Testimony On S.C. Open Carry Legislation
BY Herschel Smith3 years, 9 months ago
Some South Carolina Republican lawmakers are trying to get the decidedly conservative state to join 44 others that allow people to carry guns without concealing them.
South Carolina is one of only five states without so-called open carry, joining atypical partners such as California, Florida, Illinois and New York.
A House panel voted 3-1 along party lines to advance a bill Wednesday that would allow people who already have concealed-weapons permits to carry their guns without hiding them under a coat or other clothing.
The proposal has a long way to go before becoming law. But like another bill proposed each session that would ban almost all abortions, the open-carry bill got a boost when Republicans gained five seats in the General Assembly in the 2020 elections.
Before voting Wednesday, the subcommittee listened to the public speak for about two hours, both in person and virtually. Some speakers said the proposal would make them feel safer protecting their family, while doctors said they feared more gun violence and domestic killings in a state that is often among the worst in the country.
Doctors. Experts in public policy, or so someone thinks. Yea, that blood running in the streets thing hasn’t materialized anywhere open carry is legal, and they know it.
Some gun owners said the concealed-weapons law is just fine as it is. But Charleston’s police chief asked lawmakers to focus instead on laws ensuring that violent criminals serve more time in prison.
Chief Luther Reynolds, testifying by video, told lawmakers open carry is a bad idea given the recent increase in protests over racial injustice, which often involve angry people pitted against each other in close quarters.
“Adding the open carry of firearms raises tension,” Reynolds said. “It makes it even harder for law enforcement officers to determine who has and who has not been committing a crime.”
Both local and state law enforcement officials have been a significant force in preventing the bill from passing in previous years.
About a half-dozen of the 28 people who testified Wednesday were in favor of the bill.
Mark Roote said he carried his gun openly in Pennsylvania, which doesn’t require a permit, before moving to South Carolina. He said as a disabled veteran, a gun helps him defend himself and his family even if he can no longer physically fight.
“Having a pistol concealed on my hip requires extra motion,” Roote said.
I certainly wouldn’t deny a disabled veteran the right to choose what best suits his self defense needs, but the real issue is whether it is right and just to dictate to a man how he carries his weapons. The answer is no, whether he’s a disabled veteran or simply doesn’t like IWB carry.
At least one speaker Wednesday said the proposal doesn’t go far enough. Tommy Dimsdale, who identified himself as belonging to a group of tens of thousands of gun owners in the state called Palmetto Gun Rights, said South Carolina needs to join about 16 other states that allow legal gun owners to carry their weapons any way they wish, without a permit.
“We’re disappointed that lawmakers think this bill adequately addresses the concern of gun owners,” Dimsdale said.
None of the lawmakers spoke about the bill before voting Wednesday. In the past, some African American legislators have suggested the measure might pose a danger to Black gun owners, who they said could be mistaken for criminals by police or other armed civilians.
“My reality is I am Black, and because of the color of my skin, I am feared by some of those same gun owners who have no idea I could be a good guy with a gun,” speaker Butch Kennedy said. “Open carry to me means open season on the hundreds of thousands of people who look like me.”
Good for Tommy. He pressed the issue to constitutional carry. As for the dude who is black being afraid of open carry, the answer is simple. Then don’t open carry. Lot’s of people don’t like it, just like lots of people don’t like concealed carry.
Much of this group sounds like a bunch of New Yorkers. I suspect most of the naysayers came from law enforcement, gun control advocate groups, Greenville, Columbia and Charleston.
Maybe New York could annex those three cities and spare South Carolina the trouble of coddling their emotions.
On February 11, 2021 at 5:30 am, joe blow said:
ONE reason I relocated to TN instead of either of the Carolinas, is because they are no longer The Carolinas. They are now extensions of NY metro area.
People need to wake the F up, this is what they do. Flip the big cities blue, then spread like cancer. Ask any purple state how thats going (aka the Carolinas!)
On February 11, 2021 at 9:11 am, Longbow said:
Quote from the linked piece…
““Adding the open carry of firearms raises tension,” Reynolds said. “It makes it even harder for law enforcement officers to determine who has and who has not been committing a crime.””
Spoken like a typical would-be tyrant. Allow me to translate.
“I wear a Super Hero costume and bear a magic shield. That makes me superior to the people I “serve”. I feel like everybody who isn’t me, must submit to me! If people are out there carryin’ guns, they might be less likely to submit to me. I don’t like that idea very much. It makes me feel bad, and (looking uncomfortable, beginning to sweat) less superior. I believe that all people, who ain’t me, or a member of my Gang, must submit to me. That way we’ll keep the community safe and… (shifts eyes left and right as he hitches up his belt)… peaceful. I’m a Law Imposement Officer and I believe I should have the final word.”
On February 11, 2021 at 11:14 am, George 1 said:
“Makes it harder for law enforcement officers”. Boo Hoo. These little want to be dictators always lead with the assumption that everything in the universe revolves around making things easier for law enforcement. As if constitutional rights should always be balanced by the absolute necessity of making things easier for law enforcement officers.
The LEOs volunteered for the job. No one made them sigh up. If they think they don’t have it easy enough they can find other employment.
On February 11, 2021 at 2:02 pm, Allen said:
Big city police chiefs are garbage.
On February 11, 2021 at 2:21 pm, Auto Quad Belt Fed Bazooka said:
A society this soft weak and dumbed down can’t handle truth or reality.
Guns are way too scary for sparkle ponies who want a completely safe sterile world where everyone thinks exactly the same.
Some Kevin or Karen will freak out at the sight of a gun butt but not a butt plug as the rainbow circus sideshow freaks march in some pride parade.
The Marxist Satanic curses are all about incompetent obscene grotesqueries being elevated to sacred status.
Like the Texas secession video with the rancher said…it is too late to save America.