After 40 years, left the Great State of Arizona for the Great State of South Dakota !!!  I know, I know, we did the opposite of everyone else.   But have a brand new grandson in Sioux Falls, and was offered a great job opportunity in Madison.

So, being a good member of the Arizona Citizen Defense League, an organization that helped ensure Arizona was the #1 Gun Rights State 3-years running, I figured the patriotic thing to do was join the South Dakota Gun Owners organization.

Went on to the SDGO website and made my $30.00 donation, and also reached out to them via the Contact-Us section, stating I was new to South Dakota and wanted to get involved in the organization in hopes of making South Dakota the #2 Gun Rights State in the nation, rather than #31.

Welllll nothing.   Zip, nada, nothing.   No Thank-You Email, no confirmation that I am now a member, nothing.   Nothing in the mail yet either, but maybe it's too early.    OH, and get this --- the debit posting on my Bank of America account notes that payment was made to SDGO --- but it references a 970 area code as part of a contact phone number, which is for Colorado.    Now granted, SDGO is based out of Rapid City, so maybe the founder is from Colorado and still has his same phone number --- just seems kinda hinky since Colorado is becoming the next Kaliforniastan --- literally.

There is also another number on the website, which is a 605 area code.   I called and left a message a few days ago, but so far no returned call confirming my membership.

When you join the AZCDL in Arizona you get an instant Email confirmation, a membership card and letter in the mail, and a secret decoder ring for the nightly secret message broadcast over the radio.    All  kidding aside, they really are super organized and got their act together --- hence the reason Arizona leads the pack in gun rights year after year.

So, did I get jacked, or is the SDGO a good org?

Try Facebook. They seem to be active there. Otherwise I can't help you. I have actually never heard of them or run across them anywhere and I have been in the gun world in SD for nearly 30 years. I must live under a rock.

Book of Faces

Never heard of them either.

SD has such great gun laws I can't imagine them having much to do.

Hmmm, probably wasted $30.00 if no one on this forum has heard of them.   I will continue to try and make contact with them, but I don't have a FAKE-BOOK account, and won't as I don't trust Zuckerboy or his minions.   Besides, any organization that solely uses FAKE-BOOK as the main platform for their members, is probably not that great anyway.

Since Arizona and South Dakota are sister states when it comes to 2A rights and citizen mindset, I was hoping to find an organization like the ARIZONA CITIZENS DEFENSE LEAGUE to donate a little time to.   Ha, they were stronger in AZ than the NRA was.   They managed to get some incredible bills passed that propelled us to the #1 gun rights state.

For anyone curious, here's a list of accomplishments:   https://www.azcdl.org/html/legislation.html

I was rather politically active regarding 2A rights in Arizona, and wanted to continue the practice as a new member of this great state.   Don't think anyone on this forum would complain about that  

With the Socialists/Communists taking over Congress, things are only going to get worse if we don't fight back.   Get ready for the next run on gear, mags, and ammo.

You know you can make a fake profile on that place, right? I suggest Harry Balsak.

As far as I can tell SDGO is just one dude, and the org seems to be a NAGR affiliate of some kind. Wouldn't surprise me if the money goes to CO.

Thanks for the welcome from all.   On a note, I don't jump on the forum much due to a heavy work schedule, but will try to be more active.

UPDATE ON SDGO:
Well I finally started getting communications from SDGO in the form of an Email alert about pending legislative actions -- most notably on Constitutional Carry, so that was a good thing.

The Email has recommended language to use for contacting state legislators to encourage them to vote yes.    At least they are doing that and the timing is in line with the legislative actions going on.   So there is some good.

Next comes -- wait for it -- wait for it -- the mailer asking for money !!!   Yep, you guessed it.   "SEND MONEY SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHTS!!!"    Nice mailer too.  Very legit looking, but aren't they all that are looking for money.

I am a member of the NRA, GOA, and the still a member of the Arizona Citizens Defense League.   But at least these orgs are doing something with the dues I pay by suing entities trying to usurp our 2A rights, like or own govt.   Most notably the GOA more then the NRA as of late.

Also Adversor is right --- it appears to be a one man show.   Guy running the org is named Ray Lautenschlager - Executive Director.   He may be a lobbyist, or he may be legit.   But considering the money appeared to go to a Colorado location and the refusal to answer or acknowledge my Emails or even return my calls makes things seem highly suspicious.

Won't contribute to this org again until I see some headline on KELOLAND that the SDGO has become a force to be reckoned with when it comes to 2A rights in South Dakota.    Then I'll know my money is being used wisely -- or at least I can assume it is....

I know Ray as an acquaintace. I haven't seen him in 4 or 5  years but I do know him. I am in no way vouching for him but he has been active in 2A defense since I have known him from the early 90's.  I do not have any contact information for him. Last I knew, he still lived in Rapid City but like I said, that was 4 or 5 years ago at least.

I'm there also.  I lived in Hot Springs from age 6-12 when my Dad was a patient in the Battlemountain V A, we ended up in Tucson and after 24 years in the Army I settled in S Vista.  Am thinking of returning to Hot Springs for part of the year. I've been very active with the AZ organizations through my business. gatorfarmtactical.com

I have finally made contact with the South Dakota Gun Owners (SDGO) at the Sioux Falls Convention Center gun show yesterday.   They had two tables set up in the lobby area.    Good organization and they were key in pushing through Constitutional Carry with the lobbyist they have hired, although I guess the NRA is trying to take credit as well.    Nothing unusual there.

Some notes from my contact:

• SDGO is a member affiliate of The National Association of Gun Rights (NAGR) and located in Colorado, hence the reason why donations go to a Colorado address.  NAGR is another splinter group more active at the states level and appears to be smaller than Gun Owners of America.


• SDGO has 12,000 members, although its a combination of SDGO and NAGR members, by what I see.   Quite a few SD members are out of state -- aka, snowbirds down in Arizona, Texas, etc.


• Volunteer member named Travis, along with his young son, drove in from Rapid City and was working the booth the entire weekend.  He vouched for Ray Lautenschlager as well, said he was a stand-up guy and very involved in protecting our rights.


• I hung out at the booth awhile chatting with Travis and there were several folks that came by that were supporting members, although not volunteers.  Plus there was a fair amount of interest in their booth as well.

 Travis and I had a long conversation during this time and I voiced my concerns about my experience with signing up, couldn't get ahold of anyone, no one returns calls, etc.   He was surprised and concerned and is relaying the info back to Ray, and was going to have him reach out to me.

If my conversation goes as well as it did with Ray as it did with Travis, then I plan to start volunteering some time with the SDGO and helping grow the base.    I've seen the benefits of what a strong state based gun rights organization can do and with the "Anti's" making an all out assault on our rights, we had better continue to push our agenda of "no compromise".