>> THIS IS A PRODUCTION OF SOUTH DAKOTA PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

♪ >> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "SOUTH DAKOTA FOCUS."

I'M JACKIE HENDRY.

OVER THE PAST MONTH, SDPB HAS BEEN SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GUNS IN OUR STATE.

IT'S A RELATIONSHIP THAT'S INTEGRAL TO OUR HISTORY AND TO OUR ECONOMY AS A HUNTING DESTINATION.

BUT IT'S ALSO A COMPLICATED RELATIONSHIP.

TONIGHT, WE'RE CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION.

LATER THIS HOUR, SDPB'S NATE WEK TELLS US HOW YANKTON HIGH SCHOOLERS ARE FINDING A PASSION FOR SPORT THROUGH SKEET SHOOTING.

PLUS, OUR NEXT "GOOD NEIGHBOR" USES GUN SAFETY AND CONSERVATION TO MENTOR YOUNG PEOPLE NEAR RAPID CITY.

BUT WE'LL ALSO HEAR FROM A SURVIVOR OF GUN VIOLENCE, AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FIREARMS AND SUICIDE IN SOUTH DAKOTA.

BUT BEFORE ALL OF THAT, LET'S START WITH SOME HISTORY.

MANY OF US TAKE FOR GRANTED THE PHRASE "A RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS."

OUR FIRST GUEST IS HERE TO HELP US UNRAVEL THE ORIGIN OF THE SECOND AMENDMENT AND WALK US THROUGH SOME KEY COURT DECISIONS THAT HAVE COME INTO PLAY SINCE.

LONGTIME CONGRESSIONAL STAFFER AND FORMER ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER FOR THE U.S. CUSTOMS SERVICE UNDER THE REAGAN AND GEORGE H.W.

BUSH ADMINISTRATION, JOINS US NOW FROM SDPB'S BLACK HILLS STUDIO IN DOWNTOWN RAPID CITY.

CHUCK PARKINSON, WELCOME TO "SOUTH DAKOTA FOCUS."

THANKS FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

>> THANKS, JACKIE, IT'S MY PLEASURE.

>> SO LET'S START WITH THAT SECOND AMENDMENT.

WE ALL KIND OF THROW THAT PHRASE AROUND WHEN WE HAVE OUR CONVERSATIONS ABOUT GUNS IN OUR NATION, BUT TELL US ABOUT THE TRUE ORIGIN OF WHY THIS HAD TO BE INCLUDED IN THE CONSTITUTION.

>> WELL, THE SECOND AMENDMENT IS ONE SENTENCE, THE BOTTOM LINE IS A WELL-REGULATED MILITIA AND THE RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS.

DURING THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION OF 1787, THERE WASN'T A WHOLE LOT OF DEBATE.

ALEXANDER HAMILTON HAD WRITTEN IN THE FEDERALIST PAPERS, NUMBER 29 AND 49, THAT THE WELL-REGULATED MILITIA WAS VERY IMPORTANT.

JAMES MADISON, WHO KEPT COPIOUS NOTES DURING THE CONVENTION, NEVER ONCE MENTIONED ANYTHING ABOUT THE INDIVIDUAL'S RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS OUTSIDE OF THE PRECEPT OF A WELL-REGULATED MILITIA.

ALBRIDGE JERRY OF GERRYMANDERING FAME WAS A DELEGATE TO THE CONVENTION FROM MASSACHUSETTS, AND HE SUPPORTED THE SECOND AMENDMENT BECAUSE HE THOUGHT THAT THE 13 STATES, HAVING WELL-REGULATED MILITIA, WOULD MEAN THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT HAVE TO HAVE A STANDING ARMY.

SO AS A RESULT, THE DEBATE WENT BACK AND FORTH, AND THEN FOR ALMOST THE NEXT 200 YEARS, JUSTICES AND SCHOLARS AGREED THAT BASICALLY THE SECOND AMENDMENT HAD TO DEAL WITH A WELL-REGULATED MILITIA.

WHAT IS A WELL-REGULATED MILITIA, A WELL TRAINED, WELL DISCIPLINED, AND ONE COULD HONESTLY SAY AT THIS AGE, IT EVOLVED INTO THE NATIONAL GUARD THAT WE HAVE TODAY.

THE THING TO REMEMBER, HOWEVER, WHICH IS KIND OF DIFFERENT THAT WAS TOUCHED ON BY THE FOUNDERS WAS THAT THE PRESIDENT'S IN CHARGE OF THE NATIONAL GUARD.

PRESIDENT CAN TAKE ANY KIND OF ACTION.

AND THE ORIGINAL FEDERALISTS WOULD HAVE SUPPORTED THAT AND THE ANTIFEDERALISTS WOULD HAVE BEEN AGAINST THAT BECAUSE THEY WERE SMALL GOVERNMENT, STATE'S RIGHTS PEOPLE FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE.

SO, DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME, THERE WERE BETWEEN 1875 AND 1936, THERE WERE ONLY FOUR CASES THAT GOT TO THE SUPREME COURT WITH REGARDS TO AN INDIVIDUAL'S RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS OUTSIDE OF THE MILITIA SENSE, AND THEY WERE ALL TURNED DOWN.

AND EVERY OTHER COURT CASE DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME WAS ALSO TURNED DOWN.

AND ACCORDING TO THE BRENNAN CENTER, AT NEW YORK UNIVERSITY, WHEN THEY FIRST STARTED TRACKING LAW-REVIEWED ARTICLES STARTING IN 1888 UP UNTIL 1959, THEY COULD FIND NOT A SINGLE LAW REVIEW ARTICLE THAT HAD BEEN WRITTEN THAT TOUCHED ON THE INDIVIDUAL'S RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS OUTSIDE OF A MILITIA SETTING.

FAST FORWARD AHEAD A LITTLE BIT OF TIME FROM THAT STANDPOINT, IN 1934 WHEN THE VIOLENCE DURING PROHIBITION STARTED TO ARISE, THE NATIONAL FIREARMS ACT WAS PUT IN PLACE AND IT BASICALLY CALLED FOR BANNING CERTAIN TYPES OF WEAPONS.

IT ALSO ALLOWED GUN CONTROL OF CERTAIN SORTS AND ALSO IT ALLOWED FOR -- THE FIREARMS ACT ALLOWED FOR REGISTRATION AND MADE SURE PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES COULD NOT GET GUNS.

>> INTERESTING.

AND WE'RE GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MENTAL ILLNESS AND GUNS LATER THIS HOUR.

THERE'S A LOT TO COVER AND NOT MUCH TIME.

SO BRING US TO THAT 2008 SUPREME COURT RULING BECAUSE I'M FASCINATED TO HEAR THERE WERE SO FEW CASES IN THAT LONG AMOUNT OF TIME.

>> RIGHT, EXACTLY.

AND YOU CAN'T DO THAT WITHOUT TOUCHING ON THE NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

>> YES.

>> THE NRA WAS CREATED IN 1871 BY A NUMBER OF FORMER UNION OFFICERS WHO WERE FEARFUL THERE WOULD BE ANOTHER WAR AND THE MARKSMANSHIP WAS NOT VERY GOOD.

SO WHAT THEY DID WAS TO SET UP A TRAINING, EDUCATION AND COMPETITIONS FOR RIFLE SHOOTING IN THAT PARTICULAR PART, HOPING THEY WOULD NEVER HAVE TO USE IT, BUT AT LEAST THE MEN WOULD BE TRAINED WELL ENOUGH TO EQUIP IN THAT PARTICULAR STANDPOINT.

THE NRA WAS VERY MUCH IN THE EDUCATION SAFETY ROLE.

I AS A YOUNG MAN BACK IN THE LATE '50s, EARLY '60s, TOOK AN NRA HUNTING COURSE SO I COULD GET A HUNTING LICENSE, AND I'M SURE EVERYBODY ELSE IN SOUTH DAKOTA HAS GONE THROUGH THAT SAME PROCESS.

DURING THAT TIME, THE NRA ACTUALLY SUPPORTED THE FIREARMS ACT OF 1934.

THEY ALSO WENT FORWARD AND DID THE SAME WITH BANNING A LOT OF OTHER THINGS.

THEY ALSO SUPPORTED BACKGROUND CHECKS AT THAT POINT.

I THINK THE TURNING POINT CAME IN 1975, THE NRA CREATED A POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE.

IN 1976, THE NRA EXECUTIVES PROPOSED TO GET OUT OF POLITICS AND MOVE THEIR HEADQUARTERS FROM THE EAST COAST TO COLORADO.

THERE WAS A GROUP OF DELEGATES FROM THE RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS GROUP THAT BASICALLY WHAT IS KNOWN IN THE OLD-TIME MEMBERS OF THE NRA AS THE REVOLT IN CINCINNATI WHERE THE CONVENTION WAS HELD THAT RESTED CONTROL AWAY FROM THE TRADITIONAL NRA MEMBERS AND THEIR FOCUS WAS ON THE INDIVIDUAL'S RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS.

AND IN 1980, THEY MADE THEIR FIRST PRESIDENTIAL ENDORSEMENT OF RONALD REAGAN, AND THEN THEY FURTHER MOVED FORWARD TO RAISE MORE AND MORE MONEY TO FIGHT THE ROLE OVER THE NEXT 30 PLUS YEARS TO GET INDIVIDUAL'S RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS.

AND IN 2008, THE D.C.

VS. HELLER IS THE COURT CASE THAT THE SUPREME COURT VOTED 5-4 TO SAY THAT AN INDIVIDUAL COULD HAVE A HANDGUN OUTSIDE OF THEIR HOME ENVIRONMENT.

IN OTHER WORDS, THAT WAS THE START OF WHERE WE TURNED TO TODAY.

WE HAVE A CASE, WE'VE SEEN MORE AND MORE GUN RIGHTS BILLS BE INTRODUCED, MORE AND MORE TO BE PASSED BUT THAT WAS REALLY THE START OF THE MOVEMENT IN 2008 THAT MOVED THINGS FORWARD TO SEE US WHERE WE SIT TODAY WITH THE CONVERSATION ON GUN OWNERSHIP, INDIVIDUAL'S RIGHTS TO HAVE ARMS, ET CETERA.

>> INTERESTING.

SO WHAT I HEAR YOU SAYING IS THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SOME PEOPLE USE THE PHRASE "CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY" WHEN THEY REFER TO SOUTH DAKOTA BEING A PERMITLESS STATE.

IN OUR LAST KIND OF THREE MINUTES TO WRAP UP, IN YOUR EXPERTISE, THAT'S A BIT OF A MISNOMER, MAYBE.

>> YOU'VE GOT TO LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF THIS.

WHEN YOU GO BACK, YOU TALK ABOUT WE'RE GOING BACK TO THE ORIGINAL CONSTITUTION, WELL, THE ORIGINAL CONSTITUTION DID NOT TALK ABOUT AN INDIVIDUAL'S RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS OUTSIDE OF THE MILITIA, AS I HAD INDICATED EARLIER.

AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IT IS NOW SINCE THE COURT HAS RULED THE INDIVIDUAL'S RIGHT TO DO THAT, I THINK WE'VE SEEN A MOVE FORWARD, AND I THINK ONE THING TO REMEMBER IN THIS CASE IS IS THAT THE NRA HAS BEEN VERY GOOD AT DICTATING THE CONVERSATION.

AND ABRAHAM LINCOLN SAID IN 1858 WHEN THEY WERE DEBATED SLAVERY, THAT THE BIG THING WAS HE WHO CONTROLS THE INDIVIDUAL'S ATTITUDES TOWARD THINGS WILL CONTROL THE POLITICAL PROCESS.

AND I THINK YOU SEE THAT HAPPENING TODAY, WHERE POLLING DATA THAT GALLUP'S STARTED LOOKING AT PURVIEW OF GUN OWNERSHIP, IN 1960, 70% OF THE NATION WAS OPPOSED TO HANDGUN OWNERSHIP, THEY WANTED TO BAN THE HANDGUN.

THAT NUMBER REDUCED IN 20 YEARS DOWN TO 42%, AND IN 2015, THAT HAD BEEN REDUCED TO 24%.

SO WE'RE REALLY NOT GOING BACK.

WE'RE ACTUALLY -- ALL OF THE DECISIONS THAT ARE BEING MADE ARE ACTUALLY MOVING FORWARD.

AND I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT THE HISTORICAL STANDPOINT AND IF YOU HAD UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS AND SCHOLARS WHO HAVE LOOKED AT THIS WOULD SAY THAT BASICALLY THE NEW EVOLUTION STARTED IN 1980.

>> INTERESTING.

THAT'S ALL WE HAVE TIME FOR, EVEN THOUGH WE COULD PROBABLY TALK A FULL HOUR JUST ABOUT THE HISTORY LEADING UP TO THESE CONVERSATIONS TODAY.

MY GUEST HAS BEEN LONGTIME CONGRESSIONAL STAFFER AND POLITICAL MIND IN SOUTH DAKOTA, CHUCK PARKINSON.

CHUCK, THANKS AGAIN FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU, JACKIE.

IT'S BEEN MY PLEASURE.

>> BEFORE WE WELCOME OUR NEXT GUEST, LET'S LISTEN TO ONE OF MANY GUN-RELATED MEMORIES YOU'VE SHARED WITH US OVER THE PAST MONTH.

MARK SCHLUETER IS A CERTIFIED FIREARMS INSTRUCTOR IN SIOUX FALLS.

HE SHARES HIS EARLIEST MEMORY OF SHOOTING WITH SDPB'S LORI WALSH.

>> I WAS 7.

MY DAD MADE ME GO TO THE CITY DUMP WITH HIM TO HELP UNLOAD HIS F-100 PICKUP.

AND WE GOT DONE UNLOADING.

HE LOOKS AT ME AND HE GOES, OH, LOOK, THE CITY BAR DUMPED ALL THEIR BOTTLES.

AND I WAS, LIKE, OH.

AND HE GOES, GO PICK UP THOSE BOTTLES AND PUT THEM ON THE TREE STUMP.

HE HAD PULLED OUT A SINGLE-ACTION RUGER .22 CALIBER PISTOL, HE GOES, IT'S PROBABLY TIME YOU LEARNED HOW TO SHOOT.

WE DIDN'T USE EYE PROTECTION, WE DIDN'T USE EAR PROTECTION.

I MEAN, MY DAD HAD HIS OWN WAY OF TEACHING.

YOU KNOW, IT WAS ALL THERE, KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER, KEEP THE GUN POINTED IN A SAFE DIRECTION.

THIS IS HOW IT WORKS.

GUNS ARE DANGEROUS.

YOU KNOW, TO A LITTLE KID, THESE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT.

BUT YOU DON'T SEE A LOT OF THAT TODAY IT.

BUT YOU DON'T SEE A LOT OF THAT TODAY.

>> OUR NEXT GUEST IS WELL VERSED IN FIREARMS INSTRUCTION.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE KEVIN JENSEN OPERATES QUIK RESPONSE TRAINING INSTITUTE AND IS A CERTIFIED ENHANCED CONCEALED CARRY INSTRUCTOR IN SOUTH DAKOTA.

HE'S -- HE'S ALSO AN NRA-CERTIFIED PISTOL INSTRUCTOR.

HE ALSO AUTHORED A BILL THIS SESSION TO CLARIFY LAWS RELATED TO LETHAL FORCE IN SELF-DEFENSE.

REPRESENTATIVE KEVIN JENSEN JOINS US NOW FROM SDPB'S SIOUX FALLS STUDIO.

REPRESENTATIVE JENSEN, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT, AND WELCOME TO "SOUTH DAKOTA FOCUS."

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON.

>> SO LET'S TALK ABOUT HOUSE BILL 1212.

TO CLARIFY LETHAL FORCE AND VARIOUSER USES OF FORCE IN SELF-DEFENSE SITUATIONS.

REVIEW FOR US SOME OF THE KEY ISSUES THAT THIS BILL, WHICH IS ABOUT TO BECOME LAW, WILL ADDRESS.

>> REALLY, IT DOES NOT CHANGE MUCH IN WHAT WE KNOW NOW AND WHAT WE PRACTICE IN LAW IN SOUTH DAKOTA FOR SELF-DEFENSE.

WHAT WE TRIED TO DO, WHAT I TRIED TO DO WITH THIS BILL, AND I SPENT ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF WORKING ON THIS, WAS TO CLARIFY WHAT WE ACTUALLY MEAN BY USE OF FORCE AND SEPARATING THAT FROM USE OF DEADLY FORCE.

THERE'S BASICALLY THREE PARAGRAPHS IN CURRENT LAW THAT COVER ALL OF THAT, AND AS AN INSTRUCTOR, -- WELL, BACK UP JUST A LITTLE BIT.

BACK IN THE EARLY '80s WHEN I WAS A CERTIFIED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER IN SOUTH DAKOTA, WE LEARNED, OF COURSE, THE LAW ENFORCEMENT VERSION OF USE OF FORCE.

YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY, THE LAST FEW YEARS THAT'S BEEN CHANGING A LOT.

BUT THAT DIFFERS GREATLY FROM WHAT THE CIVILIAN USE OF FORCE IS.

CIVILIAN USE OF FORCE IS ALWAYS AND ALWAYS HAS TO BE A DEFENSIVE POSTURE.

WHEN SOMETIMES IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, IT HAS TO BE AN OFFENSIVE OR A FORWARD MOVE.

BUT AFTER THREE AND A HALF OR FOUR YEARS OF TEACHING THE USE OF FORCE TO PROBABLY CLOSE TO 1,000 STUDENTS, YOU KNOW, THE SAME KINDS OF QUESTIONS COME UP.

AND IT IS A LITTLE BIT HARD TO DECIPHER OUR CURRENT LANGUAGE BECAUSE, TO BE QUITE HONEST, IT PROBABLY WAS WRITTEN IN 19 -- I MEAN, IN 1890.

THE LAW HAS BEEN AROUND FOR ABOUT 130 YEARS WITHOUT CHANGE.

AND I THINK -- I COULDN'T HEAR THE SOUND IN THE EARLIER SEGMENT, BUT WHEN -- I THINK I DID HEAR YOU SAY RATHER THAN CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY, MY PREFERENCE IS CALLING IT PERMITLESS CARRY.

SO IN 2019, IT REALLY KIND OF CAME TO A FOREFRONT FOR ME BECAUSE I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE AND TEACH THEM THAT WHEN THEY'RE TRAVELING TO OTHER STATES, THEY HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE LAWS OF THE STATE THAT THEY'RE GOING INTO.

AND, OF COURSE, THE ENHANCED CONCEAL CARRY PERMIT ALLOWS THEM TO GO INTO 38 OTHER STATES PLUS SOUTH DAKOTA.

SO AFTER WE INTRODUCED PERMITLESS CARRY, WHICH MEANS THAT ANYBODY IN THE COUNTRY THAT CAN LEGALLY BUY A FIREARM CAN LEGALLY CARRY A CONCEAL IN SOUTH DAKOTA.

SO I STARTED TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT THE LANGUAGE IN OUR CURRENT LAW, WHICH WE ARE STILL UNDER, AND IF YOU'RE AN OUTSIDER LOOKING AT SOUTH DAKOTA, I'LL JUST READ YOU JUST ONE LITTLE PHRASE HERE FROM OUR CURRENT LAW.

HOMICIDE IS JUSTIFIABLE IF COMMITTED BY ANY PERSON IN A LAWFUL DEFENSE OF SUCH PERSON OR OF HIS HUSBAND, WIFE, PARENT, CHILD, MASTER OR MISTRESS OR SERVANT.

SO I STARTED THINKING ABOUT THAT, AND WE DON'T -- WE WANT PEOPLE COMING HERE, WE'RE OPEN FOR BUSINESS, WE WANT PEOPLE COMING HERE, WE WANT THEM TO COME AND HUNT.

BUT WE DON'T WANT THEM TO THINK WE'RE THAT BACKWARDS EITHER.

BUT, ESSENTIALLY, WHAT I TRIED TO DO IS BREAK DOWN EACH COMPONENT OF THE CURRENT LAW AND MAKE IT EASY TO UNDERSTAND, EASY TO READ SO THAT PEOPLE LOOK AT OUR LAW AND KNOW WHAT WE EXPECT THEM TO DO HERE TO OBEY OUR LAWS.

AND WHAT I'VE ALSO FOUND OUT FROM ALL THE PEOPLE THAT SO COME THROUGH MY CLASSES OVER THE YEARS IS THAT MOST PEOPLE REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR RIGHTS ARE.

YOU DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO USE EXCESSIVE FORCE.

YOU DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO SHOOT SOMEBODY IN THE STREET JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE ANGRY WITH YOU.

I MEAN, EARLY ON WITH THE DEBATE IN THIS BILL THERE WAS A LOT OF MISCONCEPTION THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN NOW IT'S GOING TO BE THE WILD WEST AND WE CAN, YOU KNOW, WE'LL HAVE SHOOT-OUTS IN THE STREETS.

AND THAT SAME RHETORIC WAS BEING SAID ABOUT THE PERMITLESS CARRY IN 2019 THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN WE WERE GOING TO BECOME THE WILD WEST AGAIN.

AND OBVIOUSLY THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED.

BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT HOW PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND OUR LAW, AGAIN, 130-YEAR-OLD LANGUAGE, THE LAWYERS IN THE STATE, SOME OF THEM SAID, WELL, WE'RE GOING TO LOSE 130 YEARS OF COURT CASE HISTORY.

AND WE REALLY DON'T LOSE THAT.

THAT WILL NEVER GO AWAY.

WE JUST HAVE TO REAPPLY IT.

BUT THE MAIN THING IS FOR EVEN THE PEOPLE IN MY CLASSES OR I SEE YOU HAD MATT SCHLUETTER ON, HE'S A FIREARMS INSTRUCTOR, TOO, ALL OF US, YOU KNOW, THERE'S 61 OR 2 OF US IN THE STATE RIGHT NOW THAT ARE CERTIFIED TO TEACH THESE CLASSES, WHAT'S BEEN INTERESTING, AS I VISIT WITH THESE OTHER INSTRUCTORS IS THAT WE PROBABLY ALL HAVE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT INTERPRETATION, A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT WAY WE TEACH IT.

SO WE ARE NOW TRYING TO COME UP WITH NOT SO MUCH A FIXED CURRICULUM BUT A FIXED DEFINITION OR A FIXED, SAY, A POWERPOINT THAT WE ALL USE FOR A STARTING POINT.

SO THAT WE'RE ALL TELLING EVERYBODY THE SAME STORY ABOUT SELF-DEFENSE.

AGAIN, SELF-DEFENSE IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE A DEFENSIVE ISSUE.

YOU CAN NEVER EXCEED THAT.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT OTHER QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.

>> WELL, I WANT TO TOUCH ON WHAT I UNDERSTAND TO BE A SOURCE OF, PERHAPS, SOME OF THE CONCERN FROM PEOPLE WHO HAD CONCERNS ABOUT THIS LAW WERE SECTIONS THAT HAD TO RELATE TO, I THINK THE PHRASE IS "DUTY TO RETREAT" AND WHEN SOMEONE IN A DEFENSE SITUATION DOES OR DOES NOT HAVE THE DUTY TO RETREAT RATHER THAN USING FORCE.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT THOSE PARTS OF THE BILL AND WHAT THAT MEANS?

>> SURE.

SURE.

WE HAVE NEVER HAD IN SOUTH DAKOTA A DUTY TO RETREAT.

IN FACT, THE ORIGINAL BILL FROM 1890, 22184, THE LAST SENTENCE OF THAT BILL SAYS "A PERSON DOES NOT HAVE A DUTY TO RETREAT IF THE PERSON IS IN A PLACE WHERE HE OR SHE HAS A RIGHT TO BE."

SO THAT DOESN'T CHANGE.

IT DOESN'T CHANGE ANYTHING.

WHAT HAS CHANGED IS THE WORDS "STAND YOUR GROUND" IN SOME STATES HAVE BECOME KIND OF AN ISSUE OR A PUSHBACK POINT.

BUT WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD THE ABILITY TO STAND OUR GROUND.

DUTY TO RETREAT HAS BEEN IN OUR LAW FOR 130 YEARS.

SO THERE REALLY IS -- I THINK WHEN PEOPLE LOOK AT THE CURRENT LAW, AND THE CURRENT LAW IS BASED ON A FLORIDA LAW, WHICH WAS PUT INTO PLACE -- A STAND YOUR GROUND BILL IN FLORIDA THEY CALLED IT -- IN 2006.

AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT SOME OF THE STATISTICS FROM THAT.

SINCE 2006, THE POPULATION OF FLORIDA HAS INCREASED 11%.

BUT THE VIOLENT CRIME RATE, EVEN WITH THE INCREASE IN POPULATION, THE VIOLENT CRIME RATE WENT DOWN FROM 2006 TO LAST YEAR, IT WENT DOWN 36%.

ARMED ROBBERY WHICH IS A FACE-TO-FACE CRIME WENT DOWN 56%.

THE NUMBERS JUST DON'T LIE.

EVERY YEAR FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS, EVEN THOUGH THE POPULATION'S INCREASING, THE AMOUNT OF VIOLENT CRIME IS GOING DOWN.

AND I BELIEVE IT'S AN EDUCATION THING, BUT PRIMARILY I THINK IT'S THE FACT THAT IF YOU DO NOT HAVE TO RETREAT AND YOU CAN DEFEND YOURSELF, ANY CRIMINAL COMING UP TO YOU, IF THEY KNOW YOU'RE ARMED OR THEY DON'T KNOW YOU'RE ARMED, THERE'S A CERTAIN LEVEL OF DOUBT THAT, YOU KNOW, WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO GET HURT AS A CRIMINAL AND I THINK THE DETERRENT IS, NUMBER ONE, IN CONCEAL CARRY, THE DETERRENT IS NOT KNOWING IF SOMEBODY IS ARMED OR NOT.

ONE OF THE DIFFERENCES WITH THIS BILL IS UNDER CURRENT LAW -- IN FACT, I CAN GIVE A SCENARIO.

I CAN'T GIVE DETAILS BECAUSE IT'S STILL AN OPEN CASE.

BUT THERE'S A CASE IN SOUTH DAKOTA WHERE A GENTLEMAN WHO WAS WALKING DOWN THE STREET AND HE WAS CONFRONTED BY THREE INDIVIDUALS AND THEY WERE GETTING VIOLENT WITH HIM.

AND HE PULLED HIS GUN.

OF COURSE, THEY LEFT.

AND NOW HE IS CHARGED WITH THREE COUNTS OF FELONY AGGRAVATED ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON.

HE DIDN'T USE IT.

HE JUST SHOWED IT TO THEM.

AND THAT'S CALLED BRANDISHING, AND IN SOUTH DAKOTA BRANDISHING A WEAPON CAN GET YOU AN AGGRAVATED ASSAULT CHARGE BECAUSE YOU'RE AUGUST USING -- BECAUSE YOU'RE USING EXCESSIVE FORCE.

ONE OF THE CHANGES WITH THIS BILL ALLOWS US TO USE THE THREAT OF FORCE.

NOW YOU DON'T HAVE TO SHOW A FIREARM, BUT IF YOU SAY "I HAVE A FIREARM," UNDER CURRENT LAW YOU COULD GET IN TROUBLE IN CERTAIN JURISDICTIONS.

SO, THE IDEA ISN'T THAT WE'RE ALL GOING TO PULL GUNS AND SHOW THEM IF WE GET IN A LITTLE BIT OF TROUBLE, BUT THE IDEA IS THAT YOU AS A CITIZEN WITH THE RIGHT TO CARRY IS DOING NOTHING WRONG SHOULD HAVE THE PRESUMPTION OF INNOCENCE RATHER THAN THE PRESUMPTION OF GUILT.

IN ONE OF THE SECTIONS OF THE BILL, IT'S SUBSECTION 8, DOES PROVIDE SOME IMMUNITY FROM PROSECUTION AND CIVIL LIABILITY LAWSUITS IF YOU STAY WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE LAW, THEN YOU ARE INNOCENT UNTIL THERE'S OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE AGAINST YOU.

>> INTERESTING.

THAT'S, UNFORTUNATELY, ALL WE HAVE TIME FOR THIS PARTICULAR SEGMENT.

HOUSE BILL 1212 DID RECEIVE THE GOVERNOR'S SIGNATURE AND WILL GO INTO EFFECT THIS SUMMER.

MY GUEST HAS BEEN FIREARMS INSTRUCTOR AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE KEVIN JENSEN.

REPRESENTATIVE, THANKS AGAIN FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> MANY OF SOUTH DAKOTA'S VISITORS AND CITIZENS ALIKE RELATE FIREARMS TO SPORT.

HERE'S ANOTHER STORY FROM SDPB'S OWN LARRY ROHRER.

>> I'VE BEEN HUNTING FOR A LONG TIME.

FIRST WITH MY FATHER AND THEN IT KIND OF DRIFTED AWAY, AND THEN A PUPPY CAME INTO MY LIFE.

OH, MY GOSH.

YOU KNOW, AND IT WAS A PUPPY THAT TAUGHT ME HOW TO HUNT.

AND HUNTING FOR THE STATE GAME BIRD LATER IN THE SEASON WHEN THE OUT-OF-STATE PEOPLE ARE GONE, MIDDLE OF THE WEEK WHEN IT'S QUIET, BEING OUT THERE WITH THE DOG, THAT'S THE PERFECT DAY.

AND IT INVOLVES A GUN, BUT THE GUN IS NOT THE CENTERPIECE.

♪ >> BEYOND LIVE GAME HUNTING, COMPETITIVE TARGET SHOOTING ALSO HAS A HOME IN THE STATE.

NEARLY A THIRD OF SOUTH DAKOTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE A CLUB TRAP SHOOTING TEAM.

BUT JUST A HANDFUL OF SCHOOLS HAVE A SKEET SHOOTING TEAM.

SDPB'S NATE WEK VISITED WITH THE YANKTON HIGH SCHOOL SKEET SHOOTING TEAM AND FOUND THE SPORT IS ATTRACTING A NEW GENERATION.

>> SKEET SHOOTING IS TWO HOUSES.

ONE'S AT 15 FOOT, AND THE OTHER ONE'S DOWN AT 3 FOOT.

AND THEY'RE SPACED OUT WITH A HALF MOON CIRCLE THAT YOU MOVE AROUND THE CIRCLE AND SHOOT THE CLAYS AS THEY COME OUT.

TRAP IS FIVE DIFFERENT WAYS, BUT SKEET HAS THE CROSSING BIRDS.

IT'S GOOD PRACTICE FOR BIRD HUNTING BECAUSE THEY DON'T KEEP SCORE IN THE FIELD, WHERE HERE WE KEEP SCORE AND THAT CROSSING THING, OF ALL THE SCENARIOS REALLY GIVE A LOT OF PRACTICE TO THESE YOUTH.

THEY'RE LOVIN' IT.

>> YANKTON HIGH SCHOOL IS ONE OF 49 SCHOOLS IN SOUTH DAKOTA TO HAVE A CLUB TRAP SHOOTING TEAM.

BUT THEY'RE ONLY ONE OF EIGHT WHO HAVE A COMPETITIVE SKEET SHOOTING TEAM.

THIS IS THEIR FIRST YEAR INCORPORATING THE SKEET ASPECT.

>> HAVING SKEET BE A NEW THING, IT'S BEEN REALLY ENJOYING.

IT'S BEEN REALLY FUN.

AND IT'S BEEN GOING PRETTY WELL, TOO.

AND IT'S REALLY MY FIRST TIME SHOOTING SKEET.

SO, KIND OF LEARNING HOW SKEET WORKS BECAUSE IT'S A LOT DIFFERENT THAN TRAP.

IT'S BEEN REALLY FUN AND REALLY ENJOYABLE.

AND I'VE BEEN DOING BETTER THAN I WAS HOPING FOR AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SEASON.

I'VE EXCEED CANNED MY EXPECTATIONS FOR -- I'VE EXCEEDED MY EXPECTATIONS FOR MYSELF.

SO THAT HAS MADE THIS YEAR PRETTY GOOD SO FAR.

>> IT'S JUST AN ALL AROUND GREAT SPORT TO GET INVOLVED IN.

I WAS DOING -- I'VE BEEN DOING IT SINCE I WAS AN EIGHTH GRADER.

BEST PART IS YOU GET TO COME OUT HERE AND BREAK STUFF FOR A COUPLE HOURS, ESPECIALLY AT A STATE TOURNAMENT.

JUST SHOOT BOXES OF SHELLS AND HAVE A GOOD TIME DOING IT.

I'M INVOLVED IN HOCKEY AND OTHER STUFF, TOO.

BUT THIS IS ANOTHER REASON FOR ME TO STILL KIND OF ENHANCE A GOOD STILL TO HAVE.

I MEAN, I LIKE DOING IT.

I'VE GOTTEN PRETTY GOOD AT IT OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS DOING IT, TOO.

IT'S JUST A GOOD SPORT TO GET INVOLVED IN, JUST BOTTOM LINE.

>> TRAP AND SKEET SHOOTING INCLUDES BOTH BOYS AND GIRLS ATHLETES AS WELL.

>> BECAUSE MY DAD WAS DOING IT BEFOREHAND, AND HE NEEDED A PARTNER FOR THE ADULT LEAGUE, SO HE'S, LIKE, YOU'RE GOING TO DO SKEET WITH ME.

SO NO CHOICE THERE.

BUT AFTER I STARTED DOING IT, I REALLY ENJOYED IT AS A SPORT.

I'VE TRIED MANY OTHER SPORTS.

AND THIS IS SOMETHING I'VE JUST TRULY STUCK TO AND I'M GOOD AT.

I JUST SAY, FIND SOMETHING YOU ENJOY DOING.

THERE'S JUST SOMETHING ABOUT THAT ONE THING AND IT'S LIKE YOU SOMETIMES CAN'T EXPLAIN WHY YOU DO IT, YOU DO IT BECAUSE YOU ENJOY IT.

>> COACH TODD BECKER'S SON, TANNER, IS ALSO ON THE TEAM.

WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT MAKES THIS JOURNEY THAT MUCH MORE SPECIAL TO HIM.

>> WELL, IT'S A LOT OF FUN.

I'VE BEEN SHOOTING OR BEEN AROUND HIM, YOU KNOW, HUNTING, HE STARTED AT AGE 6, YOU KNOW, TURKEY HUNTING, AND AS WE GREW INTO THIS, THIS IS JUST WHAT WE DO.

YOU KNOW?

HE TAKES IT PERSONAL BECAUSE IT'S HIS SCORE.

HE DOES A LOT OF TRAP SHOOTING WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.

AND IT'S A LOT OF FUN.

I COMPETE WITH HIM.

I HAVE NOT BEAT HIM YET.

BUT WE BET ON MOWING.

SO I ALWAYS MOW.

[ Laughter ] >> IN 2019, TANNER BECKER COMPETED AT A NATIONAL TRAP SHOOTING COMPETITION.

IN WHICH HE PLACED HIGHLY.

>> SO WE HEADED OUT TO MICHIGAN.

AND COMPETED NATIONALLY AT THE LEVEL FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL SHOOTING.

PLACED NINTH OVERALL, SHOOTING A 197 OUT OF 200.

SHOT 100 ONE DAY, 100 THE OTHER DAY.

AND THERE'S VERY GOOD COMPETITION OUT THERE.

REALLY GOT TO FOCUS UP.

AND HIT YOUR TARGET.

>> IT JUST MEANS DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND PURSUING SOMETHING I LIKE.

AND KNOW THAT I CAN DO -- BE GOOD AT IT.

I'M ALWAYS STRIVING TO BE BETTER.

LOOKING TO HIT THE PERFECT SCORES.

AND KIND OF A GOAL OF MINE IS JUST KIND OF BE THE BEST AND BE WELL KNOWN, JUST BE ABLE TO GO TO A COMPETITION AND TO KNOW PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT KNOW YOU.

>> YOU CAN FIND MORE OF NATE WEK'S REPORTING ON SOUTH DAKOTA SPORTS AND RECREATION ON OUR WEBSITE, SDPB.ORG.

MOST PEOPLE IN SOUTH DAKOTA WILL ENCOUNTER GUNS ON THE SHOOTING RANGE OR ON HUNTING TRIPS THAT LEAVE LASTING, HAPPY MEMORIES.

BUT, OF COURSE, OTHER ENCOUNTERS ARE MORE COMPLEX.

AFTER FACILITATING A MONTH OF GUN-RELATED CONVERSATIONS, SDPB'S "IN THE MOMENT" HOST LORI WALSH OFFERS HER OWN REFLECTION.

>> I GREW UP WITH THE DESIRE TO BECOME A UNITED STATES MARINE, LIKE MY FATHER BEFORE ME.

ONE OF MY FORMATIVE MEMORIES IS THE SMELL OF THE EARLY-MORNING WINDWARD BREEZE AS I SAT CROSS-LEGGED IN THE GRASS LISTENING TO THE CALL OF THE FIRING LIEFN -- LINE AND MUFFLED CRACK OF ROUNDS TO MY LEFT AND MY RIGHT.

I UNDERSTOOD MY JOB.

I EXCELLED AT HITTING MY TARGET.

YEARS LATER I BECAME A MOTHER.

AS I EXPLORED THE WORLD WITH MY CHILD, I BEGAN TO EXPLORE A DIFFERENT WAY OF BEING IN THAT WORLD.

I ALSO BEGAN TO PROCESS THE IMPACT OF THE MARINE CORPS ON MY LIFE AND ON THE LIFE OF MY FATHER BEFORE ME.

AS I PROCESSED THE JOYS AND THE TRAUMAS OF MILITARY SERVICE, I AM PROUD TO BE A VETERAN, AND I'M PROUD TO STILL BE AN EXCELLENT MARKSMAN, BUT I DON'T TEST MY SKILLS OFTEN.

I AM ON A DIFFERENT PATH TODAY.

TRYING TO FIND OUT WHERE ALL THESE PATHS CONVERGE.

♪ >> EVERYONE'S EXPERIENCE WITH GUNS IS DIFFERENT.

MANY WATCH COVERAGE OF MASS SHOOTINGS ACROSS THE NATION AND PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO RATES OF VIOLENT CRIME IN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS.

AND ALL OF US HOPE THE STORY IS NEVER PERSONAL.

BUT FOR SAGE TRUDELL, IT IS PERSONAL.

TRUDELL IS AN ENROLLED MEMBER OF THE CHEYENNE RIVER SIOUX TRIBE.

SHE'S THE FOUNDER OF ALL TRIBES SACRED, AN EFFORT TO RECOGNIZE ALL MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AND TO SUPPORT SURVIVORS OF SUICIDE.

HERE'S THE STORY OF WHY SHE BEGAN THAT WORK.

>> I THINK TO START THAT OUT, I'D HAVE TO TAKE IT BACK TO MY BROTHER, QUENTIN.

HE WAS MURDERED ON THE CHEYENNE RIVER RESERVATION IN 2005 AT THE AGE OF 17.

HE WAS SHOT AND KILLED BY A NONMEMBER FROM A PROMINENT WHITE FAMILY ON THE RESERVATION.

IT WAS A DRUG AND FIREARM-INVOLVED MURDER.

QUENTIN WAS SHOT POINT BLANK, IT PIERCED HIS HEART AND HIS LUNG, AND THERE WAS ANOTHER MAN STANDING OUTSIDE OF THE CAR, SO THE SAME BULLET SHOT TWO PEOPLE.

THAT'S HOW CLOSE RANGE HE WAS SHOT.

THAT'S THE DAY MY HEART BROKE.

I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE LOSS OR EVEN THE TRAUMA THAT WOULD FOLLOW THAT.

I COULDN'T WATCH TV SHOWS THAT HAD GUNS.

I COULDN'T -- I STILL STRUGGLE WITH BEING AROUND THEM.

THEY REALLY REMIND ME OF JUST THAT DAY.

I HAD NEVER LOST ANYBODY CLOSE TO ME, SO QUENTIN'S MURDER LITERALLY CHANGED EVERYTHING ABOUT MY LIFE.

WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF THE SHOOTING, I HAD LOST CUSTODY OF MY CHILDREN.

I HAD DROPPED OUT OF COLLEGE.

I LOST MY HOME, MY VEHICLE.

I ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.

AND I TURNED TO ALCOHOL.

I WAS DRUNK MOST EVERY SINGLE DAY FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

I STARTED GOING IN AND OUT OF JAIL.

I HAD A REALLY HARD TIME BECAUSE I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND, LIKE I DIDN'T GET IT.

AND THIS IS IN 2005 WHERE THE AWARENESS AND THE ABILITY TO BE HELPFUL TO THE PEOPLE JUST WASN'T THERE BECAUSE IT JUST WASN'T THERE.

AND AT THAT TIME ALL I KNEW THAT I WAS ANGRY, I WAS ANGRY AT THE SYSTEM.

I WAS ANGRY AT SAM.

I WAS ANGRY AT QUENTIN BECAUSE HE LEFT ME.

I WAS ANGRY AT CREATOR.

I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY HAD COME AND TAKEN SUCH A PART OF ME.

I RAISED QUENTIN A LOT.

MY MOM WENT TO SCHOOL AND SHE WAS A SINGLE MOTHER, AND SHE STRUGGLED AS WELL.

SO AS THE ONLY GIRL, A LOT OF THAT RESPONSIBILITY FELL ON ME.

SO WHEN QUENTIN DIED, IT FELT LIKE I LOST ONE OF MY CHILDREN.

NOT JUST MY BROTHER BUT THE BABY OF OUR FAMILY.

I ENDED UP GOING TO PRISON.

ACTUALLY I HAD TO GO THERE TWICE.

BUT PRISON BROUGHT ME TO THE PEOPLE.

IT BROUGHT ME BACK TO THE WOMEN.

AND I HAD TO MAKE A DECISION.

THERE WAS MULTIPLE FACTORS HAPPENING THEN.

MY DAD WAS DYING OF CANCER.

MY MOM WAS STRUGGLING WITH ALL OF MY CHILDREN.

AND I JUST -- I HAD USED QUENTIN AS AN EXCUSE TO DESTROY MY LIFE, TO LET EVERYTHING GO, TO NOT BE RESPONSIBLE.

SO I STARTED TO FEEL SHAME.

EVEN SOME EMBARRASSMENT AS MY MIND GOT CLEAR AND A LITTLE MORE COHERENT AND IT WASN'T SO FOGGY ANYMORE, I REALIZED HOW I HAD FELT THAT I HAD BEEN DISRESPECTING HIM BY USING HIM AS AN EXCUSE TO NOT TAKE CARE OF MYSELF OR ANY OF MY RESPONSIBILITIES VERSUS USING HIM AS A REASON TO REALLY BE GRATEFUL THAT I STILL HAD MY LIFE, THAT I HAD THE ABILITY TO MOVE FORWARD.

I THINK A LOT WHEN WE FOCUS ON OUR MISSING AND MURDERED RELATIVES, WE FORGET ABOUT THE SURVIVORS.

AND THERE LITERALLY IS TRAUMA AND THE STRUGGLE TO HEAL.

QUENTIN THIS YEAR IT WILL BE 16 YEARS.

>> THANK YOU, SAGE, FOR SHARING YOUR MEMORIES OF QUENTIN WITH US.

YOU CAN HEAR SAGE'S FULL STORY ONLINE.

SDPB.ORG/SPOTLIGHT.

CONVERSATIONS ABOUT GUNS ARE BECOMING INCREASINGLY INTERTWINED WITH CONVERSATIONS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH.

IN BOTH SOUTH DAKOTA AND THE NATION AT LARGE, HALF OF ALL SUICIDES OCCUR WITH THE USE OF FIREARMS.

EARLIER THIS WEEK I MET WITH DR. MATTHEW STANLEY IN OUR SIOUX FALLS STUDIO SAFELY - BOTH OF US ARE VACCINATED.

DR. STANLEY IS THE CLINICAL VICE PRESIDENT OF THE AVERA BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICE LINE.

HE OUTLINES THE ADDED RISK OF FIREARMS IN A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.

BUT, FIRST, WE TALK ABOUT POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS.

PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCE TRAUMATIC EVENTS, WHETHER THEY INCLUDE GUNS OR NOT, OFTENTIMES CAN DEAL WITH A SITUATION WITH POST TRAUMATIC STRESS.

CAN YOU START BY JUST EXPLAINING TO VIEWERS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT PTSD IS AND HOW TO RECOGNIZE THAT IF YOU'RE EXPERIENCING IT?

>> YEAH.

YOU KNOW, A COUPLE THINGS THAT PEOPLE PROBABLY DON'T REALIZE ABOUT POST TRAUMATIC STRESS IS IT DOESN'T ALWAYS HAVE TO BE SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED TO YOU.

IT CAN BE SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED TO A LOVED ONE OR SOMETHING EVEN YOU HEARD ABOUT THAT GREATLY AFFECTED YOU USUALLY BECAUSE IT INVOLVED A LOVED ONE.

SO WE LOOK FOR THAT MOMENT OF TRAUMA, THAT INTENSE STRESS, AND THERE'S USUALLY A PHYSIOLOGIC RESPONSE AT THE TIME.

SO ELEVATED HEART RATE, ELEVATED PULSE.

AND WE KNOW TO SOME DEGREE THAT THOSE KIND OF IMMEDIATE PHYSIOLOGIC RESPONSES HAVE AN IMPACT ON LATER DEVELOPMENT OF POST TRAUMATIC STRESS.

BUT WHO WILL AND WHO WON'T DEVELOP POST TRAUMATIC STRESS FROM AN EVENT IS A LITTLE HARDER TO DEFINE AND CAN BE BASED ON SEVERAL VARIABLES.

SO JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE EXPOSED TO A STRESS DOESN'T AUTOMATICALLY IMPLY THAT YOU'RE GOING TO NEED HELP OR THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DEVELOP A PROBLEM.

BUT THE THINGS TO LOOK FOR IF YOU'VE BEEN EXPOSED, THERE'S SEVERAL AREAS.

SO I THINK IT HELPS TO MAYBE JUST BREAK THEM DOWN INTO THOSE.

SO ONE OF THE MOST COMMON THINGS, AND, IN FACT, ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS FROM US TO DIAGNOSE IS SOME FORM OF RE-EXPERIENCING THE TRAUMA.

SO THE MOST COMMON KIND OF THING WE HEAR IN COMMON CONVERSATIONS IS FLASHBACKS, PEOPLE WILL DESCRIBE THE INTENSITY OF AN EVENT LIKE I'M RELIVING IT SOMETIMES TO THE POINT WHERE THEY ALMOST LOSE TRACK OF WHAT'S GOING ON AROUND THEM, THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE BACK IN THE EVENT.

BUT IT CAN ALSO BE THINGS LIKE DREAMS.

THERE CAN BE TRIGGERS, LIKE A CERTAIN SMELL OR CERTAIN NOISE, AND IT WILL REMIND YOU OF THAT.

AND YOU MAY EVEN GET THE PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES YOU HAD, AT LEAST TO A DEGREE.

AND THAT'S ANOTHER COMPONENT OF IT THAT KIND OF HEIGHTENED AROUSAL.

SO THIS IS WHERE WE TALK ABOUT PEOPLE HAVE THIS INCREDIBLE STARTLE REFLEX.

YOU KNOW, MAYBE THEY'RE AWAKENED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT TO SHOUTING AND THEN GUNSHOTS AND THEN SOMEONE WAS HARMED.

SO THEY WILL, YOU KNOW, BE RELAXING, HEAR SOMEONE SHOUT AND THEY JUST, YOU KNOW, IT WILL STARTLE THEM, THEY'LL JUMP, THEY'LL BE -- WE TALK ABOUT HYPER VIGILANT, ALWAYS SCANNING THE ENVIRONMENT, NEVER ABLE TO RELAX, VERY INTENSE BODY POSTURE.

SO THAT'S THAT AROUSAL PART.

AND THEN THERE IS, YOU KNOW, SOME IMPAIRMENT IN FUNCTIONING.

SO PEOPLE FIND THEMSELVES WITH MORE DIFFICULTY TO FOCUS OR CONCENTRATE.

THEY'RE MORE IRRITABLE, MORE ANGRY, MORE QUICK TO ANGER OR HAVE MORE MOOD SWINGS.

TO THE POINT WHERE, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN FEEL HOPELESS, DEPRESSED, SUICIDAL.

ALL OF THESE THINGS, YOU KNOW, IN CONSTELLATION CREATE THE DIAGNOSIS OF POST TRAUMATIC STRESS.

SO IT MAY NOT EVEN LOOK EXACTLY THE SAME IN EACH INDIVIDUAL, BUT THESE COMPONENTS ARE COMMON TO THE ILLNESS.

>> AT WHAT POINT IF SOMEONE RECOGNIZES SOME OF THOSE SYMPTOMS, AT WHAT POINT IS IT APPROPRIATE TO SEEK KIND OF PROFESSIONAL HELP IN MANAGING SOME OF THAT?

>> I THINK THE EARLIER THE BETTER IN GENERAL.

AS I SAID, JUST BECAUSE YOU EXPERIENCE A DISTRESSING EVENT DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE IT.

BUT IF YOU START HAVING THAT HYPER AROUSAL OR THOSE, YOU KNOW, FLASHBACKS OR DREAMS OR RE-EXPERIENCING THE EVENT, I WOULD SAY ANY OF THOSE, EVEN IF IT'S JUST MOOD BECAUSE EVEN IF YOU DON'T EXPERIENCE POST TRAUMATIC STRESS, YOU MIGHT DEVELOP COMPLICATED GRIEF, AND EVEN IF IT'S JUST SOMEONE TO TALK YOU THROUGH THE DIFFERENCE AND HELP YOU TO UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE AT.

SO MUCH OF WHAT WE NEED TO DO WHEN WE MEET WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH NEW EMOTIONS AND DEALING WITH, YOU KNOW, THEIR NEW REALITY OF THEIR WORLD, SO MUCH IS JUST TO PUT IT INTO PERSPECTIVE AND TELL THEM, THIS IS NORMAL.

THIS IS CONCERNING.

BUT IT'S HARD TO DO THAT WITHOUT A NAVIGATOR.

IT'S HARD -- YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY HARD FOR US TO ASSESS OURSELVES.

AND I THINK FOR THOSE OF US IN THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH FIELD, WE HAVE THE CONTEXT OF SEEING HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH DIFFERENT THINGS ASIDE FROM OUR TRAINING, WE'VE JUST SEEN IT.

AND I THINK IT BECOMES FAR EASIER FOR US TO -- EVEN IF YOU DON'T REQUIRE TREATMENT -- TO JUST ADVISE.

>> MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES LIKE PTSD AND A HOST OF OTHER THINGS ARE STILL PRETTY STIGMATIZED.

WHEN I WATCH COVERAGE OF MASS SHOOTINGS, THE MENTAL HEALTH COMPONENT ALMOST ALWAYS BECOMES PART OF THAT CONVERSATION.

DO YOU THINK THAT'S A FAIR WAY TO NAVIGATE THAT OR DO YOU FEEL LIKE THAT FEEDS INTO SOME OF THE STIGMATIZATION THAT WE STILL STRUGGLE WITH?

>> THAT IS AN EXCELLENT QUESTION.

AND I THINK THERE IS A LOT TO BE DISCUSSED ABOUT THAT.

MY INITIAL REACTION TO THIS -- AND I'VE SPENT A FAIR AMOUNT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT IT, BECAUSE JUST LIKE YOU, I NOTICED THAT IMMEDIATELY, THERE'S A CRY FOR BETTER CONTROL OF MENTAL HEALTH.

A COUPLE OF THINGS STRIKE ME.

NUMBER ONE, IF WE LOOK AT THE DATA, IT DOESN'T APPEAR THAT THE MENTALLY ILL ARE ANY MORE LIKELY TO COMMIT VIOLENT CRIMES THAN THE NONMENTALLY ILL.

THERE HAVE BEEN SOME MASS SHOOTINGS WHERE PEOPLE WERE CLEARLY MENTALLY ILL.

BUT I COULDN'T EVEN TELL YOU THAT THE MAJORITY OF THEM HAVE BEEN.

I THINK WHAT HAPPENS, AND THIS IS WHERE I THINK YOU WERE ALLUDING TO, THAT ANYTHING THAT'S HEINOUS AND OUTRAGEOUS, WE WANT TO LABEL AS DEVIANT BEHAVIOR.

WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THAT PERSON, THAT COULDN'T BE MY NEIGHBOR, THAT COULDN'T BE ME, BECAUSE THAT GUY, THAT GUY HAD TO BE OBVIOUSLY MENTALLY ILL TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

I THINK THAT'S THE INACCURACY THAT THEN KIND OF LEADS TO THIS, I DO THINK IT'S -- HAS THE POTENTIAL TO STIGMATIZE MENTALLY ILL BECAUSE MENTALLY ILL'S A LABEL, NOW ALMOST HAS BECOME -- IN SOME PEOPLE'S MINDS IT CERTAINLY HAS BEEN POTENTIAL FOR VIOLENCE.

AND I JUST THINK THAT'S INCREDIBLY UNFAIR TO THE MENTALLY ILL, THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS.

NOW, THERE ARE SOME FORMS OF MENTAL ILLNESS THAT WOULD POTENTIALLY LEND THEMSELVES MORE SO TO DOING SOMETHING LIKE HARMFUL ACT OR A MASS SHOOTING.

FOR INSTANCE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A FEW THAT ARE VERY CLEAR IN OUR HISTORY WHERE, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE HAD DELUSIONS OR VOICES OF PSYCHOSIS THAT WAS TELLING THEM, YOU KNOW, GOD TOLD THEM TO DO IT OR THEY WERE GOING TO PREVENT SOME TREMENDOUS EVIL.

BUT THOSE ARE THE RARITY.

AGAIN, I THINK WE TEND TO LOOK AT THAT AND SAY, NO NORMAL, SANE PERSON COULD DO THAT.

BUT THE REALITY IS, WE HAVE VERY ANGRY, DAMAGED, DISTURBED PEOPLE AMONG US ALL THE TIME, AND WE CAN'T PATHOLOGIZE OR WE DON'T PATHOLOGIZE EVERYTHING THAT'S WRONG ABOUT A PERSON.

WE ALL HAVE OUR OWN BIASES, OUR OWN HISTORY, OUR OWN WAY OF BEHAVING, SO WE'RE ALL A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

DOES THAT MEAN WE'RE ALL A LITTLE DEVIANT?

I DON'T THINK SO.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT EVERYONE WHO COMMITS A CRIME NECESSARILY HAS A MENTAL ILLNESS.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT -- MAYBE THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO COMMIT VIOLENT CRIME, BY MY DEFINITION, NECESSARILY, ARE MENTALLY ILL. >> I WAS READING, I CAN'T REMEMBER THE EDITORIAL, BUT ALONG THOSE LINES, THE LINE WAS, HATE IS NOT A MENTAL ILLNESS.

AND KIND OF DRAWING THAT DISTINCTION.

>> RIGHT.

>> SHIFTING GEARS, I'VE ALSO SEEN, AND I'M NOT SURE IF THIS MATCHES WITH WHAT YOU SEE, IN REALITY, IF SOMEONE IS DEALING WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS, THEY'RE MORE LIKELY TO HURT THEMSELVES THAN TO HURT OTHER PEOPLE.

BOTH NATIONWIDE AND IN SOUTH DAKOTA, 50% OF SUICIDE DEATHS ARE COMPLETED WITH THE USE OF A FIREARM.

HOW DOES A PERSON'S ACCESS TO FIREARMS IMPACT THE WORK THAT YOU AND OTHERS DO WHEN WORKING WITH SOMEONE IN A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS?

>> JUST FROM A STATISTICAL STANDPOINT, IF YOU HAVE A FIREARM IN YOUR HOME, YOU HAVE ABOUT A THREE TIME GREATER RISK OF DYING BY SUICIDE, JUST BY OWNING A FIREARM IN YOUR HOME.

AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR AT THE START OF THIS THAT I'M A GUN OWNER, I'M SOMEONE WHO ENJOYS HUNTS AND FAMILY ACTIVITIES THAT ACTUALLY KIND OF REVOLVE AROUND THAT.

BUT I'M A TREMENDOUS BELIEVER IN THE IMPORTANCE OF GUN SAFETY.

YOU MENTIONED THAT, YOU KNOW, MASS SHOOTINGS AND HOW MUCH WE FOCUS ON THOSE, UNDERSTANDABLY SO, THEY'RE INCREDIBLY PAINFUL AND DISTURBING, BUT, YOU KNOW, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO DIE BY THEIR OWN HAND WITH A FIREARM IS MORE THAN TWICE THAT THAT DIE THROUGH HOMICIDE EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

I MEAN, THAT'S NOT AN ABBERATION, THAT'S EVERY YEAR, TWICE AS MANY KILL THEMSELVES AS EVER ARE HARMED BY A FIREARM.

SO BOTH ARE UNACCEPTABLE.

BUT, I MEAN, IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT RAW NUMBERS, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE KILLING THEMSELVES WITH THEIR HANDGUNS IS THE BIGGER CONCERN, JUST FROM A NUMBER PERSPECTIVE.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE KNOW IS VERY IMPORTANT IN TRYING TO PROTECT SOMEONE WITH SUICIDAL IDEATION IS TO SECURE THE GUNS, SECURE THE GUNS IN THE HOME OR SECURE ACCESS TO THE GUNS BECAUSE ANOTHER THING THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A MISUNDERSTANDING BY SOME ABOUT SUICIDE IS THAT IT ALWAYS KIND OF FOLLOWS THIS LINEAR PATH TO GET TO A CERTAIN POINT OF ACTION, THEN IT STAYS THERE.

THE REALITY, AS WE STUDY SUICIDE IS, IT WAXES AND WANES, PEAKS AND VALLEYS, IT'S OFTEN A RELATIVELY IMPULSIVE ACTION.

IN FACT, THERE'S -- I THINK THE NUMBER'S 45 ATTEMPTED SUICIDES FOR EVERY ONE THAT'S COMPLETED.

THE PROBLEM IS WITH FIREARMS, IT'S 90%, THE LAST STATIC I SAW, WHICH -- STATISTIC I SAW, WHICH EVEN THAT SEEMS LOW, 90% IF YOU ATTEMPT SUICIDE BY A FIREARM.

THERE'S NO SECOND CHANCE.

IT'S ONLY 4% BY EVERY OTHER MEANS.

I MEAN, JUST TAKE A LOOK, YOUR EYES ARE SAYING, THAT'S A COMPELLING -- THOSE ARE COMPELLING STATISTICS.

SO, THE OTHER THING WE KNOW ABOUT THESE ATTEMPTED SUICIDES IS MOST DON'T GO ON TO END THEIR LIFE BY SUICIDE.

SO YOU HAVE A 4% CHANCE AGAINST A 90% CHANCE.

IF YOU CAN JUST REMOVE THAT FIREARM, REMOVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE AN IRREDEEMABLE CHOICE, 90% OF THE TIME, WE THINK YOU'VE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO SURVIVE WHATEVER YOU'RE GOING THROUGH.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK AT THE DEMOGRAPHICS, IT'S MEN, FAR MORE LIKELY TO COMMIT SUICIDE BY A FIREARM THAN WOMEN.

WHICH, ALTHOUGH MEN ATTEMPT SUICIDE LESS THAN WOMEN, BUT THE NUMBERS OF MEN WHO COMMIT SUICIDE ARE GREATER JUST BECAUSE THEIR MEANS, THEIR CHOICE IS THE MOST LETHAL TYPE OF SUICIDE.

SO, AGAIN, NO SECOND CHANCE.

YOU KNOW, NO OPPORTUNITY TO RECONSIDER.

>> SO I LIVE IN A HOME WITH GUNS.

IF THE PERSON I'M LIVING WITH STARTS EXHIBITING SIGNS OF BEING IN A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, WHAT ARE SOME PRACTICAL STEPS THAT I CAN TAKE TO ENSURE THEIR SAFETY?

>> I WOULD SAY THAT THE FIRST THING YOU SHOULD DO, AND THIS GOES AS A PARENT OF CHILDREN, AND SOMETIMES I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY ARE MENTALLY, I THINK THEY'RE DOING OKAY, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALL BEEN SHOCKED BY WHAT WE'VE READ ABOUT SOMEONE, BUT IN YOUR OWN HOME, I THINK YOU SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE THE GUNS SECURED.

IT'S DIFFICULT WHEN IT'S TWO ADULTS AND YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT ONE.

I THINK IF THEY'RE SOMEONE YOU CAN HAVE THAT FRANK CONVERSATION WITH AND SAY, YOU KNOW, I'M WORRIED, I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN DEPRESSED, I WOULD JUST FEEL BETTER IF THE GUNS WENT TO MY MOM'S HOUSE OR MY DAD'S HOUSE OR YOUR DAD'S HOUSE, OR LET'S LOCK THEM UP AND PUT THE KEY IN THE SAFE DEPOSIT BOX OR SOMETHING.

I THINK EVEN IF YOU CAN'T REMOVE THE GUNS, AS MANY STEPS AS YOU CAN PUT BETWEEN THE THOUGHT AND THE ACTION, THAT'S ALL TO THE BENEFIT.

GREATEST PREFERENCE IS REMOVE THE GUNS.

EVEN GUN LOCKS.

EVEN GUN CASES CAN BE DEFEATED IF SOMEBODY KNOWS, YOU KNOW, THE CODE OR KNOWS HOW TO FIND THE KEY.

SO YOU CAN ALSO TRY TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT GETTING HELP, AND MOST PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, IN OUR SYSTEM WE TALK ABOUT A CRISIS RESPONSE PLAN AS ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO IN INTERVENING IN SUICIDALITY AND SAFETY RESTRICTION, WHICH IS COUNSELING ON TRYING TO PARTICULARLY REMOVE FIREARMS, THAT'S THE MOST POWERFUL ADVICE WE CAN GIVE, ALSO TALKING ABOUT MEDICATIONS AND OTHER MEANS.

IT IS DIFFICULT IF YOU'RE NOT HAVING AN OPEN CONVERSATION ABOUT SOMEBODY WHO'S STRUGGLING, AND WE KNOW THAT FOLKS AREN'T ALWAYS VERY WILLING TO GO THERE AND WILLING TO ADMIT THAT THEY'RE HAVING A HARD TIME.

>> AND I THINK THERE'S OFTEN THAT FEAR THAT IF I BRING UP THAT, AM I PLANTING THE IDEA IF THEY DIDN'T HAVE IT ALREADY?

>> YEAH.

AND I DO UNDERSTAND THAT.

RESEARCH REPEATEDLY HAS SAID THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

YOU KNOW, IN TODAY'S SOCIETY, I THINK EVEN OUR KIDS, THERE'S VERY LITTLE THEY'RE NOT AWARE OF.

BUT, YEAH, I DON'T THINK YOU'RE PLANTING THE SEED.

THE EVIDENCE HAS SHOWN THAT REPEATEDLY THAT, YOU KNOW, IF THAT THOUGHT IS THERE, IT'S ALREADY BEEN THERE.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE THE TRIGGER FOR THAT.

CONVERSELY, SO KIND OF THINKING ALONG THOSE SAME LINES, GEE, COULD I LIVE WITH THAT GUILT, I CAN'T IMAGINE LIVING WITH THE GUILT, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY AND I WAS AFRAID TO SAY SOMETHING.

IT'S SUCH A TERRIBLE DISEASE BECAUSE IT ALWAYS LEAVES US WITH REGRETS, WOULDA, SHOULDA, COULDAS AND SO OFTEN WE JUST DON'T SEE IT COMING.

THERE AREN'T ENOUGH CLEAR SIGNS THAT SOMEONE IS IN A SUICIDAL STATE, UNLESS YOU'RE ABLE TO JUST HAVE A VERY FRANK DISCUSSION WITH THEM.

>> NOW, IF YOU RECOGNIZED YOURSELF IN ANY OF THESE DISCUSSIONS OF MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLES, YOU ARE NOT ALONE, AND THERE ARE PLENTY OF RESOURCES AVAILABLE.

HERE ARE JUST A FEW 24/7 NUMBERS YOU CAN CALL IF YOU'RE EVEN CURIOUS ABOUT SEEKING HELP.

THESE NUMBERS CAN CONNECT YOU WITH SOMEONE TO ASSESS WHAT YOU'RE FEELING AND GIVE YOU OPTIONS OF WAYS YOU CAN SEEK CARE NEAR YOU.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL IT'S TOO MUCH TO BEAR.

THERE'S HELP AVAILABLE TO YOU, AND I SINCERELY HOPE YOU'LL TAKE IT IF YOU NEED IT.

WE'VE COVERED A LOT THIS HOUR AND THROUGH THIS LAST MONTH.

YOU CAN SEE ALL OF OUR COVERAGE ON GUNS IN SOUTH DAKOTA ONLINE.

JUST GO TO SDPB.ORG/SPOTLIGHT.

BUT WE CAN'T LEAVE WITHOUT INTRODUCING YOU TO OUR NEXT "GOOD NEIGHBOR."

HE'S BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOUNG PEOPLE AROUND THE RAPID CITY AREA ONE HUNTING TRIP AT A TIME AND TEACHING THEM GUN SAFETY ALONG THE WAY.

LET'S MEET BRIAN MUELLER.

♪ >> MY NAME IS BRIAN MUELLER, AND I LIVE AND WORK OUT HERE IN RAPID CITY.

AND I WORK FOR THE PENNINGTON COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, I'M THE CHIEF DEPUTY, THIS IS MY 26th YEAR WORKING AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

AND MY FAMILY AND I LIKE TO VOLUNTEER OUR TIME WITH DIFFERENT NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS HERE IN TOWN, AND WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME WORKING WITH SOUTH DAKOTA YOUTH HUNTING ADVENTURES, I'M ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS WITH THE YOUTH LIEUTENANTING ADVENTURES AND THEN ALSO ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS, WHICH IS A SISTER AGENCY TO SOUTH DAKOTA YOUTH HUNTING ADVENTURES.

STARTED IN RAPID CITY BY JIM SKULL AND PAT TRASK ABOUT 12 YEARS AGO.

THEY GOT TOGETHER AND WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW THEY CAN REMOVE OBSTACLES FROM YOUNG PEOPLE THAT WANT TO GET INVOLVED IN THE OUTDOORS.

SO THEY DEVELOPED THIS PROGRAM.

THEY GOT A BOARD OF DIRECTORS PUT TOGETHER FROM SEVERAL CONSERVATION GROUPS HERE LOCALLY.

AND STARTED RAISING MONEY AND WE PARTNER TOGETHER WITH BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS, SO THEY GO OUT AND FIND THE YOUTH IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WOULDN'T OTHERWISE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET OUTDOORS AND GO HUNTING.

AND OUR ORGANIZATION WITH YOUTH HUNTING ADVENTURES FINDS ADULT MENTORS, MEN AND WOMEN THAT WANT TO SHARE THEIR TALENTS AND ABILITIES WITH YOUNG PEOPLE.

AND BOTH ORGANIZATIONS WILL MATCH THOSE TWO TOGETHER AND WE'RE RUNNING ABOUT CLOSE TO 80 MATCHES RIGHT NOW AND WE'RE TRYING TO INCREASE THAT CLOSE TO 100.

AND OVER THE LAST 12 YEARS, WE'VE EXPANDED THE PROGRAM TO THE NORTHERN HILLS AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE A CHAPTER OUT IN MITCHELL, SOUTH DAKOTA.

>> HOW DID YOU FIRST GET INVOLVED WITH THIS ORGANIZATION?

>> YOU KNOW, I FIRST GOT INVOLVED, I HAD MET THE DIRECTOR AT BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS AT THE TIME, AND I THINK I BECAME INVOLVED IN ABOUT THEIR YEAR TWO OR THREE AND MENTORED A YOUNG KID AND JUST REALLY FELL IN LOVE WITH THE PROGRAM.

AND MY FAMILY AND I, MY WIFE AND OUR THREE CHILDREN SPEND A LOT OF TIME OUTDOORS HUNTING AND FISHING.

AND IT WAS REALLY A NEAT OPPORTUNITY TO GET INVOLVED AND SHARE OUR LOVE AND PASSION FOR OUTDOORS AND HUNTING AND FISHING AND CONSERVATION WITH YOUNG PEOPLE.

AND SELFISHLY, THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE'VE DEVELOPED SINCE WE STARTED DOWN THAT JOURNEY PROBABLY HAVE BENEFITTED US AS MUCH AS THEY'VE BENEFITTED THE PEOPLE THAT WE'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH.

IT'S REALLY A SPECTACULAR PROGRAM.

>> I'M SURE IT'S HARD TO PICK IN THE YEARS THAT YOU'VE BEEN INVOLVED, BUT DO YOU HAVE MAYBE KEY SPECIAL MEMORIES THAT YOU HOLD ESPECIALLY DEAR FROM SOME OF THAT MENTORING THAT YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO THROUGH THIS PROGRAM?

>> SURE.

AND ANYBODY THAT'S SPENT ANY TIME HUNTING PROBABLY CAN REMEMBER THEIR FIRST MEMORY, WHETHER IT WAS BEING 12 YEARS OLD OR SOMETIMES PEOPLE GET INVOLVED IN THE SPORT IN THEIR 50s AND 60s AND 70s EVEN, BUT WATCHING SOMEBODY PUT ALL OF THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE TOGETHER THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO LEARN AND HARVEST THEIR FIRST DEER, JUST BEING THERE FOR THAT EXPERIENCE IS JUST PRETTY AMAZING.

AND WITH THIS PROGRAM, WE GET TO DO THAT A LOT BECAUSE WE'RE CONSTANTLY BRINGING NEW PEOPLE INTO THE SPORT.

>> TALK A LITTLE BIT, IF YOU WOULD, ABOUT WHY USING HUNTING AND BEING OUTDOORS AND GUN SAFETY IS SUCH A POSITIVE WAY OF BUILDING CONNECTIONS WITH THE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO MENTOR.

>> YOU KNOW, OUR MOLT OWE IS, IT'S MORE THAN -- MOTTO IS IT'S MORE THAN A HUNT, IT'S AN ADVENTURE.

IT'S TRULY MUCH BIGGER THAN HUNTING AND CONSERVATION.

IT'S BUILDING A GOOD, POSITIVE MENTOR RELATIONSHIP WITH THESE YOUNG PEOPLE AND WE'VE REALLY SEEN IT CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY FOR PEOPLE THAT WERE HEADED DOWN THE WRONG ROAD IN LIFE, HAVING STRUGGLES, MAYBE, WITH PERSONAL LIFE OR SCHOOL, AND WE REALLY FOCUS WITH OUR MENTORS ON MAKING SURE PEOPLE ARE GETTING GOOD GRADES, THEY'RE ATTENDING SCHOOL, AND THEN USING THIS AS A REWARDS PROGRAM AND WE'VE HAD A REALLY GOOD SUCCESS WITH THAT TOO.

>> WE'VE TALKED BEFORE ABOUT SOME OF THE TRIPS AND DIFFERENT EVENTS THAT HAPPEN WITH THIS ORGANIZATION.

CAN YOU TOUCH ON SOME OF THOSE?

>> THE KEY COMPONENT OF THIS IS THAT EVERYBODY MAKES SURE THAT WE AT LEAST GET A KID OUT ON A YOUTH DEER HUNT EACH YEAR.

BUT THE PROGRAM HAS GROWN PAST THAT.

WE DO ONE OR TWO PHEASANT HUNTS A YEAR.

WE'VE TAKEN KIDS OUT TO THE RIVER ON FISHING TRIPS.

A LOT OF THE KIDS HAVE HARVESTED ELK, DEER, HURRY KEYS, ANTELOPE.

TURKEYS, ANTELOPE.

AND WE'VE TAKEN BACKPACKING TRIPS OVER TO THE BIG HORN.

AS SOON AS, REALLY, WE HAVE SOMETHING GOING ON, YOU KNOW, EVERY MONTH OR TWO ALL YEAR ROUND WITH THE PROGRAM TO KEEP THE KIDS ENGAGED AND ENTERTAINED AND EXCITED ABOUT THE PROGRAM.

AND THEN ANOTHER NEAT COMPONENT IS, WE GIVE THEM PROCESSING CERTIFICATES.

SO THEY GET TO -- WHATEVER GAME THAT THEY HARVEST, THEY GET TO TAKE THAT TO A LOCAL MEAT PROCESSOR, GET THE MEAT HARVESTED AND THEN TAKE THAT HOME FOR THEIR FAMILIES.

AND THAT'S BEEN A BIG DEAL TO A LOT OF THE KIDS, YOUNG KIDS GROWING UP, TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE, YOU KNOW, GOOD, HEALTHY MEAT TO THEIR FAMILIES HAS BEEN KIND OF A NEAT PART OF THE PROGRAM, TOO.

>> WOW, YEAH, I CAN'T IMAGINE BEING A KID, HAVING THAT FIRST EXPERIENCE, IT HAS TO BE REALLY FULFILLING AND EXCITING TO WATCH THAT HAPPEN.

>> YEAH, IT SURE IS.

>> AWESOME.

SO MY LAST QUESTION THAT I ASK EVERYBODY, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU TO BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR?

>> I THINK JUST GETTING INVOLVED IS REALLY THE KEY.

AND BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS IS REALLY THE KEY TO BEING A GOOD NEIGHBOR.

SO JUST GETTING INVOLVED IN YOUR COMMUNITY, MEETING PEOPLE, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE NEEDS ARE AND FIGURING OUT WHAT SKILL SET THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE THAT CAN HELP IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE AT LEAST IN ONE KEY COMPONENT IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

♪ >> THAT'S ALL WE HAVE TIME FOR TONIGHT.

I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR GUESTS AND CONTRIBUTORS.

A SPECIAL THANKS TO JOSH HAIAR FOR HIS ILLUSTRATIONS.

AS ALWAYS, YOU CAN REACH OUT TO OUR "SOUTH DAKOTA FOCUS" TEAM BY EMAIL OR TALK TO ME DIRECTLY ON TWITTER @JACKIEHENDRYSD.

JOIN US AGAIN ON MAY 27TH FOR OUR LAST SHOW OF THE SEASON, AS WE SPEND THE HOUR DISCUSSING THE EPIDEMIC OF MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN.

UNTIL THEN, I'M JACKIE HENDRY.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

♪