I knew you would. Here is the relevant contact info:
Mr. James D. Hagen, Secretary
South Dakota Department of Tourism and State Development
711 East Wells Avenue
Pierre, SD 57501-3369
Governor Mike Rounds (R--don't forget. don't ever forget)
Office of the Governor
500 E. Capitol Ave.
Pierre, SD 57501
There are email addresses, but in this day and age, the real impact will be felt if you take the time to put inkjet to paper and stamp to envelope, folks.
I'm going to be printing up my little missive and sending it along. I've drafted a different letter for the tourism board, which I'll post below.
There must be consequences. Please, especially, take note of the loathesome, perverse quotation by one of the state's legislators in the letter below. There's a special little corner of hell waiting for him.
Dear Mr. Hagen:
As a Montana resident, I have spent many happy vacation days traversing your fair state of South Dakota. The summer that my husband and I got married, we traveled to the Badlands, Mt. Rushmore, the Crazy Horse memorial, and even the Corn Palace. In each case we were welcomed by friendly people, spectacular scenery, and warm hospitality. We stayed several nights in different South Dakota towns, and we remember the trip very fondly. Once we had our son in 2003, we talked about how great it would be to be able to take him back to those spots when he got a little older.
I am sorry that South Dakota’s legislature and governor have now made it impossible for me to return to the state. I cannot in good conscience spend money or time in a state that believes that women are nothing more than wombs on legs to be forced to carry to term pregnancies that may have been the result of rape or incest or may result in profound damage to a woman’s health or future fertility.
Moreover, I do not want to spend time in a state that would elect Bill Napoli to any office, after his description of the circumstances under which abortion should be allowed in the case of rape or incest. Speaking on NewsHour, Mr. Napoli said, “A real-life description to me would be a rape victim, brutally raped, savaged. The girl was a virgin. She was religious. She planned on saving her virginity until she was married. She was brutalized and raped, sodomized as bad as you can possibly make it, and is impregnated. I mean, that girl could be so messed up, physically and psychologically, that carrying that child could very well threaten her life.”
I cannot in any way support a state with officials who hold such disgusting beliefs. A woman is more than her reproductive organs, but it is clear that South Dakotans do not agree.
I look forward to welcoming the women of South Dakota who may require abortion services to Montana for those procedures. May they find the compassion here that is so lacking in their own state.