The gun lobby shoots itself in the foot

Week two of our 2012 legislative session is in the bag. We had a slow start but it's rolling now. Over 600 bills have been drafted and we have 26 days left to sort through them. If you fear the thought of adding 600 additional laws take comfort in the fact that half of them won't see the light of day (typically) and some that are presently on the books we are seeking to rescind. For example this afternoon the Governor's department by department red tape review is bringing before us the opportunity to delete 52 pages of now obsolete South Dakota statutes - 16,000 words — HB 1012 passed the House - it repeals old Department of Environment and Natural Resources laws including some that relate to weather modification and cloud seeding.

Surprising some, a bill, HB1002, which would have repealed the sales tax exemption on coins, currency and bullion died in the tax committee, 11 to 2. Had it made it to the House floor, I'd have voted no. My father would have haunted me had I voted to tax money.

Most unfortunate this morning was the demise in committee of my friend Rep. Kopp's handgun or Constitutional Carry bill which would repeal the requirement to get a $10 Concealed Carry permit. I would have voted for it if I had the chance. Why? The Second Amendment is my "permit" to carry a hand gun. Perhaps he'll try to smoke the bill out of committee to get it directly to the House floor.

Please read David Montgomery's post giving the details of the fate of this bill. Several on the committee admitted to voting against it at least in part because it was being pushed by a dubious and fringe gun owners group whose renowned friendly-fire tactics have earned them the ire of many in the legislature. There is such a thing as you getting in the way of your cause. And in this case, it's a good cause… one that I wholeheartedly support. When we aren't winsome, we lose some and here a good gun bill was shot down.

YES we should just vote on a bill based on it's merits. But, politics is people too. It's too bad. Hopefully there will be a smoke out attempt Monday as it's justified because of the stated reasons committee members rejected it - not on it's merits but for other reasons.