On Monday, March 7, the Senate State Affairs Committee will consider House Bill 1079, sponsored by state Representative Brian Gosch (R-32). The intent of HB 1079 is to clean up South Dakotaâs firearm code and to remove a provision that became obsolete with the passage of the federal Firearms Owners' Protection Act (FOPA) in 1986. Originally, the federal Gun Control Act banned interstate sales of firearms but contained an exception for long gun transactions occurring between federally licensed dealers (FFLs) and residents of contiguous states. Such sales could occur, moreover, only if âthe purchaserâs State of residence permit[ted] such sale or delivery by law.â Thus, states around the country passed provisions specifically allowing their residents to buy long guns from FFLs in contiguous states.
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