Bills attempting to increase gun owners’ responsibilities to report stolen firearms and to keep firearms secure went down in defeat in a House committee Wednesday.
Democratic Rep. Linda Duba of Sioux Falls sponsored HB1153 and HB1174. HB1153 would have imposed a reporting requirement if a gun owner lost a gun or it was stolen. HB1174 would have required proper storage of a firearm. Violators would have been fined for committing a petty offense for a violation.
Duba testified in Sioux Falls and Rapid City, criminals stealing guns is a problem, with those guns often being used in additional crimes.
As to the storage of weapons, Duba said it was to help prevent suicides and accidental firings of firearms.
The National Rifle Association, the South Dakota State’s Attorney’s Association, and the South Dakota Sheriff’s Association opposed both bills.
As to reporting gun thefts within 48 hours, lobbyist Brian Gosch with the NRA said that turns victims of crimes into criminals if they fail to report a theft timely. He said most people who have had a weapon stolen are also dealing with the trauma of someone breaking into their house or car, improving their security, and assisting law enforcement.
As to the gun storage requirement, Gosch said the proposed law did not require other items that could be used to commit a crime to be kept safely in storage, such as knives, hammers, or vehicles.
The House Judiciary Committee sent both bills to the 41st day, thus killing them. The vote sending HB1153 to defeat was 10 to 1, and the vote sending HB1174 to defeat was 13 to 0.
SDBA