South Carolina - ACTION needed!

[bjustus]

If you are a Palmetto gun rights member you have probably already received an email.

In the South Carolina state senate: a committe is meeting to consider concealed carry in restaurants (currently CC in restaurants that serve alcohol is not allowed.) There is a hearing this Wednesday the thirteenth. The bill is S308.

Please contact the committee members and urge them to put the bill before the floor:

Senator Shane Massey (chairman) (803) 212-6024 shanemassey@scsenate.gov

Senator Katrina Shealy (bill sponsor) (803) 212-6056 katrinashealy@scsenate.gov

Senator Creighton Coleman (803) 212-6032 creightoncoleman@scsenate.gov

Senator Sean Bennett (bill sponsor) (803) 212-6116 seanbennett@scsenate.gov

Senator Floyd Nicholson (803) 212-6000 floydnicholson@scsenate.gov

I sent an email to all five; here's a copy of what I sent:

Dear Senator Nicholson,


Thank you for serving our state on the committee to consider S308. I sincerely hope that you recognize the importance of furthering the right of law abiding citizens to protect themselves and their families. I strongly supported passage of the law about 20 years ago to allow concealed carry, but I was very disappointed when I heard of the restriction about carrying in restaurants.


By not allowing law abiding citizens to carry protection in restaurants you may as well put up a neon sign at the front door of the building advertising to the psycopath-would-be-active-shooter that there is a convenient grouping of unarmed sheep for the slaughter. Nearly every mass killer in American history has sought out such a venue for his mayhem.

Concerns about firearms in a location that serves alcohol should not cause responsible people to have their rights restricted.


Almost every time I am out with my family or friends, I have to relinquish my right to protection because going to a restaurant falls somewhere in the days activities. It is not feasible, for example, to take the gun back to the car when I have walked a mile and a half into the center of downtown Greenville from the parking garage before stepping into a restaurant. Instead I'm forced to find myself on a long walk back to the car, unarmed, when the nights activities are over. In a group I still feel relatively safe but if it's just my wife and I, or my wife and daughter and me, I can tell you there are times we have chosen to stay at home instead.


When concealed carry first started here two decades ago there was, as there is now, a provision for businesses to placard that guns were not allowed on their premises, and quite a few did. Now, you almost never see the signs. The initial paranoia apparently gave way to a realization by most sensible people that places of commerce are safer, and busier when they are not advertised, "gun free zones."


Many are familiar with the story of "Luby's Massacre" and Suzanna Hupp who dutifully left her pistol in her car due to just such a restriction in Texas years ago. She watched in horror as both of her parents were shot along with 48 other people as the gunman reloaded several times, strolling around the restaurant killing at will in the "gun free zone".


Bad people ignore laws at will and do bad things; they always have, they always will. People have a right to protect themselves and the ones they love. It just doesn't make sense to continue to strip down innocent people and make them ripe for the slaughter by criminals who disregard laws due to a paranoia or fear about guns. Having firearms tucked in the belts of responsible citizens doesn't result in, "the wild west" as some proclaim -- it results in countless crimes prevented WITHOUT a shot being fired because criminals know their prey has a right to protect themselves and fight back if they need to.


PLEASE support my right to protect my family and myself and ensure this bill becomes law. My daughter or wife may someday escape being a victim because of your actions; and it will far more likely be a preventative, "innoculation" than any shots fired. I can't imagine how many lives have already been saved, beatings and rapes prevented; because we've kept criminals on the streets guessing these last twenty years.


Respectfully, (my name and address)

[bender01]

Thanks for the link! Im a Chef! Ive been waiting for this!

[dbp]

You have crafted an excellent argument for passage of this proposed bill. Thanks for posting this.

[dbp]

Originally Posted by bender01

Thanks for the link! Im a Chef! Ive been waiting for this!

Say Bender, are you a member of the S.C. Hospitality Assoc.? If you are you may want to be sure they are aware of this. They have a very strong lobby in the State House.

[dbp]

It will get out of committee because both Sean Bennett and I are on the sub-committee and are sponsors. I have talked to Shane Massey and am pretty sure he is going to vote with us. I don’t think Nicholson will oppose it and I don’t know Coleman that well. I think if we have a big turn out at the sub-committee hearing it will be a big help. When it gets to full committee we definitely will need a large turn out to get it out. I think we can do it though because most of the new Freshmen Senators will vote the right way and there are 10 of us!

From: David [mailto:]
Sent: Monday, February 11, 2013 11:29 PM
To: Katrina Shealy
Subject: RE: Consideration of bill S308

I knew you would be supporting it and really appreciate your sponsorship. Would you share with me your thoughts on chances for passage?

From: Katrina Shealy [mailto:KatrinaShealy@scsenate.gov]
Sent: Monday, February 11, 2013 11:24 PM
To: 'David'
Subject: RE: Consideration of bill S308

I am a co-sponsor on this bill and a strong supporter of our 2nd amendment rights. I will be supporting the passage of this bill.
Regards,
Katrina Shealy

[dbp]

OK -- All of you from here in the Palmetto State - please contact these state senators tonight or tomorrow and encourage them to support this bill.

I am really looking forward to being able to finally carry legally in my favorite restaurants!

[greenejason]

Done.

[greenejason]

Wrong thread, sorry.

[Ryanxia]

I hope this passes. I remember watching a woman speak about how her and her husband carried every day but since they worked in a bar at night they had to leave their guns in the car, one night someone came in and shot her husband (don't remember if it was a robbery) she said she was pretty confident that between her and her husband if they were carrying they could have stopped the guy.

[Derek Zeanah]

If you get a chance, throw in a good word for reciprocity with us GA folks.

Good luck.

[Vigilante X]

In North Carolina we are fighting the same fight; a bill has been introduced that would
allow carry in restaurants that serve alcohol. We wish the gun owners in South Carolina
good luck in their campaign to expand the rights of concealed carry permit holders
and hopefully both of our states will pass this legislation.

[dbp]

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - "A Senate panel has advanced a bill intended to let people with concealed weapon permits carry their gun into restaurants.

The bill advanced Wednesday on a 3-0 vote allows permit holders to carry their concealed weapon into places that serve alcohol.

Gun rights advocates praised the bill as restoring citizens' rights.

The bill prevents people from drinking alcohol with a concealed gun. Anyone caught could face up to two years in prison.

Several people asked legislators to change that, saying they should be able to have a beer or glass of wine with dinner.

Republican Sen. Shane Massey of Edgefield says that would doom the bill's chances."

Well, this is a start. At least it got out of committee.

[dbp]

Originally Posted by Derek Zeanah

If you get a chance, throw in a good word for reciprocity with us GA folks.

Good luck.

I do wish the two states could get together on this. I am retired now, but used to spend a good deal of time in Georgia from Augusta down to Waycross, over to Macon and Statesboro in the other direction, and all points in between.Could never legally carry concealed.

[v65magnafan]

For what it's worth at this point, this is my contribution:

Senator Massey:

I am a resident of ______ County and a CWP holder. I am licensed to carry concealed in about 40 states. I am a certified tactical pistol instructor.

Is it reasonable that in South Carolina, I must leave my family without equalized self-defense both in a restaurant that serves alcohol and, perhaps worse, while walking between our auto and the premises?

I can recall the time when after seeing the success of CCW in Florida, many states instituted legal concealed carry. In almost every state, some law enforcement officials predicted gun fights over traffic incidents and blood running in the streets. Of course, this never happened. As a result, no state has ever considered rescinding CCW rights.

Similarly, no state that permits CCW in alcohol-licensed establishments has ever felt the need to rescind that particular right.

Why would South Carolina continue a gun-free zone policy that clearly is unnecessary?

Yours truly,

[footballboy3]

I emailed them. Does anyone know the time frame on when this could pass and be in effect? thanks

[dbp]

Originally Posted by v65magnafan

For what it's worth at this point, this is my contribution:

Senator Massey:

I am a resident of ______ County and a CWP holder. I am licensed to carry concealed in about 40 states. I am a certified tactical pistol instructor.

Is it reasonable that in South Carolina, I must leave my family without equalized self-defense both in a restaurant that serves alcohol and, perhaps worse, while walking between our auto and the premises?

I can recall the time when after seeing the success of CCW in Florida, many states instituted legal concealed carry. In almost every state, some law enforcement officials predicted gun fights over traffic incidents and blood running in the streets. Of course, this never happened. As a result, no state has ever considered rescinding CCW rights.

Similarly, no state that permits CCW in alcohol-licensed establishments has ever felt the need to rescind that particular right.

Why would South Carolina continue a gun-free zone policy that clearly is unnecessary?

Yours truly,

++1 on this. Good letter. We now have to wait before it goes to the full House vote and I'm not sure when that will be.

[Al Thompson]

Update:

The bill was blocked by one of the senators placing a "minority report" on the bill. With Grassroots SC on hold over their legal problems, this may kill the bill.

[Gottahaveone]

Unless I'm reading the bottom section of this report wrong, it is passed and goes into effect upon the Governors signature. Been waiting a long time for this

http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess120_.../bills/308.htm

[bjustus]

The NRA ILA site on 3/21/2013 stated the Bill was expedited to the full senate for debate and vote, but that the vote will come after the return from spring recess on April 9.

Maybe what you were looking at is the latest version they are expected to vote on? I don't know.

Keep up the calls and emails to your state Reps and Senators for the area you live in folks, this is IMPORTANT!

[dbp]

Originally Posted by bjustus

If you are a Palmetto gun rights member you have probably already received an email.

In the South Carolina state senate: a committe is meeting to consider concealed carry in restaurants (currently CC in restaurants that serve alcohol is not allowed.) There is a hearing this Wednesday the thirteenth. The bill is S308.

Please contact the committee members and urge them to put the bill before the floor:

Senator Shane Massey (chairman) (803) 212-6024 shanemassey@scsenate.gov

Senator Katrina Shealy (bill sponsor) (803) 212-6056 katrinashealy@scsenate.gov

Senator Creighton Coleman (803) 212-6032 creightoncoleman@scsenate.gov

Senator Sean Bennett (bill sponsor) (803) 212-6116 seanbennett@scsenate.gov

Senator Floyd Nicholson (803) 212-6000 floydnicholson@scsenate.gov

I sent an email to all five; here's a copy of what I sent:

Dear Senator Nicholson,


Thank you for serving our state on the committee to consider S308. I sincerely hope that you recognize the importance of furthering the right of law abiding citizens to protect themselves and their families. I strongly supported passage of the law about 20 years ago to allow concealed carry, but I was very disappointed when I heard of the restriction about carrying in restaurants.


By not allowing law abiding citizens to carry protection in restaurants you may as well put up a neon sign at the front door of the building advertising to the psycopath-would-be-active-shooter that there is a convenient grouping of unarmed sheep for the slaughter. Nearly every mass killer in American history has sought out such a venue for his mayhem.

Concerns about firearms in a location that serves alcohol should not cause responsible people to have their rights restricted.


Almost every time I am out with my family or friends, I have to relinquish my right to protection because going to a restaurant falls somewhere in the days activities. It is not feasible, for example, to take the gun back to the car when I have walked a mile and a half into the center of downtown Greenville from the parking garage before stepping into a restaurant. Instead I'm forced to find myself on a long walk back to the car, unarmed, when the nights activities are over. In a group I still feel relatively safe but if it's just my wife and I, or my wife and daughter and me, I can tell you there are times we have chosen to stay at home instead.


When concealed carry first started here two decades ago there was, as there is now, a provision for businesses to placard that guns were not allowed on their premises, and quite a few did. Now, you almost never see the signs. The initial paranoia apparently gave way to a realization by most sensible people that places of commerce are safer, and busier when they are not advertised, "gun free zones."


Many are familiar with the story of "Luby's Massacre" and Suzanna Hupp who dutifully left her pistol in her car due to just such a restriction in Texas years ago. She watched in horror as both of her parents were shot along with 48 other people as the gunman reloaded several times, strolling around the restaurant killing at will in the "gun free zone".


Bad people ignore laws at will and do bad things; they always have, they always will. People have a right to protect themselves and the ones they love. It just doesn't make sense to continue to strip down innocent people and make them ripe for the slaughter by criminals who disregard laws due to a paranoia or fear about guns. Having firearms tucked in the belts of responsible citizens doesn't result in, "the wild west" as some proclaim -- it results in countless crimes prevented WITHOUT a shot being fired because criminals know their prey has a right to protect themselves and fight back if they need to.


PLEASE support my right to protect my family and myself and ensure this bill becomes law. My daughter or wife may someday escape being a victim because of your actions; and it will far more likely be a preventative, "innoculation" than any shots fired. I can't imagine how many lives have already been saved, beatings and rapes prevented; because we've kept criminals on the streets guessing these last twenty years.


Respectfully, (my name and address)

The South Carolina senate just passed S308 by a healthy margin allowing carry in restaurants . It now goes to the House. I will be sending a note to the Senators thanking them for standing up for my 2A rights. Hopefully it will pass in the House as well.

[btg3]

Apr 24, 2013 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary
Apr 24, 2013 House Introduced and read first time
Apr 23, 2013 Senate Roll call Ayes-33 Nays-5

[bjustus]

This is up before the full house THIS WEEK. There was talk of allowing carry but with a stupid 12 - 5 am "curfew" but the curfew was stricken. We need to make sure this passes and WITHOUT the curfew.

Please call your state representative today!

scstatehouse.gov/legislatorssearch.php

[627PCFan]

Not to hijack, but can you OC while in the resturant/bar?

[mgmorden]

Originally Posted by 627PCFan

Not to hijack, but can you OC while in the resturant/bar?

You can't open carry in SC at all except while hunting or fishing (and while in possession of a valid hunting/fishing license).

[dbp]

Originally Posted by mgmorden

You can't open carry in SC at all except while hunting or fishing (and while in possession of a valid hunting/fishing license).

So you are saying it is lawful for me to be out on Lake Murray crappie fishing with my Glock exposed on my belt? If so, when does that legal status begin and end -- when I step into or out of the boat? What if I'm just fishing from the bank around a pond? All this is pretty vague to me. Can you clarify this a little?