John Lott is making much over the recent church shooting in Charleston.
The horrible tragedy last night that left nine people dead at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C., probably could have been avoided. Like so many other attacks, the massacre took place in a gun-free zone, a place where the general public was banned from having guns. The gun-free zone obviously didn’t stop the killer from bringing a gun into the church.
Well, yes, no and maybe. There’s more to it than that. I play second fiddle to no one in terms of carry of weapons, including open carry which John Lott doesn’t like. John and I have been in the ring exchanging blows over this very issue (see both article and comments). But it’s important to be accurate on this issue because what we learn is dependent on a correct understanding of the law and choices we make thereto.
(M) A permit issued pursuant to this section does not authorize a permit holder to carry a concealable weapon into a:
(1) police, sheriff, or highway patrol station or any other law enforcement office or facility;
(2) detention facility, prison, or jail or any other correctional facility or office;
(3) courthouse or courtroom;
(4) polling place on election days;
(5) office of or the business meeting of the governing body of a county, public school district, municipality, or special purpose district;
(6) school or college athletic event not related to firearms;
(7) daycare facility or pre-school facility;
(8) place where the carrying of firearms is prohibited by federal law;
(9) church or other established religious sanctuary unless express permission is given by the appropriate church official or governing body; or
(10) hospital, medical clinic, doctor’s office, or any other facility where medical services or procedures are performed unless expressly authorized by the employer.
The law is stupid and shouldn’t require “express permission” of the church officials. But at least it does give the latitude to carry with permission of the church, and this isn’t defined in state law. So for example, the church could have given permission for every man and woman over the age of 21 who has a concealed carry permit to carry in the church, up to and including posting at the door that carry of weapons is allowed with a permit (unfortunately, in a tip of the hat to racist Jim Crow laws, open carry is not currently allowed in South Carolina because Senator Larry Martin killed proposed legislation to make it legal, a sore spot with me that we will revisit as time goes on).
What does this mean? Are worship centers in South Carolina gun free zones? Well, sort of, if they so choose. But they don’t have to be. They can choose differently, and this pastor was a well-known advocate of gun control. So you don’t miss it, let’s cover that again. This pastor was a well-known advocate of gun control.
They chose to disarm. The result is the same – sadly, men and women are dead. But it’s important to get the facts straight so that the right things are learned from the horrible experience.
