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The Right to Defend Yourself

Good evening District 27. Yesterday, I had the pleasure of doing something different. I was invited to a local shooting range with one of our local law enforcement officers (LEO). The last time I had done target shooting was when I was in college 36 years ago. The LEO helped me develop my self-confidence in handling unfamiliar firearms. First, he provided me with safety tips.


He then provided basic directions on properly refilling each gun's magazine. Moreover, he shared with me the proper posture and/or stance when discharging the various firearms and that I needed to prepare myself when the gun recoils upon discharge. Finally, he told that I needed to insert the magazine assembly without being afraid to hit it with the palm of my hand so that the magazine was firmly engaged.


Once I had all the basics down, he allowed me to shoot four different pistols and one rifle to build up my comfort level with each of the five firearms. I ended up target shooting with a Sig Sauer P250, a Sig Sauer P320 XCompact 9mm Pistol, a Soviet semi-automatic Makarov pistol, the Kimber TLE/RL II 1911 pistol, and a Remington 870 Police Magnum 12 gauge shotgun.


I will admit that there was a learning curve for me in building my self-confidence and that each of the guns handled differently from my perspective. Nonetheless, I felt comfortable handling the various firearms with a local law enforcement officer in my presence critiquing me throughout the duration. I thanked the officer for taking me to the shooting range to develop my awareness, skills, and knowledge of handling firearms properly.


My background experience with handling firearms is limited. Growing up on a farm we had four guns that were stored on a gun rack located in the porch of our home. We had a 22 Bolt Action Rifle, a 410 single-barrel shotgun, and two BB guns. The gun rack had no locking mechanism and the shotgun shells and BB’s were stored in boxes located in drawers below the gun rack.


Anyone could have gained access to them; however, Dad made it clear that we don’t point guns at people and that they were to be used for hunting purposes only. At the age of 13 or 14, two of my older brothers received a rifle and a shotgun for Christmas. They both enjoyed hunting pheasants, grouse, deer, squirrels, and rabbits. I mainly used the BB gun to hunt at night for sparrows with my older brother. I also remember vividly using the BB gun one time to practice shooting by shattering the lamp on the halogen nightlight that was mounted on our windmill.


My dad was not happy with me because the halogen light went out shortly thereafter and I was in big trouble. Apparently, I had a better eye than I thought. This would be the end of my shooting experience until the late 1980s when I entered college.


While attending the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, I took Army ROTC classes and I had the opportunity to participate in Field Training Exercises (FTX) in Custer State Park one weekend. I got to practice shooting the M16 rifle and M60 machine gun and I recall I was pretty good at hitting the target. Upon graduating from college, I never touched a firearm again. 


I share this story with you because, over the previous month, I have been bombarded by pro-second amendment lobbyists and gun rights advocates who want to know my perspective since I have no voting record. These lobbyists were downright rude in their correspondence.


The lobbyists said that if I did not reply and/or return their survey my viewpoint would be considered hostile toward the Second Amendment. The lobbyists wanted my viewpoint in exchange for creating a voter guide to assist you in determining whether or not I am hostile to those who support the Second Amendment. After careful consideration and after much consultation with my local pastor, my campaign manager, law enforcement officers, members of my community, my younger sister whose husband and sons love to hunt, and my mom, I willingly responded to their multi-question surveys. I made it very clear on all the surveys that I completed and referred them to a previous posting on here, that “guns don’t kill people, people kill people.”


I have not wavered from my position that a firearm is one of many tools that can be used in defense of self, family, and property. However, this was not a good enough reply for some lobbyists. Therefore, I did not secure their full endorsement. I made very concise comments on all the surveys about my perspective on the Second Amendment.


I left some of the questions blank because I neither had an opinion nor the necessary background or knowledge to make an informed opinion on specific issues regarding the Second Amendment. Without going into specifics, I will be happy to share my perspective on the various questions that I was asked in a more appropriate forum.


If I am elected your state senator, I will not be bullied by a bunch of lobbyists or party insiders. Several people informed me that people don’t take these voter guides seriously. Still, others replied that they don’t take them in the voting booth. It was only after I returned their surveys, that I discovered these very lobbyists want nothing more than to vilify a candidate for having a common sense approach to the Second Amendment.


I will not make any apologies for using common sense when it comes to matters of self-defense and life or death. The best advice that I received from my local sherriff when I was considering making a gun purchase a few years ago, was that I needed to ask myself the question, “Are you ready to pull the trigger to take another life to defend yours?” 


In my research, I learned that handguns are the most popular weapon chosen by Americans for self-defense. While target shooting with the local LEO, I asked him what the minimum qualification standards are for an LEO to obtain his certification in pistol marksmanship. The LEO said that an officer must receive a minimum of 38 out of 50 rounds (76% in the State of South Dakota) to be qualified.


He also mentioned that the LEO must recertify on an annual basis. NOTE: The US Army and the US Marine Corps minimum qualifications are at 60% and 66%, respectively (1). As the local law enforcement officer dropped me off at my house and said goodbye, I had a thought that came to my mind. I then turned around and stopped him before he drove off.


I asked him the following question about the average gun owner, “How many concealed gun permit carriers do you know go to a shooting range on an annual basis to practice their marksmanship skills?” His response was, “Very few.” Hence, his testimony further demonstrates that just because one has a permit to carry a concealed weapon, the tool is only as good as the person using it. The permit holder will need to make time to sharpen their marksmanship skills as often as possible to maintain the effective use of the weapon of choice in defense of self, family, and property.


Therefore, I will reiterate my support for your right to defend yourself as you see fit because criminals will always have access to firearms without following the laws. However, as a supporter of the Second Amendment, I must also be willing to accept the heavy responsibilities that come with the right to bear arms such that they do not infringe on the rights of another law-abiding citizen.


God bless.


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