• PIERRE, S.D. (AP) -- Several pieces of gun-related legislation are making their way through the South Dakota Capitol this session, and two national lobbying groups have jumped into the fray.
• The National Rifle Association and the South Dakota Gun Owners, an affiliate of the National Association for Gun Rights, have weighed in on the bills, sometimes taking opposing positions. And interviews with state lawmakers show the groups' efforts are causing a stir among representatives in the House.
• "You have these gun organizations coming in, and they're in competition with one another," said Rep. Steve Hickey, R-Sioux Falls.
• Hickey said he owns 17 guns and is an NRA member. But he and the NRA did not agree on a change he brought to a bill allowing folks with permits to carry concealed weapons in the Capitol. Hickey's alteration would have allowed guns in the Capitol except when the Supreme Court and Legislature meet and during the governor's budget address.
• "The people of District 9 elected me, not the NRA," Hickey said. "And just because a bill says 'gun' at the top of it doesn't mean it's a good gun bill."
• The NRA, previously neutral to the bill, opposed Hickey's amendment.
• "We don't like to make special carve-outs on the concealed carry law," said John Commerford, a lobbyist with the NRA.
• During debate on that bill in February, Rep. Anne Hajek, R-Sioux Falls, urged legislators to focus on other issues such as funding and Medicaid, which she said matter more to residents.
• "This is not a constituent bill," Hajek said. "They haven't told us or asked us to spend hours and hours on the floor talking about putting guns in somebody's hands

(Continued on page 26)