South Dakota Joins Constitutional Carry Club

By Tom Knighton

AP Photo/Ted S. Warren

The term “constitutional carry” is used for permitless carry for one very specific reason. That reason is that the Constitution says the right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed, and permit systems infringe on that right. By removing the requirement for a permit, a state returns to a more constitutional setting with regard to carrying a firearm.

And now, South Dakota residents get to enjoy that more constitutional setting.

A new law effective this week in South Dakota eliminates the need for a permit to carry a concealed pistol.

South Dakota is the 14th state to enact such a law for both residents and visitors. Pennington County Capt. Marty Graves tells KOTA-TV he thinks it’s a good thing for gun owners. Graves says it will lighten the work load for his office because it will no longer issue the permits and collect the fees.

Graves is right. That frees up officers to take care of more important things like…oh, I don’t know…fighting actual crime?

Time and time again, I read criticisms of constitutional carry and how it will empower criminals. But guess what? Bad guys have been carrying guns for a long, long …Read the Rest

Source:: Bearing Arms