PIERRE, S.D. —A resolution to invite responsible gun owners from Virginia to relocate to South Dakota was killed in the Senate State Affairs Committee on Friday, Feb. 21.

The bill was moved to the 41st day of the legislative session on a 6-2 vote, which effectively kills the resolution.

Sen. John Wiik, R-Big Stone, said that the resolution was to show solidarity to gun owners in Virginia whose Second Amendment rights were being tested. Virginia gun rights activists have been protesting proposed legislation in, including a bill that would ban assault weapons in the state. The ban on assault weapons died in a state committee on Monday, Feb. 17.

Sen. Troy Heinert, D-Mission, said Friday's resolution was likely not even legal within the legislative rule book.

“If you look at the red book, it says a resolution is to petition the federal government or a federal agency to act on something,” Heinert said. “I don’t know why we’re trying to get involved in another state’s politics.”