Gun Owners of South Carolina - an NRA State Association

At this year's Annual Meeting, which was held much later in the year than normal due to conflicts that occurred with the Officer's schedules, all current officers were re-elected. Some discussion was held concerning filling vacancies of Board Members in some of our Congressional Districts. Members in the following districts should take note and make recommendations for Board Members to represent their district. The districts are 3rd Congressional District (one vacancy) and 6th Congressional District (one vacancy). We also would like for all members to please update their personal information, such as mailing address or e-mail address, if a change has occurred since joining or renewing your membership. This information should be provided to our Secretary, Peggy Bodner.

This year during the legislative session, we did obtain passage of S-593 even though the Bill which was introduced by Senator Shane Martin is not exactly what we would like to have achieved. We accepted it without amendments in order to get it passed and signed into law in June of 2009. We have received the assurances of both the Senate and House of Representative leaders that this Bill will be re-addressed in order to amend it in the 2010 session. Hopefully the amendments will be more of what we desired this year. I have met several times with the pro-gun leaders in the Senate and the House and have had several other discussions with them concerning the legislation that we have written for them. The end result looks very promising, provided we do not receive too much interference from other alleged pro-gun groups. We feel that we have the confidence of the leaders to obtain our goal. As we have done before, most of our work is done "under the radar" during private meetings and discussions, not in the public view. By doing so, we have more of our goals.

I have also been in meetings with the leaders of the State Law Enforcement Division and held many discussions with the agency directors concerning improvements to our CWP Program. You may not be aware, but South Carolina has one of the best CWP Programs, with the most integrity, in the United States. SLED has been contacted by many states to receive information on how we operate our program. We do not want to lose the integrity of our program just to obtain personal goals of passing legislation that weakens our system. We are striving to benefit all law-abiding citizens of South Carolina.

This brings up a problem all members of GOSC need to address and take action as applicable. Under South Carolina law, to obtain a Concealed Weapons Permit, you must complete a minimum of 8 hours approved training according to the lesson plan approved by SLED which includes a written exam and qualification on the firing range. It has been brought to my attention that several instructors are not complying with the training requirements and are teaching short classes (less than 8 hours) sometimes as little as 3 to 4 hours. This is in violation of the law and greatly damages the integrity of our program. We do not want this type of information to damage our program. The consequences of an instructor caught breaking this law will result in criminal prosecution as well as many unhappy students that he has certified since their permits could be in jeopardy. Under the new CWP Application which became mandatory July 1, 2009, the student and the instructor both certify on separate sheets that the training requirement has been met. If the student receives a short class not complying with South Carolina law and he/she certifies they have received the training, he/she could face possible action also. I hope that the information as relayed above is not true; however, as a person who worked hard to obtain the passage of this legislation (beginning in 1995) and who has continued to work to make improvements in the program, I do not feel that this criminal misuse of the program by instructors can be tolerated in any way. We, as CWP instructors and holders, should police our own ranks and if there is a bad apple in the barrel, it should be removed before it destroys the whole barrel. If you have definitive information concerning this issue, please contact me and I will direct you to the proper authority.

Everyone should remember that SLED no longer sends out CWP renewal reminders. It is the responsibility of the CWP holder to renew timely. If your permit expires, you cannot carry concealed until you receive your new permit. You can renew online at SLED's website 90 days prior to expiration, or you can renew through the mail up to 120 days prior to your expiration. You are allowed 60 days after expiration to renew your permit without obtaining training. After that time, you must take the complete training again, but you may not carry your concealed weapon without a current permit in your possession. Check your expiration date periodically. Renew timely. Due to additional new requests for permits, as well as renewals coming due at the same time, SLED is taking approximately 3 months to return permits.

The Executive Committee discussed and voted to make a contribution to the McDonald vs Chicago Amicus Brief to the U.S. Supreme Court. An expected favorable ruling in this case will have wide ranging results, much further than the DC vs Heller supreme court ruling. Nearly all State Organizations throughout the U.S. has contributed to this fund. It appears from information we are receiving from the pro-gun and anti-gun groups, a favorable ruling is expected. Let's hope for the best as it will affect every gun owner's future.

For information, if you receive an e-mail concerning a bill in the U.S. Congress designated S-2099, this is a hoax, this bill is not current legislation. This particular bill was introduced approximately 9 years ago in the Senate, received no support and died. It has not been re-introduced. The Blair-Holt Bill H-45 was introduced this year. It has been introduced in past sessions, but has never received a co-sponsor and has never moved in committee. This bill is too radical even for the most liberal house members. NRA/ILA is watching over all legislation and doing a good job. Please do not get excited and forward e-mails of this type to me or other people unless you receive information from a source of authority such as the NRA. This type of e-mail creates confusion among people who are not current on local and national affairs. I have been receiving this e-mail beginning approximately the first of March of this year on at least a weekly basis by well meaning people who have been needlessly excited by this information.

As you know gun sales this year (since January of 2009) have sky-rocketed. FBI's NICS background check center is reporting over one million gun sales per month. In many states, including South Carolina, the CWP is considered a background check and does not require a call to NICS. Therefore NIC's information is only partially accurate. Just remember every person that buys a gun may be a potential voter in the next election and will not be ready to give up the tool he/she purchased with their hard earned money.

Many people have been told that we will not have a Second Amendment Weekend (tax free weekend on firearms) this year which covers the 48 hour period of Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving due to the South Carolina Supreme Court striking it down earlier this year (on a technicality). I was informed that In the closing days of our Legislative session this year, the Second Amendment Recognition Act was re-established and will be held the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving beginning at 12:01 a.m. Friday morning and ending at midnight on Saturday. During this 48 hour period, if you have a CWP, you can purchase a firearm, tax free, at any time the dealer's business is open since a call to NICs is not required.