Proposed New Law Could Allow Anyone To Carry A Gun In South Carolina

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by Kirk Hawkins
Bio | Email | Follow: @kirkhawkins by Photographer Darnell Hart

Story Created: Mar 2, 2013 at 12:39 AM EDT

Story Updated: Mar 4, 2013 at 6:31 PM EDT

ROCK HILL, SC--DeWayne Saunders prepared for nearly thirty students at a Concealed Carry
Training class in Rock Hill Saturday. He worries that a proposed South Carolina law could remove the training and permitting process. "It could actually harm public safety," said the DES Training Chief Instructor.

It's a concern shared by South Carolina State Representative Ralph Norman,"To just have anybody be able to carry whatever you want, whenever you want to, I've got some issues with," he said.

As part of the South Carolina Constitutional Carry Act of 2013, Senate Bill 115, any law abiding citizen could carry a weapon without a permit. Businesses banning guns and private property would be exempt. "It's sad that it takes a tragedy to bring this to the forefront. I strongly believe we don't have a gun problem, we have a people problem," said Rep. Norman.

If anything, some experts say the proposal needs to recognize the responsibility of owning a gun.
"The need for the training is there. The knowledge is desperately needed by all.  But now, they might not have to seek that out. That bothers all of us," said Saunders.

Some state lawmakers in North Carolina have talked about introducing similar constitutional carry legislation but it hasn't happened yet. South Carolina state senators sponsoring the bill will take testimony during a public hearing Monday at York Technical College.

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