Bill Would Allow South Carolinians to Carry Guns Without Concealed Weapons Permits

wsav.com ^ | 14 December, 2012 | Robert Kittle

[marktwain]

COLUMBIA, S.C. --

A bill prefiled in the South Carolina Senate would allow adults who can legally buy guns to carry them without having concealed weapons permits.

"The Second Amendment says that our rights to have firearms cannot be infringed upon and that's what the federal government is doing right now," says Sen. Lee Bright, R-Spartanburg, the sponsor of the bill. He and Sen. Kevin Bryant co-sponsored the same bill last year, but it never made it out of committee.

To get a concealed weapons permit, you have to complete a training class of at least eight hours. It has to include:

-information on handgun laws and laws about the use of deadly force.

-information about handgun safety and use.

-information about the proper storage of handguns, emphasizing reducing the possibility of injury to a child.

-actually firing the gun in the presence of an instructor.

The South Carolina Sheriffs' Association opposed the bill last year and will fight it again. Executive director Jeff Moore says, "We believe that that is the wrong thing to do simply because we believe a person ought to be trained on it to a minimal degree so that they have some understanding of how the weapon operates, how it works. And they need to know the rules for carrying them. Where can you carry them? Where can you not carry them?"

Sen. Bright says he's just trying to move back to the Constitution. The Second Amendment doesn't say anything about requiring a permit.

[trebb]

How much useful info is there to fill up a 8-hour gun safety course? You can give them scenario after scenario and picture after picture, but it all comes down to the basic rules - Treat very gun as if it was loaded and ready to shoot - if handled carelessly, a gun can discharge and hit an unintended victim - finger off the trigger when not intending to fire the weapon. be familiar with the weapon and all features. Give them the basics and show a few gory pictures of cases where folks violated the rules and paid for it. Could be a free on-line deal and be completed in 20 minutes and maybe require a documented trip to a range where the person fired at least 10 shots. And that only if the person has not had any contact/experience with firearms ( a 5-minute session to verify if there is any question) - if they have participated in any gun activities and are familiar with them, it’s just a waste of their time and money,

[garykfd]

“Um...correct me if I’m wrong, but having lived there, I’m pretty sure the ‘Toothless Hill Country Folk’ are already doin’ this!”

I live here and have all my teeth!!!! TYVM
I hope you are back in Wisconsin!

[gitmo]

In North Carolina, we allow open carry without permits.

Our training class has a required test showing you are able to hit a target at differing distances and at differing rates of fire.

[submarinerswife]

How will other states recognize our permits if SC hands them out to anyone requesting them (reciprocity)?

Having just completed my CCW class, I think that the information in the class on law and protecting yourself after a shooting (that is only the beginning) and on the range for a novice, is invaluable. Having a very competent instruction makes all the difference in how you will conduct yourself in certain situations. Trainig, training, training .....I am all for it.

The 90 period, finger prints and back ground check for SC to make sure that I am worthy of the permit, is what I have a problem with.