In the last six months, South Dakota Secretary of State Shantel Krebs says she’s seen a sharp decline in concealed carry weapon permits issued.
Last year, the state renewed and issued just over 30,000 concealed carry permits. Krebs says that was an all-time high number of permits.
Krebs says that could be over anticipation of Hillary Clinton winning the presidential election.
“After President Trump has been elected, we’ve seen a steady decline in those numbers of concealed carry permits being issued. It does attribute to our presidential election," Krebs says. "That’s what it boils down to, the election process, I think people feeling less stress about their second amendment rights being trampled on, or gun control issues being imposed upon them.”
According to the Secretary of State’s office, there are over 95,000 active concealed carry permit holders as of the end of July. A permit is valid for five years.