South Dakota is a 2nd Amendment Sanctuary
By: Governor Kristi Noem
May 20, 2022
Over the past two years, America has seen some of the most concerning attacks on freedom in our history. Governments seized previously unimagined power over our day-to-day lives. Churches were forced to close, forsaking freedom of religion. Big tech and government alike attempted to police speech, something that is supposed to be free for all. And though the Supreme Court seems poised to advance the right to life of all people, renewed attacks on that right are only just beginning.
Amid all this, the right that exists to defend all other rights is also under assault.
Yes, I’m talking about the 2nd Amendment, our right to keep and bear arms. The Biden administration is attempting to erode this essential right that the founding fathers passionately supported. He has signed executive orders and pursued legislation to strip law-abiding citizens of their rights, and he has promised to do worse.
Since I became governor, I have enhanced South Dakota’s protections for 2nd Amendment rights. The first bill I signed as governor was constitutional carry, also known as permitless carry. Every law-abiding citizen should have the 2nd Amendment rights guaranteed.
Consider these quotes from the founding fathers, each pointing to an early understanding of what it meant for the individual right to bear arms:
“A free people ought to be armed, but disciplined;”
— President George Washington’s first message to Congress in 1790, a year before the 2nd Amendment was ratified
“No freeman shall ever be debarred from the use of arms within his own lands or tenements.”
— Thomas Jefferson, in drafts of Virginia’s constitution
Even Alexander Hamilton — whose reimagined popularity on Broadway falsely paints him as a liberal — passionately advocated for the right to self-defense. At the time of the American Revolution, the militias fighting against the British Army were armed with their own muskets and rifles. Hamilton, in Federalist No. 29, asserts that an armed and well-regulated militia would be a check on government tyranny. Under that same principle, a militia today would be armed by the individuals themselves — unlike the U.S. Military branches, which are themselves an instrument of the government.
We must remember that those continental soldiers were fighting an overbearing national government – the British – who was trampling their rights. They kept and bore their own personal arms into battle. In doing so, they built the freest country this world has yet known.
I promise to defend that freedom our founders won for us. That is why we continue to look for ways to protect the rights of law-abiding citizens in South Dakota. In 2020, I blocked bills proposing unconstitutional red-flag laws to strip citizens of their right to bear arms. The following year, I signed “stand your ground” legislation, and I further protected your right to purchase guns and ammo during emergency declarations. This year, I repealed all concealed carry permit fees for state residents, which is necessary to remain in good legal standing in other states with stricter gun laws. It won’t cost you a penny to exercise your 2nd Amendment rights.
I’ve taken these actions because the 2nd Amendment is important to South Dakotans. A study this year found we are in the Top 10 states for gun ownership, and we are the number one state for the percentage of residents who get a hunting license (about 1-in-5 South Dakotans get licensed each year).
Our focus is on protecting the right to protect yourself, your family, and your property, as Thomas Jefferson asserted. Unfortunately, opponents outside of our state fail to understand what successful protections look like. One anti-gun group gave South Dakota an “F” rating because we strengthened our “stand your ground” law. That same group gave Illinois an “A-” despite the state having higher gun death rates per capita.
As Governor, I will always fight to protect your rights and strengthen them. Individual rights are guaranteed in our Constitution, and the Second Amendment exists to protect the rest. As folks continue to look to South Dakota as an example of liberty, we will continue to be a sanctuary for the 2nd Amendment, as well.
###
Ever paid any attention to the most important part of the amendment? The ‘well disciplined militia’ part? You, of course, would you stoop so low as to say the recent shooter in Buffalo was such a ‘member’.? Correct? Well disciplined-my ass!
Cherry picking the constitution is just like cherry picking the bible; quoting only the parts to
make your point.
Jake at 9:40…
“(A) well-regulated Militia” is the subordinate clause. “(T)he right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed” is the main, or operative, clause. The plain English is, the 2nd Amendment is an individual right central to self-defense in a free society.
Very good explanation Cliff, you are right on.
Cliff talking to himself again. Hate when he babbles
Jake is another ill-informed person spouting off about something of which he knows nothing. He did not even correctly quote the Second Amendment, and he certainly does not know the meaning of “A well regulated Militia” at the time when it was written. The term militia did not necessarily mean at that time a group organized people like the National Guard today. Furthermore, regulated did not mean limited or controlled by the government as many Leftists argue today. It simply referred to being trained, in this case in the use of firearms.
Guns…well Noem has taken aim at Another conservative today Bethany Soye, 2nd most co servative by ACU and yet Noem supports the 2 establishment challengers yet again.
Fake news. She’s not involving herself in the primaries. She issued a press release saying this and even called Sneve to tell him he’s dishonest.
Joe Sneve one got mad at me when I called the Argus Leader a part of the “Council of Foreign Relations (C.F.R) which was an organization established by John D Rockefeller, J.P Morgan Chase, Andrew Carnegie, and Henry Ford. Hence sometimes, the moniker of C.F.R often is described as Chase, Ford, Rockefeller.
The goal of the C.F.R was to first purchase all the top newspapers in the country in order to control the national media (news), of what they want you to hear. IT has transformed into the Associated Press of which Hollywood, the Newspapers, Television New Networks, today known as the National Media.
The Argus is owned by Gannett, who is a charter member of the C.F.R.
When I talk on this, Sneve got upset wtih me and has not talked to me since.
Phoney on a pony.
Remember all you need to be able to do to be Governor is ride a horse and shoot a gun
Ya…OK Cory.
Let’s get one thing straight: Every politician in SD is pro-gun. Anybody who tells you his opponent is anti-2A is a liar. There might have been a few anti-2A politicians here at one time, but we shot them all.
Jesse Fonkert only got a C rating from the NRA, not really pro gun to me
The NRA wants taxpayer-funded shooting ranges, AKA trash dumps for electronics you can’t leave at the landfill.
At some point you have to realize that when the NRA wants government funding for something, they are in conflict with conservative principles.
the STATES wrote into the Constitution the right to defend the “State” against all foreign and domestic enemies, including the Federal Government itself. To better understand the 2nd Amendment, one must understand ARTICLE 15 of the South Dakota Constitution.
Article 15 – https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Constitution/2030249
The ‘Right” of the State (aka The People) to own and supply to themselves Firearms, Weapons, while protecting their right to establish a Militia, and to regulate that Militia.
The Governor is our “commander in chief”, the County Sheriffs are the guardians of the people, while the Governor has the right to appoint and name our generals, and leading officers, while the Legislature has the right to put in place Rules, Codes, and Procedures on how to govern that militia, and to appropriate funds for the militia.
“WE” The People are the Militia, ‘we’ have the right to freely own a firearm to defend our life, our family, our home, our place of business, our fellow citizens, our state borders.
“WE” The People have established a “Special Militia Fund” in order to stockpile funds from the sale of military items, equipment, other items, as well as allowing the State Citizens to donate their private incomes to the “State” for the benefit of funding that Militia.
Read not only the South Dakota Constitution Article 15, but also read up on South Dakota codified laws regarding the S.D Military law.
Kristi Noem writes: “Governments seized previously unimagined power over our day-to-day lives. Churches were forced to close, forsaking freedom of religion.”
Really, Kristi? Really?
Large indoor gatherings were… temporarily… discouraged during a deadly pandemic that killed over a million people. It had nothing to do with religious freedom. You know this. Perhaps you could show some concern for the dead and their families, instead of focussing on this faux liberty nonsense. Showing that you can be responsible and prevent the spread of a deadly disease to the more vulnerable among us – that should be an honor, not an infringement on your rights.
Could you be serious – for a change?
I went to church when I wanted to. Everyone I know did as well. And, nearly everywhere, services could be held online or outdoors during the worst of the pandemic.
“Forsaking freedom of religion”? Give me a break.
elk, you were not paying attention:
https://www.pewtrusts.org/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2020/06/11/many-faithful-say-its-time-to-gather-some-governors-disagree
Sent from my iPhone
I read your article. Here is one quote: “Any time government restricts our rights for any reason, it bears attention from all of us,” he said. “The government better have a pretty darn good reason.”
Right on. Absolutely. And… they did.
It’s my party and I’ll die if I want to.
From NPR two days ago: “Those living in counties that voted 60% or higher for Trump in November 2020 had 2.26 times the death rate of those that went by the same margin for Biden. Counties with a higher share of Trump votes had even higher mortality rates.”
Elk at 8:27 and other posts…
1. No one can prevent the spread of an airborne virus. Not you. Not me. And not Gov. Noem. Get a grip.
2. Many church leaders nationwide went along with the most authoritarian politicians and shut down for much longer than warranted. One of our local congregations the other day finally served in-person communion. The whole point to medieval-style physical restrictions was not to control a virus — an impossibility — but to control people.
3. That NPR story is a hoot. Environmental conditions and ethnicity have played factors in covid mortality, but it’s a stretch to believe that more than 300,000 Trump voters would be alive today if they’d just taken the jab. While it’s true the vaccine and boosters lessened mortality for the elderly for a few months, nearly 90 percent of deaths have continued to be people 65 and over, a rate that’s been the same from the git-go.
Again, get a grip.
I thought Republicans were against sanctuary states?
I thought dems loved them?
AP – April 12, 2021:
“Virginia-based Smithfield Foods announced Sunday that it is closing its pork processing plant in Sioux Falls until further notice after hundreds of employees tested positive for the coronavirus….”
“The announcement came a day after South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken wrote to Smithfield and urged the company to suspend operations for 14 days so that its workers could self-isolate and the plant could be disinfected.”
Seems so long ago. When taking Covid seriously was a thing for our Governor. And lives mattered.
Bump stocks for everyone.
Bump stocks? Didn’t the Trump adminstration ban those??? OH NO, TRUMP IS COMING FOR YER’ GUNS!
It’s only gun control if the democrats do it
Hey Kristi, Can we get permits for our elementary students so they can pack iron in their lunchboxes?
I hope to Kristi’s gun totin’ god that some a**hole doesn’t slaughter a bunch of kids and adults in our 2nd Amendment Sanctuary South Dakota.
And does her declaration: “As Governor, I will always fight to protect your rights and strengthen them. Individual rights are guaranteed in our Constitution, and the Second Amendment exists to protect the rest. As folks continue to look to South Dakota as an example of liberty, we will continue to be a sanctuary for the 2nd Amendment, as well.”; stop any killing?