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House Panel Moves To Allow Concealed Weapons At SD Capitol

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — A legislative panel has narrowly passed a proposal that would allow people to carry concealed weapons in the South Dakota Capitol building.

The House Local Government Committee voted on Tuesday for a plan that would remove the prohibition from state law.

Republican Rep. Blaine Campbell says that some people who have a concealed weapons permit forget they have a weapon when they come into the Capitol.

Campbell says the proposal isn’t meant to discredit the South Dakota Highway Patrol, which is tasked with protecting the Capitol.

The Highway Patrol opposes the measure because it could cause confusion for law enforcement entering a violent situation.

A measure to authorize lawmakers to have weapons in the Capitol building failed last week in a Senate committee, which approved a similar measure for sergeants-at-arms.