PIERRE — Legislation allowing people to carry concealed handguns without a permit, sometimes called "Constitutional carry," is headed to the South Dakota Senate floor for a vote.

The Senate Judiciary Committee approved Senate Bill 47 in a 4-3 vote on Thursday morning after spending more than an hour hearing testimony and discussing the issue. The concealed carry bill is similar to legislation proposed in previous sessions.

Proponents said it wouldn't change who qualifies to carry a handgun in the state, only that they would no longer need to go through the process to receive a concealed carry permit from their local sheriff's office.

"Essentially we're being asked as law-abiding citizens to go to our county and seek to lease back our constitutionally protected right to bear firearms, and I think that's inappropriate," said the bill's author, Sen. Brock Greenfield, R-Clark, adding that the bill won't cause the state to become "the Wild West."

Opponents said they were concerned it would eliminate law enforcement's ability to know who can legally carry a handgun in the state, both South Dakota residents and visitors, and that the Second Amendment doesn't mean residents have unlimited gun rights.

"Without the permit process, we don't have any idea who's carrying," said South Dakota Sheriff's Association spokesman Dick Tieszen.

More:What are South Dakota's firearm laws?

Gov. Noem supports Constitutional carry

The concealed carry bill is one of several addressing gun rights in South Dakota and Lt. Gov. Larry Rhoden held a meeting with legislators, gun rights advocates, law enforcement and community leaders to begin the process to reach consensus on the various proposed gun bills by the end of session. The meeting was held at the request of Gov. Kristi Noem. It was a chance for people to come together to discuss priorities as the legislation moves through the Legislature, Noem said on Thursday.

"From my understanding, the discussion at that meeting went very well," Noem said. "It was just a starting point, there were no agreements made, but everyone talked about their priorities and what we can do to come together and have some resolutions by the end of session."

Noem, who supported Constitutional carry during her campaign, she said she'll be considering legislation's language and support when deciding whether to support a bill. It's important to consult law enforcement and have them at the table to discuss the proposals because "their role is incredibly important with making sure we're protecting people while protecting people's rights," she said.

Bill doesn't change disqualifying factors

Greenfield told the committee that his bill doesn't change the 10 disqualifying factors to carry in state statute. He pointed out that only law-abiding citizens are going to their sheriff's offices to receive a permit. However, Sen. Lee Schoenbeck, R-Watertown, questioned whether the proposed legislation left in place the 10 disqualifying factors and asked Greenfield where it would remain in state statute, to which Greenfield didn't reply.

Sen. Arthur Rusch, R-Vermillion, noted that hundreds of South Dakota residents are denied each year when they attempt to receive a concealed carry from their local sheriff.

Opponents note 'power of firearms'

The scars and trauma of being mugged at gunpoint 15 years ago have never left Eagle Butte resident Lisa Lynott-Carroll.

"Once you feel that cold, hard barrel against your skin and you realize that the person holding it has, at that moment, full and complete control over whether you will live in the next few minutes, you truly realize the power of firearms and you are at the power and the mercy of those who hold them," she said.

But her opposition isn't only emotion, she said, quoting gun violence statistics about states that already have concealed carry statutes. She said supports gun ownership and her husband owns guns, but a handful of people not following gun laws isn't a reason to not have gun regulations.

Lawmakers also consider concealed carry in the Capitol

The Senate Judiciary Committee also on Thursday passed a bill in a 4-3 vote to allow people to carry concealed handguns in the state Capitol in Pierre.

It was unclear whether the South Dakota Supreme Court would be able to have control over banning concealed weapons in its courtroom in the Capitol and bill sponsor Sen. Stace Nelson, R-Fulton, said he would support amending the bill to include clear language that concealed carry wouldn't apply to the Court's space.

However, he said, there are still two other branches of government that operate in the state Capitol, and staff and elected officials have the right to carry a weapon to defend themselves.

"The bad world doesn't stop at the sidewalks of the Capitol," Sen. Stace Nelson, R-Fulton, said when introducing his legislation.