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*** GrassRoots Action Alert ***
H. 3212 NEEDS YOUR IMMEDIATE HELP!
Your IMMEDIATE action is needed to save H. 3212 in the Senate! If you
do not act first thing Tuesday morning, it will be too late!
Sen. Jake Knotts amended H. 3212 on Thursday. As amended it will be
WORSE than current law. NRA is supporting this bill for unknown
reasons since the bill will not increase the number of states with
which SC can have reciprocity. So, the politicians must hear the
message "GrassRoots GunRights speaks for me!"
GrassRoots apologizes for the last minute notice, but things are
moving fast and research was needed to be sure our suspicions were
correct about the H. 3212. We will have a full explanation up on our
web site by tomorrow morning.
Below is the text of the letter we are sending to each Senator.
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The Honorable Glenn F. McConnell
South Carolina Senate
P.O. Box 142
Columbia, SC 29202
RE: H. 3212
Dear Senator McConnell:
The Knotts/Anderson amendment to H. 3212 - the concealed weapon permit
(CWP) reciprocity bill - is so bad that South Carolina would not
qualify for reciprocity with itself! So, how could that possibly lead
to reciprocity with more states as claimed by its supporters?
There are serious problems with the Knotts/Anderson amendment. An
analysis of H. 3212 shows H. 3212 should REDUCE the number of states
with which SC has reciprocity, NOT increase the number. Also, H. 3212
is the first step in changing SC law to require re-qualification for
CWP renewals. A full explanation of all that is wrong with the
Knotts/Anderson amendment can be found on the GrassRoots GunRights web
site at
http://www.SCFirearms.org. In the interests of saving time and space,
only the worst aspects of H. 3212 are being presented in this letter.
Existing SC CWP law makes a legal distinction between a fingerprint
review and a background check. Section 23-31-215(B) states:
Upon submission of the items required by subsection (A) of this
section, SLED must conduct or facilitate a local, state, and federal
fingerprint review of the applicant. SLED must also conduct a
background check of the applicant through notification to and input
from the sheriff of the county where the applicant resides or if the
applicant is a qualified nonresident, where the applicant owns real
property in this State. … If the fingerprint review and background
check are favorable, SLED must issue the permit. [emphasis added]
As shown immediately above, existing SC CWP law requires "a local,
state, and federal fingerprint review," but explicitly requires only a
local background check and by inference requires a state background
check by SLED. SC CWP law fails to mention a federal background check
as a requirement for obtaining a SC CWP.
The Knotts/Anderson amendment would change existing SC CWP law to
allow CWP reciprocity ONLY if "the reciprocal state requires an
applicant to successfully pass a state and federal criminal background
check." The Knotts/Anderson amendment sets a higher standard for CWP
reciprocity than existing SC law does by explicitly requiring people
from other states "to successfully pass a … federal criminal
background check." SC CWP holders are not explicitly required to pass
a federal criminal background check, only a federal fingerprint review.
The only result that can come from this change is to REDUCE the number
of states with which SC can have reciprocity. It is quite possible SC
would LOSE reciprocity with states with which SC currently has
reciprocity due to the new standards imposed by the Knotts/Anderson
amendment. If other states follow SC and also do not require a federal
background check prior to issuing a CWP, then SC could lose
reciprocity with those states with which SC currently has reciprocity.
Ironically, SC would not qualify for reciprocity with itself under the
new standards imposed by the Knotts/Anderson amendment!
It is claimed the Knotts/Anderson amendment would allow for
reciprocity with states that require less than the eight (8) hour
training course currently required by SC law in Section
23-31-210(5)(a). But, the words of the Knotts/Anderson amendment do
not support such a claim or interpretation.
SC law does not provide for a different definition of "proof of
training" for use by CWP holders in other states than it does for SC
CWP holders. The Knotts/Anderson amendment does not change the law as
to how many hours a "firearm training and safety" course must be -
which is statutorily defined as eight (8) hours minimum for all. Thus,
the Knotts/Anderson amendment could not possibly increase the number
of states eligible for CWP reciprocity with SC, and any statement to
the contrary is not supported by the facts.
Existing SC law explicitly provides for reciprocity with "those states
which have permit issuance standards equal to or greater than the
standards" set by SC law. The Knotts/Anderson amendment changes the SC
CWP reciprocity law to allow reciprocity if "the reciprocal state
requires an applicant to successfully pass a state and federal
criminal background check and a course in firearm training and
safety." There is no longer a mention of SC CWP standards when dealing
with reciprocity.
The Knotts/Anderson amendment is not designed to increase the number
of states with which SC can have CWP reciprocity. The ulterior motive
behind the Knotts/Anderson amendment is to lay the foundation for
requiring CWP re-qualification every four years.
The unspoken reason for deleting reference to SC standards with
regards to CWP reciprocity found in the Knotts/Anderson amendment is
that such a change provides the opportunity to require CWP
re-qualification every four years. It is no secret that Sen. Knotts
has wanted to impose CWP re-qualification for years. But, doing so
would have destroyed every existing CWP reciprocity agreement since no
other state imposes such a requirement. The mandated re-qualification
would be a great monetary opportunity/reward for NRA certified
instructors, which would easily explain NRA support. But,
re-qualification is not in the best interests of the people of SC
generally or SC CWP holders in particular. It is not a change
supported by GrassRoots GunRights and its members.
The fear mongers claim they are only protecting the people of SC by
insisting on CWP "training" prior to allowing people to carry a
firearm pursuant to the CWP law. But, there is no evidence to support
the claim that CWP "training" saves any lives. Yet, there is reliable
evidence proving mandated CWP "training" actually costs lives when
good people are deterred from obtaining a CWP due to the extra costs
in time and money. Unfortunately, the facts do not matter to those
with a political agenda or a financial interest.
GrassRoots GunRights urges you to repeal the Knotts/Anderson amendment
and pass H. 3212 exactly as it came from the Senate Judiciary
Committee. Otherwise, kill H. 3212 because the Knotts/Anderson
amendment makes the SC CWP law worse than it is now.
Sincerely,
Robert D. Butler, J.D.
Vice President
GrassRoots GunRights
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*** ACTION STEPS: ***
1. Call EACH Senator from your county first thing in the morning
because the bill will be voted on Tuesday.
2. Email EACH Senator from your county and send the message
"GrassRoots GunRights speaks for me!" (Cut and paste "GrassRoots
GunRights speaks for me!" in both the subject line and the body of the
text.)
3. Be sure to say "GrassRoots GunRights speaks for me on CWP
reciprocity."
Thank you for doing your part as a gun rights activist!
Bill Rentiers
Executive Officer
GrassRoots GunRights of SC
ExecOfficer@SCFirearms.org
803-233-9295