Originally published April 17, 2023 9:00 am PDT
Kristi Noem, the Republican governor of South Dakota, on Friday signed an executive order that blocks state agencies from signing contracts with financial institutions that have discriminated against the firearms industry.
Gov. Noem signed the order while speaking before the National Rifle Association convention in Indianapolis.
The order, which takes effect immediately, was signed in response to moves by some large banking institutions whose policies toward the firearms industry included threatening to withhold funding, canceling loans, or holding them to a different standard than how the left is treated.
“I won’t stand for it, not in South Dakota,” Noem said.
The law prohibits the state from contracting with financial institutions that refuse to do business with firearm-related entities.
“This Executive Order will protect the God-given right to keep and bear arms from being infringed upon by financial institutions,” Noem explained in a press release.
“South Dakota is setting the standard for the most 2nd Amendment friendly state in the nation. But it’s not just the media and big government that are attacking our rights. Now, we have seen banking institutions go after law-abiding gun owners. Well, not on my watch. I won’t stand for it, not in South Dakota.”
