GrassRoots GunRights SOUTH CAROLINA No compromise No surrender ACTION ALERT

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*** GrassRoots Action Alert ***

Attention Concealed Weapon Permit (CWP) holders!
29 April 2008

Your right to carry in other states is under attack! If you want to be
able to legally carry in 30+ states, then you need to act NOW! If you
want to be able to carry in even fewer states than you can now, then
just sit back and ignore this Action Alert.

GrassRoots GunRights analyzed the Senate amendment to H. 3212 and
exposed in detail how the Sen. Jake Knotts amendment would make SC CWP
reciprocity law WORSE than existing law. GrassRoots sent a detailed
analysis of H. 3212 to every member of the SC House of
Representatives, which you can read here.
[http://www.scfirearms.org/Legislative/Letter_to_Harrell_re_3212_amended.pdf]


But, it is not just GrassRoots GunRights that has analyzed H. 3212 and
found it to be worse than existing law. Pro gun rights attorneys
practicing law in South Carolina say the same thing!

J. Todd Kincannon [bio] is a pro gun attorney practicing in Columbia,
SC. Mr. Kincannon wrote the GrassRoots GunRights amicus brief in the
D.C. vs. Heller case. Mr. Kincannon wrote a letter stating, "I
entirely agree with your conclusion that the Senate amendment to the
CWP reciprocity bill is far too narrow." Mr. Kincannon acknowledged
the GrassRoots analysis of H. 3212 is correct and that the Senate
amendment is so poorly written that South Carolina would not qualify
for reciprocity with itself. You can read the entire Kincannon letter
here.
[http://www.scfirearms.org/ActionAlerts/Kincannon_letter_re_3212_dated_4-4-2008.pdf]


Stephen F. Shaw [bio] is a pro gun attorney practicing in Greenville,
SC. Mr. Shaw wrote a letter stating, "I completely agree with Dr.
Butler's analysis and proposed language dated March 12, 2008." Mr.
Shaw acknowledged the GrassRoots analysis of H. 3212 is correct and
that the Senate amendment is so poorly written that South Carolina
would not qualify for reciprocity with itself. You can read the entire
Shaw letter here.
[http://www.scfirearms.org/ActionAlerts/Shaw_letter_re_H_3212_dated_4-26-08.pdf]

Larry Salley is a pro gun attorney practicing in Lexington, SC. Mr.
Salley wrote an email wherein he stated, "I've reviewed H. 3212, and I
have a problem. It is so ambiguous, that it could be turned against
us. My immediate problem is that there is no clear 'definitions' in
the terms used in the bill. Keep in mind that whenever a liberal Court
can interpret a law against a gunowner ... it will be interpreted
against us." The GrassRoots analysis of H. 3212 also pointed out the
problem with how SLED and the courts would interpret the law after
considering how the definitions section related to the poorly drafted
Senate amendment.

Unfortunately, Sen. Jake Knotts teamed up with anti gun Sen. Ralph
Anderson and worked to destroy the CWP recognition (a CWP recognition
bill means SC would honor a CWP from another state) bill passed by the
House. The Senate amended H. 3212 with the Knotts/Anderson proposed
amendment and thereby turned a good pro gun CWP recognition bill into
a horrible anti gun CWP reciprocity (a CWP reciprocity bill means SC
would only honor a limited number of CWPs from other states) bill that
is worse than existing law.

But, Sen. Knotts' efforts to kill a good CWP recognition bill this
year should not surprise anyone who has been watching the Senate for
the last few years. In 2006, Sen. Knotts led the fight to kill a
similar CWP recognition bill.

What is truly disturbing in all of this is that the NRA is supporting
the Senate amendment and has been actively promoting Sen. Knotts as a
friend of gun owners even as Sen. Knotts is trying to kill a good CWP
recognition bill AGAIN. The NRA even wrote of how a good CWP
reciprocity bill was killed in 2006, and failed to point out that it
was Sen. Knotts who killed it.

Thankfully, the House rejected the Senate amendment and insisted upon
a CWP recognition bill. H. 3212 will now go to a conference committee.
A conference committee has three members of the Senate and three
members of the House meet to decide how to work out the differences
between the House and Senate versions of a bill.

There are two kinds of conference committees - one with free
conference powers and one with no free conference powers.

A conference committee with no free conference powers must choose to
adopt either the Senate version or the House version. No compromises
are allowed. The Senate version of H. 3212 is completely unacceptable
to gun owners since it would make our SC CWP law worse than existing
law. The House version of H. 3212 is unacceptable to Sen. Knotts, and
unfortunately many senators listen to Sen. Knotts and will do as Sen.
Knotts wants them to do on gun bills. Thus, H. 3212 is dead in
conference committee unless gun owners make Sen. Knotts change his
mind. The only thing that would make Sen. Knotts change his mind is to
make him think he will lose his primary election to Katrina Shealy, a
CWP holder who supports H. 3212 as it came from the House.

A conference committee with free conference powers is allowed to try
to compromise and amend the bill into one that is acceptable to both
the House and the Senate. The only way that the GrassRoots proposed
amendment could possibly be adopted is if both the House and the
Senate granted free conference powers to the conference committee.
While GrassRoots prefers to see a pure CWP recognition bill passed,
the GrassRoots proposed amendment to H. 3212 would get SC CWP
reciprocity with more states than we have reciprocity with now.

*** ACTION STEPS: ***


Email every senator and representative who represents people from the
county in which you live. Since the NRA is asking people to support
the Senate version of H. 3212, you need to tell these politicians that
"GrassRoots GunRights speaks for me on H. 3212!" The pro gun House is
listening to GrassRoots GunRights, but the anti gun Senate is
listening to the NRA. Politicians need to know GrassRoots GunRights
speaks for gun owners in South Carolina, or else you will get the
Senate version of H. 3212. Contact information is below. (You can send
individual emails using the email addresses in the middle column, or
you can send one email to the entire county delegation by clicking on
the county name in the first column. Certain email programs such as
Gmail may insert a "+" sign in front of the email addresses when
clicking on the county delegation in the first column. You may need to
delete any symbols inserted by your email provider.)

Call your senator and representative and tell them "GrassRoots
GunRights speaks for me on H. 3212!" Use the Senate switchboard (803)
212-6200, and the House switchboard (803) 734-2402.

Contact Sen. Knotts and let him know how you feel about his betrayal
of gun owners. His email is SIV@scsenate.org and his office phone
number is (803) 212-6350.

Abbeville County
Sen. John W. Drummond, PTE@scsenate.org
Sen. William H. O'Dell, WHO@scsenate.org
Rep. Paul Agnew, AgnewP@schouse.org
Rep. Michael W. "Mike" Gambrell, GambrellM@schouse.org
Rep. Michael A. Pitts, PittsM@schouse.org

Aiken County
Sen. W. Greg Ryberg, SLC@scsenate.org
Sen. A. Shane Massey, shanemassey@scsenate.org
Sen. Nikki G. Setzler, NGS@scsenate.org
Rep. William "Bill" WC@schouse.org
Rep. Robert S. "Skipper" Perry, Jr., RSP@schouse.org
Rep. Donald C. Smith, DCS@schouse.org
Rep. J. Roland Smith, JS@schouse.org
Rep. Kit Spires, SpiresK@schouse.org
Rep. James E. "Jim" Stewart, jim@stewartbuilders.com

Allendale County
Sen. C. Bradley Hutto, CBH@scsenate.org
Rep. Lonnie Hosey, LH1@schouse.org

Anderson County
Sen. Kevin L. Bryant, BRYANTK@scsenate.org
Sen. William H. O'Dell, WHO@scsenate.org
Rep. Paul Agnew, AgnewP@schouse.org
Rep. Don Carson Bowen, BowenD@schouse.org
Rep. Daniel T. Cooper, HWM@schouse.org
Rep. Michael W. "Mike" Gambrell, GambrellM@schouse.org
Rep. Michael D. Thompson, MT@schouse.org
Rep. W. Brian White, WBW@schouse.org

Bamberg County
Sen. C. Bradley Hutto, CBH@scsenate.org
Sen. John W. Matthews, Jr., JWM@scsenate.org
Rep. Bakari T. Sellers, SellersB@schouse.org

Barnwell County
C. Bradley Hutto, CBH@scsenate.org
Lonnie Hosey, LH1@schouse.org
Bakari T. Sellers, SellersB@schouse.org

Beaufort County
Sen. Catherine C. Ceips, CEIPS@scsenate.org
Sen. Clementa C. Pinckney, CCP@scsenate.org
Rep. Curtis Brantley, BrantleyC@schouse.org
Rep. Richard Chalk, ChalkR@schouse.org
Rep. Shannon S. Erickson, shannonerickson@schouse.org
Rep. William G. "Bill" Herbkersman, HerbkersmanB@schouse.org
Rep. Kenneth F. Hodges, HodgesK@schouse.org

Berkeley County
Sen. Paul G. Campbell, Jr., PaulCampbell@scsenate.org
Sen. George E. "Chip" Campsen III, CAMPSEN@scsenate.org
Sen. Lawrence K. "Larry" Grooms, STR@scsenate.org
Rep. Thomas M. "Tom" Dantzler, TMD@schouse.org
Rep. Joseph H. Jefferson, Jr., JeffersonJ@schouse.org
Rep. Harry B. "Chip" Limehouse III, HBL@schouse.org
Rep. James H. Merrill, JM1@schouse.org
Rep. C. David Umphlett, Jr., UmphlettD@schouse.org

Calhoun
Sen. John C. Land III, JCL@scsenate.org
Rep. Harry L. Ott, Jr., HLO@schouse.org

Charleston
Sen. George E. "Chip" Campsen III, CAMPSEN@scsenate.org
Sen. Ray Cleary, CLEARYR@scsenate.org
Sen. Robert Ford, RIF@scsenate.org
Sen. Lawrence K. "Larry" Grooms, STR@scsenate.org
Sen. Glenn F. McConnell, SJU@scsenate.org
Sen. Clementa C. Pinckney, CCP@scsenate.org
Sen. Randy Scott, SCOTTR@scsenate.org
Rep. Floyd Breeland, FB@schouse.org
Rep. Robert L. Brown, RLB@schouse.org
Rep. Thomas M. "Tom" Dantzler, TMD@schouse.org
Rep. Ben A. Hagood, Jr., HagoodB@schouse.org
Rep. Robert W. Harrell, Jr., Speaker, HSP@schouse.org
Rep. Heyward G. Hutson, heywardhutson@schouse.org
Rep. Harry B. "Chip" Limehouse III, HBL@schouse.org
Rep. David J. Mack III, DJM@schouse.org
Rep. James H. Merrill, JM1@schouse.org
Rep. Vida O. Miller, VOM@schouse.org
Rep. Wallace B. Scarborough, WBS@schouse.org
Rep. Leonidas E. "Leon" Stavrinakis, StavL@schouse.org
Rep. J. Seth Whipper, JSW@schouse.org
Rep. Annette D. Young, ADY@schouse.org

Cherokee
Sen. Harvey S. Peeler, Jr., MED@scsenate.org
Rep. Lanny F. Littlejohn, LFL@schouse.org
Rep. Dennis Carroll Moss, MossD@schouse.org
Rep. Olin R. Phillips, ORP@schouse.org

Chester
Sen. Linda H. Short, LHS@scsenate.org
Rep. Creighton B. Coleman, cbc@schouse.org
Rep. F. Gregory "Greg" Delleney, Jr., fgd@schouse.org
Rep. Dennis Carroll Moss, MossD@schouse.org

Chesterfield
Sen. Gerald Malloy, MALLOYG@scsenate.org
Sen. Vincent A. Sheheen, VS@scsenate.org
Rep. Douglas Jennings, Jr., DJ@schouse.org
Rep. James H. "Jay" Lucas, JL@schouse.org
Rep. Denny Woodall Neilson, DWN@schouse.org
Rep. Ted Martin Vick, VickT@schouse.org

Clarendon
Sen. John C. Land III, JCL@scsenate.org
Rep. Cathy B. Harvin, HarvinC@schouse.org
Rep. G. Murrell Smith, Jr., GMS@schouse.org

Colleton
Sen. Lawrence K. "Larry" Grooms, STR@scsenate.org
Sen. John W. Matthews, Jr., JWM@scsenate.org
Sen. Clementa C. Pinckney, CCP@scsenate.org
Rep. William K. Bowers, WKB@schouse.org
Rep. Robert L. Brown, RLB@schouse.org
Rep. Kenneth F. Hodges, HodgesK@schouse.org

Darlington
Sen. Hugh K. Leatherman, Sr., SFI@scsenate.org
Sen. Gerald Malloy, MALLOYG@scsenate.org
Rep. James H. "Jay" Lucas, JL@schouse.org
Rep. Denny Woodall Neilson, DWN@schouse.org
Rep. Robert Quintin Williams, WilliamsR@schouse.org

Dillon
Sen. Dick Elliott, DE@scsenate.org
Sen. Kent M. Williams, WILLIAMSK@scsenate.org
Rep. Jackie E. Hayes, JH@schouse.org

Dorchester
Sen. Lawrence K. "Larry" Grooms, STR@scsenate.org
Sen. John W. Matthews, Jr., JWM@scsenate.org
Sen. Randy Scott, SCOTTR@scsenate.org
Rep. Robert W. Harrell, Jr., Speaker, HSP@schouse.org
Rep. Heyward G. Hutson, heywardhutson@schouse.org
Rep. Patsy Knight, KnightP@schouse.org
Rep. Annette D. Young, ADY@schouse.org

Edgefield
Sen. A. Shane Massey, shanemassey@scsenate.org
Rep. William "Bill" Clyburn, WC@schouse.org
Rep. Donald C. Smith, DCS@schouse.org

Fairfield
Sen. Linda H. Short, LHS@scsenate.org
Rep. Creighton B. Coleman, cbc@schouse.org

Florence
Sen. John C. Land III, JCL@scsenate.org
Sen. Hugh K. Leatherman, Sr., SFI@scsenate.org
Sen. J. Yancey McGill, JYM@scsenate.org
Sen. Kent M. Williams, WILLIAMSK@scsenate.org
Rep. Terry Alexander, AlexanderT@schouse.org
Rep. Lester P. Branham. Jr., BranhamL@schouse.org
Rep. Kristopher R. "Kris" Crawford, CrawfordK@schouse.org
Rep. Phillip Dean Lowe, LoweP@schouse.org
Rep.Robert Quintin Williams, WilliamsR@schouse.org

Georgetown
Sen. Ray Cleary, CLEARYR@scsenate.org
Sen. J. Yancey McGill, JYM@scsenate.org
Rep. Carl Anderson, AndersonC@schouse.org
Rep. Vida O. Miller, VOM@schouse.org

Greenville
Sen. Ralph Anderson, RA@scsenate.org
Sen. Michael L. Fair, FAIRM@scsenate.org
Sen. James H. "Jim" Ritchie, Jr., JHR@scsenate.org
Sen. David L. Thomas, SBI@scsenate.org
Sen. Lewis R. Vaughn, LRV@scsenate.org
Sen. Daniel B. "Danny" Verdin III, SAG@scsenate.org
Rep. Karl B. Allen, KBA@schouse.org
Rep. Bruce W. Bannister, BannisterB@schouse.org
Rep. Eric Michael Bedingfield, BedingfieldE@schouse.org
Rep. Harry F. Cato, HLC@schouse.org
Rep. Glenn L. Hamilton, GLH@schouse.org
Rep. Gloria Arias Haskins, GAH@schouse.org
Rep. Robert W. "Bob" Leach, Sr., RWL@schouse.org
Rep. Dwight A. Loftis, DAL@schouse.org
Rep. Rex F. Rice, RFR@schouse.org
Rep. Phillip W. Shoopman, ShoopmanP@schouse.org
Rep. Fletcher N. Smith, Jr., FNS@schouse.org
Rep. Garry R. Smith, SmithG@schouse.org
Rep.J. Adam Taylor, at@schouse.org

Greenwood
Sen. John W. Drummond, PTE@scsenate.org
Sen. William H. O'Dell, WHO@scsenate.org
Rep. J. Anne Parks, JAP@schouse.org
Rep. Lewis E. "Gene" Pinson, PinsonG@schouse.org
Rep. Michael A. Pitts, PittsM@schouse.org

Hampton
Sen. John W. Matthews, Jr., JWM@scsenate.org
Sen. Clementa C. Pinckney, CCP@scsenate.org
Rep. William K. Bowers, WKB@schouse.org
Rep. Curtis Brantley, BrantleyC@schouse.org

Horry
Sen. Ray Cleary, CLEARYR@scsenate.org
Sen. Dick Elliott, DE@scsenate.org
Sen. J. Yancey McGill, JYM@scsenate.org
Sen. Luke A. Rankin, LR@scsenate.org
Rep. Liston D. Barfield, LDB@schouse.org
Rep. Alan D. Clemmons, ClemmonsA@schouse.org
Rep. Tracy R. Edge, TE@schouse.org
Rep. Nelson Hardwick, HardwickN@schouse.org
Rep. Jackie E. Hayes, JH@schouse.org
Rep. Thad T. Viers, ViersT@schouse.org
Rep. William D. Witherspoon, WDW@schouse.org

Jasper
Sen. Clementa C. Pinckney, CCP@scsenate.org
Rep. Curtis Brantley, BrantleyC@schouse.org

Kershaw
Sen. Joel Lourie, JBL@scsenate.org
Sen. Vincent A. Sheheen, VS@scsenate.org
Rep. William F. "Bill" Cotty, WFC@schouse.org
Rep. Laurie Slade Funderburk, FunderburkL@schouse.org
Rep. James H. "Jay" Lucas, JL@schouse.org

Lancaster
Sen. Chauncey K. Gregory, SFG@scsenate.org
Sen. Vincent A. Sheheen, VS@scsenate.org
Rep. James H. "Jay" Lucas, JL@schouse.org
Rep. J. Michael "Mick" Mulvaney, MulvaneyM@schouse.org
Rep. James M. "Jimmy" Neal, jmn@schouse.org

Laurens
Sen. John W. Drummond, PTE@scsenate.org
Sen. Daniel B. "Danny" Verdin III, SAG@scsenate.org
Rep. Jeffrey D. "Jeff" Duncan, DuncanJ@schouse.org
Rep. Michael A. Pitts, PittsM@schouse.org
Rep. J. Adam Taylor, at@schouse.org

Lee
Sen. Phil P. Leventis, PL@scsenate.org
Sen. Gerald Malloy, MALLOYG@scsenate.org
Rep. Grady A. Brown, GB@schouse.org

Lexington
Sen. John E. Courson, EDU@scsenate.org
Sen. Ronnie W. Cromer, CROMERR@scsenate.org
Sen. John M. "Jake" Knotts, Jr., SIV@scsenate.org
Sen. Nikki G. Setzler, NGS@scsenate.org
Rep. Nathan Ballentine, BallentineN@schouse.org
Rep. Kenneth A. "Kenny" Bingham, KAB@schouse.org
Rep. Marion B. Frye, MBF@schouse.org
Rep. Nikki Randhawa Haley, HaleyN@schouse.org
Rep. Chip Huggins, ch@schouse.org
Rep. Walton J. McLeod, WJM@schouse.org
Rep. Harry L. Ott, Jr., HLO@schouse.org
Rep. Edward H. "Ted" Pitts, Jr., PittsT@schouse.org
Rep. Lawrence Kit Spires, SpiresK@schouse.org
Rep. McLain R. "Mac" Toole, TooleM@schouse.org

Marion
Sen. Dick Elliott, DE@scsenate.org
Sen. Kent M. Williams, WILLIAMSK@scsenate.org
Rep. Terry Alexander, AlexanderT@schouse.org
Rep. James A. "Jim" Battle, Jr., jab@schouse.org

Marlboro
Sen. Dick Elliott, DE@scsenate.org
Sen. Gerald Malloy, MALLOYG@scsenate.org
Sen. Kent M. Williams, WILLIAMSK@scsenate.org
Rep. Douglas Jennings, Jr., DJ@schouse.org

McCormick
Sen. A. Shane Massey, shanemassey@scsenate.org
Rep. J. Anne Parks, JAP@schouse.org

Newberry
Sen. Ronnie W. Cromer, CROMERR@scsenate.org
Rep. Jeffrey D. "Jeff" Duncan, DuncanJ@schouse.org
Rep. Walton J. McLeod, WJM@schouse.org

Oconee
Sen. Thomas C. Alexander, SGE@scsenate.org
Rep. Don Carson Bowen, BowenD@schouse.org
Rep. William E. "Bill" Sandifer III, WES@schouse.org
Rep. William R. "Bill" Whitmire, WhitmireW@schouse.org

Orangeburg
Sen. C. Bradley Hutto, CBH@scsenate.org
Sen. John W. Matthews, Jr., JWM@scsenate.org
Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, gch@schouse.org
Rep. Jerry N. Govan, Jr., JNG@schouse.org
Rep. Harry L. Ott, Jr., HLO@schouse.org
Rep. Bakari T. Sellers, SellersB@schouse.org

Pickens
Sen. Thomas C. Alexander, SGE@scsenate.org
Sen. Larry A. Martin, SRU@scsenate.org
Rep. David R. Hiott, HiottD@schouse.org
Rep. Phillip D. "Phil" Owens, owensp@schouse.org
Rep. Rex F. Rice, RFR@schouse.org
Rep. William E. "Bill" Sandifer III, WES@schouse.org
Rep. B. R. Skelton, SkeltonBR@schouse.org

Richland
Sen. John E. Courson, EDU@scsenate.org
Sen. Darrell Jackson, DJ1@scsenate.org
Sen. Joel Lourie, JBL@scsenate.org
Sen. Kay Patterson, KAY@scsenate.org
Rep. Dr. Jimmy C. Bales, JCB@schouse.org
Rep. Nathan Ballentine, BallentineN@schouse.org
Rep. Joan Brady , BradyJ@schouse.org
Rep. William F. "Bill" Cotty, WFC@schouse.org
Rep. James H. Harrison, HJU@schouse.org
Rep. Christopher Richard Hart, HartC@schouse.org
Rep. Leon Howard, LH@schouse.org
Rep. Joseph H. Neal, JN@schouse.org
Rep. J. Todd Rutherford, JTR@schouse.org
Rep. John L. Scott, Jr., JLS@schouse.org
Rep. James E. Smith, Jr., RepSmith@JamesSmith.org

Saluda
Sen. Ronnie W. Cromer, CROMERR@scsenate.org
Sen. A. Shane Massey, shanemassey@scsenate.org
Sen. Nikki G. Setzler, NGS@scsenate.org
Sen. Marion B. Frye, MBF@schouse.org

Spartanburg
Sen. John D. Hawkins, DH@scsenate.org
Sen. Harvey S. Peeler, Jr., MED@scsenate.org
Sen. Glenn G. Reese, GR@scsenate.org
Sen. James H. "Jim" Ritchie, Jr., JHR@scsenate.org
Rep. Michael A. Anthony, AnthonyM@schouse.org
Rep. G. Ralph Davenport, Jr., GRD@schouse.org
Rep. R. Keith Kelly, KellyK@schouse.org
Rep. Lanny F. Littlejohn, LFL@schouse.org
Rep. Joseph G. Mahaffey, MahaffeyJ@schouse.org
Rep. Harold Mitchell, Jr., MITCHELLH@schouse.org
Rep. W. Douglas "Doug" Smith, SPT@schouse.org
Rep. Scott F. Talley, SFT@schouse.org
Rep. Robert E. "Bob" Walker, REW@schouse.org

Sumter
Sen. John C. Land III, JCL@scsenate.org
Sen. Phil P. Leventis, PL@scsenate.org
Rep. Grady A. Brown, GB@schouse.org
Rep. Phillip Dean Lowe, LoweP@schouse.org
Rep. Joseph H. Neal, JN@schouse.org
Rep. G. Murrell Smith. Jr., GMS@schouse.org
Rep. J. David Weeks, JDW@schouse.org

Union
Sen. Harvey S. Peeler, Jr., MED@scsenate.org
Sen. James H. "Jim" Ritchie, Jr., JHR@scsenate.org
Sen. Linda H. Short (Mrs. Paul), LHS@scsenate.org
Rep. Michael A. Anthony, AnthonyM@schouse.org

Williamsburg
Sen. J. Yancey McGill, JYM@scsenate.org
Rep. Carl Anderson, AndersonC@schouse.org
Rep. Cathy B. Harvin, HarvinC@schouse.org
Rep. Kenneth Kennedy, KK@schouse.org

York
Sen. Chauncey K. Gregory, SFG@scsenate.org
Sen. Robert W. Hayes, Jr., set@scsenate.org
Sen. Harvey S. Peeler, Jr., MED@scsenate.org
Sen. Linda H. Short, LHS@scsenate.org
Rep. F. Gregory "Greg" Delleney, Jr., fgd@schouse.org
Rep. Carl Lee Gullick, GullickC@schouse.org
Rep. Herb Kirsh, NO EMAIL
Rep. Bessie Moody-Lawrence, bam@schouse.org
Rep. Dennis Carroll Moss, MossD@schouse.org
Rep. J. Michael "Mick" Mulvaney, MulvaneyM@schouse.org
Rep. J. Gary Simrill, JGS@schouse.org

imported post

From what I can tell this in nothing but a pissing contest between SC Grass Roots and the NRA and the people of SC are the one getting pissed on. Each side is doing their best to keep any bill offered by the other side from being passed coming up with vague interpretations and scare tactics. SC Grass Roots lost my support when they came out with this bill isa directstep in having to be recertified for renewal.

They are using the same scare tactits as the Brady Bunch only in ths opposite direction so tigh now I am content to let this bill die and if it come up next sessionthat will be fine. Other wise I am sick and tired of the BS being spouted by both sides.

imported post

Here is Jake's response. I'm sure we all got the same one.

SENATE INVITATIONS COMMITTEE MAILBOX <SIV@scsenate.org> wrote: Date: Thu, 01 May 2008 16:50:47 -0400
From: "SENATE INVITATIONS COMMITTEE MAILBOX" <SIV@scsenate.org>
To: XXXX XXXXXXX
Subject: Re: H3212

I appreciate you taking the time to express your views on H 3212. Unfortunately, there seems to be a great deal of confusion regarding this legislation, most of which seems to stem from representatives of GrassRoots GunRights. I am writing you with the hope that I can clarify some of these misconceptions.

First, I'd like to give you a little background on the history of the CWP system, in case you are not familiar with it. I worked on the original legislation that created the shall issue permit system we currently have in place. I am very proud of this effort, and most who were involved with this legislation, including GrassRoots GunRights, will agree that I was one of the driving forces behind the law passed in 1996. There was a great deal of negotiating involved in the passage of this law, and in order to ensure we were successful, there were many concessions that needed to be made. This legislation was not 'perfect,' but it was a vast improvement over the previous system.

While working on the CWP legislation, I worked very closely with NRA and other pro-gun organizations, including GrassRoots GunRights. Those of us who truly support the Second Amendment accepted that political reality dictated we accept some language that may have been more restrictive than we would have liked. NRA understood this then, as did GrassRoots GunRights, and the pro-gun community supported this legislation, even though it was not 'perfect.'

Fast forward to today, and we have a similar situation regarding H 3212. This legislation deals with lowering the standards that determine which carry permits issued by other states South Carolina will recognize. Currently, the law allows SLED discretion when determining which states South Carolina will recognize. By lowering these recognition standards, South Carolina will recognize more permits issued by other states, which will also lead to more states recognizing South Carolina CWPs.

H 3212, as passed by the House of Representatives, would establish a straight recognition standard. In other words, every-state issued permit, regardless of the issuing standards for those permits, would be recognized by South Carolina. I know that NRA worked with supporters of this legislation in the House to draft H 3212, and that organization supported it fully. I also understand that GrassRoots GunRights supports this language.

When this legislation came over to the Senate, it became very clear that it would be exceptionally difficult to pass. NRA understood this, and began speaking with several Senators, myself included, to determine what needed to be done to ensure something could be passed that would expand the list of states whose permits South Carolina recognizes, and vice versa.

By working with NRA, language was drafted that amended H 3212, changing it from a straight recognition standard to a conditional reciprocity standard. This new language would require South Carolina to recognize permits issued by other states that also recognize South Carolina permits, provided the issuing process for permits from the reciprocal state included requiring the permittee successfully pass a criminal background check as well as complete a firearm safety course.

This new language would add several states to the list of states South Carolina will recognize, as well as add several states to the list of states that recognize a South Carolina permit.

Unfortunately, GrassRoots GunRights is claiming otherwise, claiming the Senate adopted language will somehow be worse than the current system. Quite frankly, they are wrong. I am not sure whether that organization simply doesn't understand the new language, or is attempting to overanalyze it in an attempt to kill it. Whatever the reason, it is clear that the Senate's amended version of H 3212 will expand reciprocity for CWPs, and represents an improvement over the existing law.

Perhaps GrassRoots GunRights no longer accepts the concept that political reality often dictates there must be compromises made in order to make advances. They understood and accepted that principle in 1996 when the original CWP improvements were made, but for some reason, they have abandoned this position. What is more confusing, however, is why the organization has chosen to misrepresent what the Senate version of H 3212 will accomplish. Again, the Senate version does not go as far as the House language, but it is clearly an improvement, in spite of what GrassRoots GunRights may say.

It concerns me that GrassRoots GunRights has targeted me, personally, with its misinformation campaign. These shameless tactics should be reserved for the emotional anti-freedom zealots who routinely lie to diminish our firearms freedoms. This is an organization I have worked with over the years, and which has recognized my support of the Second Amendment. In fact, I was awarded Grassroot Gun Rights Guardian in 2001-2002 by the group. In spite of years of working together, I have now been targeted by the group for doing nothing more than trying to help move legislation that will improve the rights of gun owners here in South Carolina. I can only presume this is due to the group adopting an “all-or-nothing” policy when it comes to legislation. This type of policy may sound good to staunch Second Amendment supporters, but it regularly leads to good bills being killed simply because they are not 'good enough.' This, in my opinion, is not sound policy.

Some of this new attitude could be directly related to the leadership of the group. Robert Butler, for example, is one of the groups most active representatives. He is also a Director of the South Carolina ACLU. Those not familiar with ACLU policy may be surprised to know that, while it claims to defend civil liberties, it is generally silent when it comes to defending the civil liberties protected by the Second Amendment. In fact, many state affiliates have even advocated that the Second Amendment does NOT protect an individual right. I'm not certain if the South Carolina ACLU holds this view, as its website, http://www.aclusc.org, makes no mention of the Second Amendment. However, I am certain that I have very different views on most of the issues that the American Civil Liberties Union supports.

Regardless of the reasons for the misinformation GrassRoots GunRights has put out regarding H 3212 and me, I want to make a few things very clear. I agree with GrassRoots GunRights when they say that the House version of H 3212 does expand CWP more than the Senate's version. However, I disagree with the organization when it claims the Senate language would make the current system worse. I understand NRA also disagrees with this view, and that organization has a long history of supporting the Second Amendment, and drafting legislation to improve existing laws. H 3212, as passed by the Senate, will expand reciprocity for CWPs, and that is clear. GrassRoots GunRights is simply wrong with its analysis.

I also disagree with the 'all-or-nothing' attitude GrassRoots GunRights has apparently adopted. It is, a poor way to promote advancing our rights protected under the Second Amendment, and is contrary to the groups former policy of working to ensure the passage of good legislation through negotiations and making necessary concessions. Over the years, our gun rights have been diminished incrementally and I aim to use this same politically realistic approach in order to regain our freedoms.

Finally, please know that, in spite of what GrassRoots GunRights may have you believe, I am a strong supporter of the Second Amendment. I always have been, and I always will be. But sometimes compromise is necessary to make improvements to our gun laws, especially when the alternative is taking a stand on 'principle' that ultimately kills good, but perhaps not 'perfect,' legislation.

Senator Jake Knotts

S t r a i g h t f r o m t h e N R A p l a y b o o k.

As to the 'new attitude,' Dr. Butler is a founding director of GRSC and anyone familiar with the workings of the ACLU understands why they do not engage 2A advocacy.

Either we are equal or we are not. Good people ought to be armed where they will, with wits and guns and the truth. NRA KMA$$

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