hunting. So put down the bikes and the flippers and pick up the gun :D
It's good to see that there are still a few places in the U.S. where they still know what it is to truly be "free men".
I told my wife that we needed to move to SD instead of back to MN.
Wow !
Good News !
More than the 32 that were systematically murdered at Virginia Tech? </sarc>
Thanks for the ping!
I can't believe that in the time since I graduated and was commissioned in 1980, the University has nearly thrown army ROTC off campus (from having the largest noncompulsory ROTC program in the South when I was there) and gone uber liberal in so many ways. Remember this is a campus that fielded a force to repel an invading union army during the Civil War and that force consisted of boys from the corps of cadets. They weren't exactly victorious, but they fought with honor and pride.
I think the Universities have filled their administrations with carpetbaggers & scalawags!
After yesterday’s election results, I was convinced everyone was brain dead.
Thank goodness some people are kind of getting it right!
Can't wait for the day when lawyers start suing these 'believers of nonsense' for their part in keeping criminals safe from harm and complicity with high crime rates in general.
"Well, Senator Squirreldick, this courts finds that your legislation places you and the other signatories (in favor of such), at risk for claims of monetary relief by the defendents whose family members got all shot-up in the mall last month." "Hope yours and their insurance policies are current, in good standing, and well, very large."
Eliminating barriers-to-entry for the criminal class ought to be, well...criminal.
I’d recommend Hunter college, but my friend goes there and he’s a bit of a womanizer.
Please be aware that Mr. Brunner stole that quote from SAS's own Nancy First! She was quoted in this very newspaper only a few days back--and has made that statement many times while reporting for SAS!Nancy has been at the forefront of the 2A battle in South Dakota for many years, and was very instrumental in getting Senator Thune elected.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.