Can you say "Smallville"? The population is listed as 2,387.
I rather doubt there is much of a need for conceal carry. Having driven across the entire state from east to west I can tell you that there is not much in the middle.
From what I've seen, that state is all about guns and hunting.
Not in the Western part. Deadwood is about gambling, Black Hills area about Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, Cave Wind National Park and tourist traps.
No offense, but there is some bad information being thrown around here.
Yes Chamberlain is small, and SD is dotted with many small towns with populations under 5000. That does not negate a reason to carry. There is a very low crime rate, and part of that is because of the low population. However, like any state, SD has an underclass, and drug problems, particularly meth, and burglaries and assaults do in fact happen.
One aspect of living in a really small town is that in order to aquire all the things you need and/or want, like guns, ammo, reloading components, and all the other things in life that people living in a full service comunity have access to, you have to drive to the "city" on a regular basis. Mitchelle is not far away from Chamberlain, and there are a lot more people there, and a college, and more mischief as would be expected. If business takes you to Sioux Falls, or Rapid Cit, or Pierre, carrying concealed is a good idea. There are also the Rose Bud and Pine Ridge indian reservations, which have relatively high populations, and the typical crime that comes with a population center.
There is also a lack of law enforcement, so people in SD tend to take their self defense fairly seriously, even though the chances of needing a gun are very low. There are also a lot of animals about, and since they can be dangerous in the correct circumstances, a gun can be useful. There is more to SD than what you can see from the I-90 coridoor.
So that stuff is my opinion, and I don't expect anyone to agree with my attitudes, but the statements about SD are accurate. I view carrying, concealed or otherwise, to be a prudent thing, because you just never know when you may need it. Like I said though, it's just my opinion and other opinions may vary.
Ok....... hunting. East river is in fact all about phesant hunting. It's big business there, and so is deer hunting. Corn fed dear are pretty desirable, and people are all about shooting them. Oh yeah, water fowl hunting is pretty big over there too.
I agree, that Deadwood is primarily about gambling. And yes the Hills are very touristy. Mount Rushmore, the Crazy Horse monument, and Windcave National Park are there. There is also Jewel Cave national monument, Spearfish Canyon, the Black Elk Wilderness, the Peter Norbeck wildlife area, the Black Hills National Forest. Badlands National Park, and Devil's Tower National Monument are nearby. Then there is Sturgis, which hosts the largest Harley Davidson ralley in the nation in August of every year. There are hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails, and Harney Peak is there, which is the at an elevation of 7242, and is the highest point between the Rockey Mountians, and the Great Pyranese Mountians in Europe. Oh yeah, there is also Custer State Park, and the Mamoth Site in the southern Hills. So there is lots to do and see there, and the Hills are not just about the places that were mentioned. There is a Hills culture for the locals in the Hills, not just a tourist trap culture.
Hunting is HUGE in the Black Hills. Starting the first week in September, there is one such hunting season or another lasting until spring. There is elk bow, elk gun, deer bow, deer gun, fall turkey, bow turkey, spring turkey, and a mountian lion season. There are also muzzleloader seasons for ungulates. Antelope get hunted too. There is a Cabella's, and a Scheels in Rapid City, and a number of privately owned LGS's in the Hills, and they cator to the hunters to a large extent.
Just to put a fine point on it, to get a CCW permit in SD, all you do is go to the local sheriff's office, or police station, and ask for an application. They do an instant background check, take your ten dollars, and they give you a temporary permit. You are good to go right then and there. Open carry is legal also. Don't carry in a bar, or a school, unless you are a trained and authorized staff member of the school. Don't carry into a courthouse or federal building of course, and you'll be fine. SD honors the permits of all other states.
SD is an extremely good state for gun ownership, concealed carry acceptance, as well as open carry.
