In a move that’s left South Dakota’s gun owners scratching their heads, state Senator Jim Stalzer—a Republican, no less—single-handedly torpedoed a constitutional carry bill that would have extended permitless carry to public college campuses. During a committee hearing on Senate Bill 179, Stalzer fired off what many are calling a ridiculous question: essentially asking if armed students might accidentally shoot each other during heated debates or pranks gone wrong. The bill, which had broad GOP support and aimed to treat campuses like any other public space under the state’s existing constitutional carry framework, died in committee faster than a squib load at the range. This isn’t just a procedural hiccup; it’s a stark reminder that even in deep-red South Dakota, the anti-gun establishment lurks in unexpected places, masquerading as friendly fire from within the party.

Let’s unpack the absurdity here. South Dakota already allows constitutional carry statewide for adults 18 and up—no permits, no fuss—proving that armed citizens don’t turn Main Street into the OK Corral. Campuses aren’t some magical no-man’s-land where the Second Amendment evaporates; they’re public institutions funded by taxpayers who overwhelmingly support gun rights (South Dakota’s 2024 CCW reciprocity and training stats show permit rates soaring post-Bruen). Stalzer’s hypothetical ignores mountains of data: FBI crime reports confirm armed citizens stop threats far more often than they create them, and campus carry states like Texas and Florida report zero upticks in accidents or misuse since implementation. This knee-jerk fearmongering echoes the same tired playbook used to block shall-issue laws decades ago—now recycled by a supposed ally. It’s clever politics for the professorate lobby, but a gut punch to students who want the same self-defense rights off-campus.

For the 2A community, the implications are crystal clear: complacency kills bills. This fiasco spotlights the need for unrelenting primary challenges against RINOs who fold under woke pressure, especially as blue-state courts chip away at Bruen’s promise of reciprocity nationwide. South Dakota’s setback could embolden campus carry bans elsewhere, but it also rallies the base—expect grassroots pushback, like the rapid mobilization that flipped similar bills in Idaho and Tennessee. Pro-2A warriors, take note: vet your legislators harder than a suppressor stamp, and keep the pressure on. If one ridiculous question can derail progress, imagine what unified outrage can achieve. Load up, speak out, and let’s make campuses safe the American way.