South Dakota law currently classifies firearm silencers as controlled weapons, but this bill removes that classification so silencers are no longer regulated as controlled weapons under state law. This change affects both the definition section of South Dakota's criminal code and the specific rules governing controlled weapons, effectively allowing silencers to be owned and used without the legal restrictions that previously applied to them.
The amendment clarifies that firearm silencers are excluded from the definition of "controlled weapons" by removing the contradictory language that both included and excluded them in the same provision. This STRENGTHENS the bill's original purpose by making the legal status of silencers unambiguous rather than self-contradictory.
The amendment removes firearm silencers from the definition of "controlled weapons" by restructuring the language to explicitly state that silencers are excluded from that category, which STRENGTHENS the bill's original purpose of decriminalizing silencers by making the exemption clearer and more direct in the statute's definitions section.
Signed by the Governor S.J. 240
Delivered to the Governor S.J. 197
Signed by the Speaker H.J. 229
Signed by the President S.J. 186
House of Representatives Do Pass Amended Passed, YEAS 66, NAYS 0. H.J. 184
Commerce and Energy Do Pass Passed, YEAS 12, NAYS 0. H.J. 11
Commerce and Energy Scheduled for hearing
First read in House and referred to House Commerce and Energy H.J. 136
Senate Do Pass Amended Passed, YEAS 34, NAYS 0. S.J. 93
Senate Motion to amend S.J. 93
Judiciary Do Pass Passed, YEAS 7, NAYS 0. S.J. 5
Judiciary Scheduled for hearing
First read in Senate and referred to Senate Judiciary S.J. 13
Prime sponsor · Sen.
R
Prime sponsor · Rep.
R
Cosponsors
Do Pass Amended
Commerce and Energy — Do Pass
Do Pass Amended
Judiciary — Do Pass