A Modest Proposal To Amend HB 1041

Last year, I wrote a post about my Republicanism. Since then, I have read a good number of conservative authors at places like The National Review and The American Conservative. These articles repeatedly pointed out that conservatives and Republicans believe in freedom and responsibility, Further, Republicans and conservatives understand, in ways that other mammals cannot, that the world is filled with bad actors.

HB 1041 is a bill to "provide for the carrying of a concealed pistol without a permit." The legislation's sponsors certainly will contend that they proposed the legislation because they realize that freedom to carry pistols without a permit is the only available method to stop unabated wickedness wherever a good conservative or Republican  may find it.

According to the Argus Leader,

Republican Rep. Drew Dennert is sponsoring a constitutional carry bill in the House. He says backers have the promise of the governor and support from the public and both legislative chambers.

Given that Governor Noem seems supportive, one hates to temper the enthusiasm of "constitutional carry" advocates. Obviously every Republican or conservative who carries a pistol under HB 1041 will train weekly to become as proficient with a pistol as Wild Bill Hickok, Such people will, of course, never crack under pressure nor will they ever miss their intended target.

That said, South Dakota still retains a few Democrats. Some have even been elected to the legislature. The state also has a university system, and these educational institutions are known to be the last bastions of socialists and other nefarious scoundrels. It is, therefore, not beyond the realm of possibility that an irresponsible person might take unfair advantage of the "constitutional carry" freedom provision and carry a concealed pistol or several concealed pistols. Because South Dakota is home to 800,000 resident, it is not unlikely that several thousand feckless folk may abuse the the "constitutional carry" freedom. These capricious citizens may accidentally wound themselves or others.

It, therefore, becomes one's duty to offer a modest proposal, with all due apologies to Jonathan Swift, in the form of an amendment to rectify the situation.

The amendment would require every person carrying a concealed pistol also carry a trauma kit. The kit would contain gauze with a clotting agent, a chest seal, a trauma bandage, medical tape, a tourniquet, and heavy duty medical gloves. It would also require that the person carrying the concealed pistol and trauma kit should be able to show proof of competency with the medical items being carried. This proof could be demonstrated either by certificate of training or a field test consisting of properly applying the tourniquet and other items in the kit.

Some conservatives or Republicans may contend that this proposal springs from some hidden liberal bias. In an effort to allay such fears, prudence moves me to point out that a Blue Force Gear Micro Trauma Kit NOW won the 2018 NRA Golden Bullseye Award for "Accessory of The Year." If it as an approved NRA accessory, surely conservatives and Republicans cannot object to making it part of a "constitutional carry" law. (Neither the NRA nor Blue Force Gear sponsor this blog.)

I cannot conceive of a Republican or conservative legislature not wanting to ensure that freedom is accompanied with responsibility, so I eagerly anticipate sponsorship, debate, and passage of the amendments proposed above.