FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 7, 2022
SD Gun Owner’s Endorses Mechaley for Sheriff
RAPID CITY, S.D. (Apr. 7, 2022) – South Dakota Gun Owners, one of the state’s largest and longest running gun-rights groups, announced its’ endorsement for Ryan Mechaley today in the contested race for Pennington County Sheriff as the Gun Owner’s candidate of choice.
South Dakota Gun Owner’s Executive Director Ray Lautenschlager explained that they chose Mechaley over his opponent, the current Pennington County Sheriff Chief Deputy, due to a history of opposition to gun rights legislation by the current Pennington County Sheriff’s administration.
Lautenschlager specifically cited Pennington County Sheriff Kevin Thom’s testimony in opposition to Constitutional Carry, which was the first bill ever signed by Governor Kristi Noem after being elected and granted South Dakotans the right to carry without obtaining a permit by the local Sheriff.
Now Lautenschlager says it is vital that Pennington County has a constitutional Sheriff to protect our rights from national red flag laws and other federal gun control legislation that has been introduced in recent years.
“Our gun rights have never been under greater attack than we see today,” Lautenschlager said, “that’s why we need a Constitutional Sheriff that will defend our rights, and stand strong to protect them right here at home.”
Mechaley, a former SD Highway Patrolman, stated that he is honored to receive the SD Gun Owner’s endorsement and has publicly called himself a Constitutional Sheriff and a strong second amendment advocate.
Mechaley will face-off against his opponent, the current Pennington County Sheriff Chief Deputy, in the 2022 primary election to be held on June 7th.
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South Dakota Gun Owners
South Dakota Gun Owners was founded in the mid-1980s on the uncompromising principles of supporting our Second Amendment rights, and is the largest “no compromise” gun rights organization today with over 18,000 South Dakota members together with it’s national affiliate the National Association for Gun Rights.
