Mike
Site Co-Founder
imported post
[align=center]OpenCarry.org[/align]
[align=center]For Immediate Release – January, 2008
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[align=center]Representative Dan Cooper Introduces Bill to Decriminalize the Open Carry of Handguns In South Carolina[1][/align]
South Carolina is one of only 6 states banning the open carry of handguns. In most states, adults may lawfully carry unconcealed handguns without any permit.[2]
But now Representative Dan Cooper (R – Anderson County) wants to change that.
Cooper has introduced H. 3003, a bill to make South Carolina like most states where anyone legally allowed to own a handgun may carry it openly without any permit. Folks who want to carry their handguns **concealed** will still need a concealed weapons permit. And with 32 co-sponsors, including some heavy hitters, and considering that Cooper is the influential Chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee, it sure looks like H. 3003 is goin’ to have some legs!
H. 3003 comes on the heels of an online petition in South Carolina with almost 2,000 signatures calling for the decriminalization of open carry. See the petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/scocp/petition.html. [3]
The United States Supreme Court said recently in the DC Gun Ban case that the Second Amendment secures the right to keep "carry" arms, but not concealed arms, citing to a line of cases upholding the constitutional right to open carry.[4] Notably, neighboring North Carolina’s Supreme Court has held that under that state’s constitution, no license may be required to openly carry handguns. See State v. Kerner, 107 S.E. 222 (1921).
OpenCarry.org strongly endorses Representative Dan Cooper’s effort to decriminalize open carry in South Carolina, and our South Carolina members will be actively working to ensure this effort’s success.
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[align=left]
Media Contacts:
Mike Stollenwerk, Mike@OpenCarry.org
John Pierce, John@OpenCarry.org
Note: John and Mike are the Co-founders of OpenCarry.org, the cyberhub of the open carry movement with over 14,000 registered members (click on forum tab at OpenCarry.org and
look at the lower left for exact membership data). See more at http://www.opencarry.org/press.html and http://opencarry.mywowbb.com/forum63.
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[1] The bill is H. 3003 at http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess118_2009-2010/bills/3003.htm.
[2] See map at http://www.opencarry.org/opencarry.html.
[3] A similar petition in Texas has resulted in a surge of interest in open carry reform there as well, and the introduction of an open carry bill there by Representative Debbie Riddle (R – Houston) is rumored to be imminent.
[4] See District of Columbia v Heller at http://www.scotusblog.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/07-2901.pdf, pages 13 and 39-42. This pdf document searches easily – try search term “openly.”[/align]
[align=center]OpenCarry.org[/align]
[align=center]For Immediate Release – January, 2008
-----[/align]
[align=center]Representative Dan Cooper Introduces Bill to Decriminalize the Open Carry of Handguns In South Carolina[1][/align]
South Carolina is one of only 6 states banning the open carry of handguns. In most states, adults may lawfully carry unconcealed handguns without any permit.[2]
But now Representative Dan Cooper (R – Anderson County) wants to change that.
Cooper has introduced H. 3003, a bill to make South Carolina like most states where anyone legally allowed to own a handgun may carry it openly without any permit. Folks who want to carry their handguns **concealed** will still need a concealed weapons permit. And with 32 co-sponsors, including some heavy hitters, and considering that Cooper is the influential Chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee, it sure looks like H. 3003 is goin’ to have some legs!
H. 3003 comes on the heels of an online petition in South Carolina with almost 2,000 signatures calling for the decriminalization of open carry. See the petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/scocp/petition.html. [3]
The United States Supreme Court said recently in the DC Gun Ban case that the Second Amendment secures the right to keep "carry" arms, but not concealed arms, citing to a line of cases upholding the constitutional right to open carry.[4] Notably, neighboring North Carolina’s Supreme Court has held that under that state’s constitution, no license may be required to openly carry handguns. See State v. Kerner, 107 S.E. 222 (1921).
OpenCarry.org strongly endorses Representative Dan Cooper’s effort to decriminalize open carry in South Carolina, and our South Carolina members will be actively working to ensure this effort’s success.
[align=center]###[/align]
[align=left]
Media Contacts:
Mike Stollenwerk, Mike@OpenCarry.org
John Pierce, John@OpenCarry.org
Note: John and Mike are the Co-founders of OpenCarry.org, the cyberhub of the open carry movement with over 14,000 registered members (click on forum tab at OpenCarry.org and
look at the lower left for exact membership data). See more at http://www.opencarry.org/press.html and http://opencarry.mywowbb.com/forum63.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[1] The bill is H. 3003 at http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess118_2009-2010/bills/3003.htm.
[2] See map at http://www.opencarry.org/opencarry.html.
[3] A similar petition in Texas has resulted in a surge of interest in open carry reform there as well, and the introduction of an open carry bill there by Representative Debbie Riddle (R – Houston) is rumored to be imminent.
[4] See District of Columbia v Heller at http://www.scotusblog.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/07-2901.pdf, pages 13 and 39-42. This pdf document searches easily – try search term “openly.”[/align]
