SC Gun Rights

2006-10-10T18:52:00.000-05:00

NRA Endorses Eric Bedingfield
SC House District 28

The National Rifle Association has endorsed a real friend of gun owners in the House District 28 race. As a member of the Greenville County Council, Eric Bedingfield has established himself as a strong advocate and reliable supporter of the Second Amendment.

As NRA members in the Greenville area may recall, the majority on council there recently rejected an anti-gun proposal that severely restricted discharge of firearms in parts of the county. Eric helped lead the fight to kill this awful ordinance and to preserve our rights.

I'm a believer in supporting those folks who have proven themselves in the line of fire. Eric has done just that during his years of public service. I'm looking forward to working with him next year in the SC House. And I encourage gun owners in House District 28 to:

Vote Eric Bedingfield November 7th

2006-10-05T19:21:00.000-05:00

NRA Gives Sanford Top Rating

Pro-Gun Governor Endorsed for Re-Election

Governor Mark Sanford has earned an A+ rating and has again been endorsed by the National Rifle Association. Mark Sanford has enjoyed the support of NRA and South Carolina gun owners in every election he's run in over the years. He was a solid supporter of gun rights as a Congressman and has continued his stellar record as Governor.

In addition to his excellent record on our issues, Governor Sanford and his staff have proven to be truly interested in making things better for gun owners and self-defense advocates. Over the last few years we've met with the Sanford team numerous times and they have always been supportive. We hope to work with them next year to finally secure a workable CWP recognition law.

If you value your gun rights and want to continue with the great success we've experienced in recent years, it is crucial that you go to the polls and cast your ballot for Mark Sanford.

Mark Sanford -- A+ -- The Right Choice for Gun Owners!

Below is a press release the Sanford campaign sent our today:

For Immediate Release Contact: Jason Miller
October 5, 2006 c (803) 238-7475

NRA ENDORSES GOVERNOR SANFORD
Calls on Members to Give “Strong Support” to Sanford Reelection Bid

(Columbia, SC) – The National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund has endorsed Governor Mark Sanford for a second term in office, giving Governor Sanford an A+ grade for his efforts to protect the rights of gun owners and the Second Amendment.

Citing Governor Sanford’s efforts both in the U.S. Congress and as Governor of South Carolina, Chris W. Cox, executive director of the NRA-ILA, called on the organization’s members to support Governor Sanford in their October 2006 issue of American Rifleman.

“Gun owners should give their strong support to the re-election of Gov. Mark Sanford,” Cox wrote.

The organization specifically cited Governor Sanford’s efforts to repeal legislation that had previously limited the rights of gun owners and his support of Castle Doctrine legislation - protecting the right of South Carolinians to defend themselves from criminal attack – as reasons why Governor Sanford should receive a second term.

The NRA-PVF defines the A+ grade given to Governor Sanford as “an incumbent with not only an excellent voting record on critical NRA issues, but who has also made a vigorous effort to promote the Second Amendment.”

“Governor Sanford is honored to receive the endorsement of the NRA,” said Sanford campaign manager Jason Miller. “South Carolinians are proud supporters of their Second Amendment rights, and it’s good to see Governor Sanford recognized for his work on behalf of gun owners, hunters, and outdoorsmen.”

The NRA-PVF endorsement joins a growing list of endorsements that are recognizing Governor Sanford for his efforts in this first term, including the National Federation of Independent Business, Citizens Against Government Waste Political Action Committee, and the National Taxpayers Union Campaign Fund, which called Governor Sanford “the most fiscally conservative governor in the nation”

For more information on Governor Sanford’s efforts to protect the constitutional rights of all South Carolinians, promote economic development, and improve the quality of life for everyone in the Palmetto State, contact Jason Miller at (803) 238-7475.

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2006-09-30T18:23:00.000-05:00

Senator Danny Verdin: Gun Rights Champion of the Week

My long-time friend Senator Danny Verdin is this week's gun rights champion.

Over the years Danny has been a solid, reliable supporter of the Second Amendment. He is one of the Senate leaders we always count on to help advance our cause. We never have to question where Senator Verdin stands on a particular pro-gun measure, because we know he's one of us.

I've known Danny Verdin for over 10-years. He's a frequent guest at "Friends of NRA" dinners around the Upstate area. His business, Verdin's Farm and Garden Center in Laurens, serves as one of the few NRA Second Amendment Activist Centers in South Carolina. Providing the public with a place to get up to the date 2A information is just one of many ways that Danny Verdin "walks the walk".

Danny Verdin and I have spent many hours together discussing gun rights. Last December we shot on the same sporting clays team at the SC Sportsmen's Caucus gathering at the Clinton House Plantation. We didn't win, but I did learn that Danny is a much better shooter than me (at least with a shotgun).

I wish we had more good guys like Senator Danny Verdin. Thanks Senator Verdin for your personal friendship and your unwavering support of gun owner rights.

2006-09-26T20:10:00.000-05:00

Let's Talk About Chicks Man!

I love a good self-defense story. Back when I worked in the AG's Office we introduced the anti-Home Invasion concept of "Invade a Home, Invite a Bullet". And, as I've mentioned before, home invasions quickly became a rarity.

On several occasions we actually had to step in to stop local solicitors from charging home owners who defended themselves against intruders. The most satisfying stories involved women who managed to fight off much larger male attackers. So, when I saw this news column earlier today, I naturally had to mention it here.

A BIG "You Go Girl!" to these genuine heroines.

Afterall, what's more sexy than a lady with a gun?

2006-09-22T21:53:00.000-05:00

A Gun in the Hands of Every Adult

In the 1980's Morton Grove, Illinois passed an ordinance banning firearms. For the first time I'd ever known a small, rural town was disarming its citizens. Typically only large metropolitan areas (a.k.a. liberal enclaves) were "enlightened" enough to take such drastic measures.

The average, freedom loving citizens of Morton Grove were outraged. Unfortunately, as I recall, they had been overrun politically by big city liberals who ironically moved to get away from the crime.

In part as a show of support the good gun owning Southerners of Kennesaw, Georgia (an almost identical sized town) took the common-sense measure of passing an ordinance requiring every household to have at least one gun.

Care to guess which city saw crime drop and which saw an increase?

Well now in a reminiscent action a small town in Idaho has passed a measure that goes one step further than Kennesaw. That's right, Greenleaf, Idaho now requires all citizens of legal age to own a firearm and know how to use it. Of course the measure is largely symbolic because nearly everyone there already owns a gun.

I like the idea though. We need something like this in every town. I call it the Home Defense solution. Imagine a world with no more burglaries and no more home invasions.

I'll bet you could find it in Greenleaf, Idaho.

2006-09-22T17:02:00.000-05:00

Rep. Greg Delleney: Gun Rights Champion of the Week

Rep. Greg Delleney is one of those elected officials that I call a steady performer. During his 15+ years in the legislature he has shown gun owners that we can rely on him for unyielding support.

I first met Greg in 1996 when we worked on right-to-carry.

A quick check of the facts surrounding the "Law Abiding Citizens Self-Defense Act" confirms that Greg was with us every step of the way.

Greg Delleney not only co-sponsored our right-to-carry (H.3730), but he also stood firmly with us on every crucial vote. The House Journal from June 12th confirms his steadfastness with several recorded votes on our bill.

Greg also co-sponsored all of our pro-gun agenda bills over the last few years. And as chairman of the Constitutional Laws Subcommittee he is well placed to ensure our bills move forward. Last year he made sure the "Castle Doctrine" and "New Orleans/Emergency Powers" bills got quick hearings and ultimately final passage.

Sometimes in our push to get things done we forget to thank our most loyal friends. Greg Delleney surely deserves his spot at the top of my list of gun rights champions.

Thanks Rep. Delleney for protecting and defending the Second Amendment!

2006-09-19T18:51:00.000-05:00

Pro-Gun: That's How Thomas Rolls

GOP State Treasurer candidate Thomas Ravenel has been endorsed by the National Rifle Association. As I mentioned in an earlier post, Ravenel is a longtime pro-gunner. And while the state treasurer is not directly involved with the state's gun policy, statewide elected officials all have the ability to influence many different issues.

Having worked for four statewide elected officials I know this first-hand. In fact, when we passed right-to-carry in 1996, I actually worked in the state treasurer's office. My boss, an NRA member and CWP holder, was very supportive of Second Amendment issues. His personal advocacy no doubt helped solidify support for our efforts around the Statehouse. If elected, Thomas will have a chance to help in a similar way. I have no doubt we'll be able to count on him

As legislative director for the NRA state affiliate, I was pleased to have a small part in helping secure this important endorsement for my friend Thomas Ravenel. He deserves our support and I encourage you to tell your pro-gun friends to get out the vote for Ravenel.

FYI, here is a press release about the NRA endorsement from the Ravenel campaign:

RAVENEL RECEIVES NRA ENDORSEMENT
GOP Nominee Earns “A” Rating From Key Conservative Organization

Charleston, S.C. – September 19, 2006 – GOP State Treasurer Nominee Thomas Ravenel today announced that he has received the 2006 general election endorsement of the National Rifle Association (NRA), America’s preeminent defender of the Second Amendment and one of the leading proponents of firearms education and safety in the world.

Ravenel received an “A” rating from the organization, which boasts more than 3 million members nationwide (including over 40,000 in South Carolina) and is the largest of several major conservative groups whose endorsement is considered to be a significant factor in elections.

“The Second Amendment is an essential thread in the fabric of American freedom,” Ravenel said. “It is a defining American right, and one I’ve always been proud to support.”

Founded in 1871, the National Rifle Association is one of the most active grassroots organizations in the world. In addition to working at all levels of government to safeguard Americans’ Constitutional right to bear arms, the NRA supports numerous firearms education and safety efforts, including the Eddie Eagle Gun Safety Program for children and Refuse to be a Victim seminars for men and women.

Ravenel, a Charleston businessman, is challenging 36-year Democrat incumbent Grady Patterson. He has made restoring the state’s perfect AAA credit rating, which was twice lost under Patterson’s watch, the centerpiece of his campaign, along with protecting the state's retirement system, which currently has an unfunded liability estimated at $18 to $24 billion. Ravenel also says he’ll put his business background to work to streamline government by reducing wasteful spending.

Ravenel has challenged incumbent Patterson to debate the state's financial issues, but Patterson has refused to debate.

2006-09-18T18:58:00.000-05:00

Governor Huckabee: A Real Gun Rights Champion

I finally met a likely presidential candidate who leaves no doubt about where he stands on the gun issue. Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee is a true blue gun rights supporter.

I had the good fortune of meeting and talking with Huckabee today. As I have with several other potential candidates for the '08 presidental race, I asked him about his stance firearms issues. I was very pleased with his answers.

I asked Huckabee to share his general views about the Second Amendment and to specifically say whether or not he'd sign a national right-to-carry bill if elected president.

He pulled out his wallet and his CWP to show the crowd of GOP activists. His answer was an unqualified YES. Huckabee said that he'd like to be able to protect himself regardless of what state he's in and that national right-to-carry is the way to go.

He then went on to reinforce his outdoorsman credentials by sharing a hunting story that happend just last week.

Huckabee told about his participation in the one-shot antelope hunt in Wyoming. Huckabee's three man team, which also included SC's Rob Keck of the National Wild Turkey Federation and Arkansas' Forest Wood of Ranger Boats, won the competition. They had the only group where all three team members got their one shot kills. Every other team had at least one miss.

Huckabee is not only a good shot, but he also has good taste. His choice of guns is the Weatherby .300 magnum. I also use a Weatherby (7mm Magnum) on whitetails, so we agree on more than one thing. Huckabee bagged his antelope at 250 yards across a ravine in a driving snow. That's a hard shot to make, even with a rifle as inherrently accurate as a Weatherby. So, I have no doubt about Huckabee's skill with a firearm.

As cool as that hunting story was, I was most impressed with Governor Huckabee's quick acknowledgement of the fact that the Second Amendment is not about hunting. He very impressively made the point that the right to own firearms was more about self-defense. But more specifically, he said, it gives the citizenry the ultimate protection against a tyrannical governement.

Friends, Mike Huckabee is the real deal. He understands gun rights as well as anyone I've met. You can't fake the answers he gave and the depth of knowledge that he displayed.

Kudos to Mike Huckabee and I wish him the absolute best of luck.

2006-09-13T16:44:00.000-05:00

PETA Publicizes Dove Hunt

The anti-hunting group PETA is upset about a fundraiser dove hunt set to take place here in South Carolina.

Ironically, in their efforts to pick up support in our solidly pro-gun/pro-hunting state, PETA has only helped publicize what will no doubt be a very successful event.

PETA voiced their opposition to the private fundraiser and dove hunt that is being hosted for GOP superintendent of education candidate Karen Floyd.

The dove hunt, originally planned for September 11th, will take place on October 3rd.

The important thing to remember is that hunting is a legal and ethical activity. Thousands of sportsmen go out to the dove fields in South Carolina every year. Most of these licensed hunters are also registered voters. It's also important to remember that anyone who finds hunting offensive or distasteful has every right not to participate.

I personally find PETA offensive and distasteful. I suspect the majority of South Carolinians would agree with me. In fact, up to now it's been nearly 20 years since I've even heard PETA's name mentioned here in connection with an event. They are pretty much irrelevant and non-existent here in the Palmetto State.

In fact, the last time they came to South Carolina our coalition of sportsmen ran them out of town.

As I recall PETA scheduled a "training" session at the old Sheraton on Bush River Road. They scheduled the event around the time of the annual Sportsmen's Classic at the State Fairgrounds. The anti-hunting, anti-fishing, and anti-gun PETA crowd was upset over a fishing demonstration that was being conducted at the Sportsmen's Classic.

According to the dozen or so out-of-state PETA members who showed up, it was cruel to hook and release fish. Go figure. I guess they had nothing else to do that particular weekend.

At any rate, we staged a "counter protest" outside their Sheraton seminar. While about 12 0r 13 folks (including our three plants) attended the PETA training camp, nearly 200 sportsmen protested outside. Apparently they got the message as they haven't been heard of since.

Hopefully the Floyd campaign will stand strong against the puffed up bluster of these outside rabble rousers. They are threatening to picket the area around the hunt. If they are as successful with that effort as they were in Columbia, it ought to be good for a belly laugh.

2006-09-08T19:34:00.000-05:00

Castle Doctrine:

The Train Keeps Rolling
Two more cases that appear to fall into the "Castle Doctrine" category occurred this week in South Carolina.

The first incident took place in Myrtle Beach when a man was robbed by two men. One of the robbers shot the victim in the thigh and big toe.

The victim responded by pulling his own gun. One of the robbers was shot and killed and the other ran away.

In the second incident a homeowner in the Columbia area was awaken early Friday morning by sounds in his driveway. Upon investigation the victim discovered two men attempting to break into his car. He challenged them and one of the thieves came towards him and tried to enter the home.

The homeowner exchanged gun shots with the attacker. Both the victim and the assailant were injured and hospitalized. The second criminal was arrested and booked.

These kinds of incidents are becoming more and more common. Although each case I've outlined here recently would have most likely been considered self-defense prior to "Castle Doctrine," the good guy would have still been arrested. Under the new law, however, in a clear case of self-defense, the victim cannot be arrested.

Yes, I know this point has been made by me several times already. But I think the most significant feature of "Castle Doctrine" is it's protection from prosecution.

The right to stand your ground, although not previously protected in the statutes, was always presumed. Making it clear with a law was needed, but protecting the good guys from prosecution and the related legal expenses is clearly the best news of all.

2006-08-31T20:39:00.000-05:00

Castle Doctrine In Action

Castle Doctrine is working well in SC. In an incident that occurred recently in the upstate, a man defended his home against two early morning intruders. At 2 am brothers Marshall Leshaun Anderson and Travis Earle Anderson were shot as they were attempting burglarize an occupied home. The homeowner heard noises and grabbed a shotgun to defend himself. He shot both intruders as they opened his bedroom door. A third accomplice was arrested at the scene.

A more recent news report indicates that the homeowner, William Rodney Thomas, will not be charged. Of course, under Castle Doctrine he could not be charged if it was a clear case of self-defense. All the reports I've read indicate that it was. The decision not to charge confirms that Castle Doctrine is working well in South Carolina

2006-08-29T21:25:00.000-05:00

Catch Me on NRA Live!

My Op/Ed that appeared in the Myrtle Beach Sun News and The Aiken Standard today was picked up by my friends up at NRA News. The success of our right-to-carry law is so impressive that NRA Live Radio has asked me to come on tomorrow night to talk about it. I'll be on at 10:20 pm.

2006-08-28T21:27:00.000-05:00

Castle Doctrine: Self-Defense Begins at Home

As we taught our first concealed weapons class since the new "Castle Doctrine" law went into effect, Jerry Stoudemire and I were both struck this weekend with the significance of this important measure.

Jerry and I have been teaching together for exactly ten years this month. For the entire time we've carefully drilled our thousands of students on the "duty to retreat" under certain circumstances before using deadly force. For decades, in order to justify the use of deadly force in South Carolina, a citizen would (in many scenarios) first have to make an attempt to flee or retreat. We've always thought that was wrong and unfair, but it was the law.

Well that has all changed with enactment of "Castle Doctrine."

Castle Doctrine is a bit misleading, because it extends the right to self-defense even beyond a man's castle. As I explained in an earlier post, if a citizen has a right to be in a place when he is attacked, he can now legally stand his ground. While that is now indeed a statutory fact, it is also an oversimplification. While the new law is carefully crafted to allow one to protect themselves in most situations, the best news is that it also goes to great lengths to ensure legal protection from unjustified arrest.

That's right. Under the new law a person using deadly force cannot be arrested or prosecuted unless sufficient probable cause exists to support a charge. In other words, if it's clearly self-defense, a good citizen can't be arrested. This is significant because in the past they could count on being arrested anytime a shooting occurred. It didn't matter if it was a clear case of self-defense or not. If you shot someone, you were going to jail.

So, as Jerry and I continue to adjust to the new material we now must teach, we are excited about the improvements our friends in the Legislature have made for good citizens. NRA and GOSC are proud to have been involved with "Castle Doctrine", but the real credit goes to Rep. Murrell Smith and our good friend Rep. Mike Pitts. With Murrell and Mike in our corner we can expect to see even greater changes in our gun laws in the years to come.

Thanks Murrell and Mike!

2006-08-22T20:04:00.000-05:00

Anniversary of Right-to-Carry

August 23rd marks the tenth Anniversary of right-to-carry in South Carolina. A mere decade ago we became the 31st state to enact a shall-issue concealed weapons permit law. Under the "Law Abiding Citizens Self-Defense Act," honest citizens were finally given the sensible option of more easily carrying firearms for self-defense.

"Over the last decade the fear mongerers and handwringers have been proven wrong," said Rick Daniel, legislative director for Gun Owners of South Carolina. "Their dire predictions of doom and disaster simply did not come to pass. The indisputable truth is, right-to-carry works and it has made our state much safer," Daniel said.

In the years since the laws passage, South Carolina has experienced a consistent year-to-year trend of lower violent crime rates. Across the country allowing good citizens to arm themselves in public has always proven to be a significant crime deterrent.

Data assembled by Liberal researcher Dr. John Lott of the University of Chicago supports this assertion. Lott’s compiled data conclusively proves that states with shall-issue concealed carry laws (like South Carolina) experience significant reductions in violent crime over the years immediately following the law’s enactment.

"Criminals and thugs are by nature cowards who prey on the weak and defenseless. An armed citizen is not an easy victim," Daniel said. "As more law-abiding citizens take the reasonable step to arm themselves, we’ll see the violent crime rate drop even further."

Since the current law took effect in 1996, well over 50,000 concealed weapons permits have been issued. As we predicted from the very beginning, there have been no reports of serious firearms related violations involving permit holders. Very few permits have been revoked, in fact the number is statistically insignificant with the majority being recalled for administrative reasons such as a permit holder moving out of state.

2006-08-21T19:06:00.000-05:00

Eyes Wide Shut:
Giuliani 0n Guns

In an earlier post I mentioned how Rudy Giuliani skillfully avoided talking about social issues on his recent visit to South Carolina. In an article published in "The State" newspaper, political columnist Lee Bandy mentions the potential problem this could present for Giuliani in our very conservative state.

Giuliani was not questioned much about his record on the three G's (God, Guns, and Gays). However, the record will show that Giuliani has supported gay marriage, abortion, and gun control. Most observers would naturally assume that Giuliani won't play well here. But, Bandy seems to think otherwise.

Bandy's flawed assessment is based on his interpretation of the lack of questions on social issues. He surmises that people don't care and are actually focused on other things, namely national security. He may be right about that current focus, but even that won't bode well for an anti-gun Giuliani.

Think about it. What clear thinking person who is actually focused on national security would support someone who wants to take away their guns? If we suddenly find ourselves fighting terrorist here on South Carolina soil, I want every advantage I can have. I'm certain that many people agree.

So, as simplistic as this might sound for the political pundits, the plain fact is, South Carolinians love our guns. And we're not about to let some created "hero" from New York take them away.

2006-08-17T21:10:00.000-05:00

John McCain: Friend or Foe?

I had the privilege of meeting and talking with another presidential hopeful today. Arizona Senator John McCain was in Columbia and this time I did get to ask questions.

And I have to admit I was very impressed with what I heard.

I asked Senator McCain if, as president, he'd sign a national concealed weapons permit recognition law. His answer was quick and unrehearsed: Yes, absolutely!

He said a person with a permit in South Carolina ought not have to worry about problems carrying in other states. He claims to be a strong supporter of self-defense rights.

Senator McCain also extemporaneously expressed great satisfaction with the "Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act" that passed this session. It's the federal version of what NRA and GOSC passed here a few years ago. It's basically a gun manufacturers liability lawsuit protection law. In McCain's view this is one of the most significant pro-gun victories at the federal level in many years.

As always, I'll be doing a follow-up post on Senator McCain. I'll examine his record to help decide:

John McCain: Protector of The Flock or Wolf in Sheeps Clothing?

2006-08-17T20:42:00.000-05:00

Giuliani Comes Calling

Another presidential hopeful made his way to South Carolina this week.

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani came to Charleston to help raise money for the SC Republican Party. Since he is not currently an elected official he was not afforded the privilege of a state provided security escort. Knowing this I volunteered to put together a volunteer security team to accompany Giuliani from the airport and during his roughly 4 hour visit.

This gave me a unique opportunity to meet Giuliani and spend a little "face time" with him and his staff people. I liked him, but realized going into our time together that he was not at all pro-gun and I'd never consider supporting him for president. So, given my existing knowledge and the circumstances of our meeting, It was not appropriate for me to "needle" him about gun issues.

When asked about gun control and other social issues Giuliani skillfully avoided answering. In fact, he simply said that his positions are consistent. He said that his answers here in South Carolina would be the same as his answers in New York. In other words, he knew those answers wouldn't play well here, so he chose not to repeat them.

In order to understand how he would have answered (if he had half he courage he's attributed with having) we'll have to examine his record. And I'll do just that in my follow-up post:

Giuliani, Schmuliani....Not the Hero He'd Like to Be.

2006-08-09T19:34:00.000-05:00

Ralph Norman: A Pro-Gunner for the 5th District

I've been impressed with Representative Ralph Norman since the day we first met. He was one of the first to sign up for GOSC's special legislative concealed weapons training class. He joined a couple dozen other legislators for a day of CWP training and fellowship. He enjoyed it so much (and learned so much) that he later sent his own mother to take a class with us.

My fellow instructor Jerry Stoudemire and his wife Faye became fast friends with Ralph. Over the last two years they have remained in touch with him and were truly excited when he announced his plans to run for the 5th District Congressional seat now occupied by liberal democrat John Spratt.

Jerry and Faye, along with thousands of other good gun owners, live in the 5th District. For way too long they've suffered with being represented by one of the worst anti-gunners in the United States Congress. Jerry and Faye are determined to help elect their friend Ralph Norman.

Knowing this, I was not surprised to learn that Ralph was a special guest at the recent Little Mountain Reunion. The Stoudemire's are anchors in the Little Mountain community and have for years helped plan the annual reunion.

Gee, I wonder who invited Ralph?

Anyway, the Little Mountain Reunion is one of the most popular community festivals in South Carolina. In addition to the usual parade, food vendors, and other festivities, during election years the reunion also features an old fashioned stump meeting.

At the stump meeting Ralph gave a rousing speech including references to gun rights. The hundreds listening got a clear understanding of why Ralph is such a good choice. Based on the enthusiastic applause they seemed to agree that we desperately need to elect a real conservative in the 5th District.

Ralph is truly a pro-gun heavyweight who needs our help. In his short time in the state legislature, he has eagerly sponsored or co-sponsored every NRA-backed bill. Rep. Norman has helped take our issues to the forefront and he's gone the extra mile to be a vocal advocate for the Second Amendment.

I'll write more about Ralph in the future, but for now I want to give you a brief explanation of why, why we need to elect him. Or more accurately, why we need to dump the anti-gun Spratt.

The picture I've posted here really says it all. Spratt is closely aligned with our worst enemies.

But to make it even clearer just consider these few facts:

-In the wake of 9/11 Spratt voted against the plan to arm commercial airline pilots. His vote was a slap in the face of pilots who deserve a fighting chance against dangerous terrorists.

-Ironically Spratt seeks to ban firearms in a misguided attempt to prevent terrorism, yet he won't agree to let highly trained and qualified pilots carry guns for protection.

-Spratt won't let residents of Washington, D.C. carry guns for self-defense. Even though the nation's Capitol is also widely known as the "Murder Capitol," Spratt continually votes to deny the good citizens of D.C. the ability to protect themselves.

-Spratt seems determined to heavily regulate gun shows out of existence.

-Spratt wants to ban .50 caliber rifles even though these firearms are never used in crime because of their size, weight, and expense, and are not (as the anti-gunners claim) the "weapons of choice of the terrorists". Afterall, the terrorists brought down the World Trade Center with box-cutters.

These few examples clearly illustrate the need for change. We must replace Spratt this year. I'll have more about Spratt in later posts, but for now I want to encourage gun owners to get out and work for Ralph Norman.

2006-08-08T20:33:00.001-05:00

Wait Just A New York Minute

The Real Scoop On Pataki

I mentioned in my last post that after meeting with George Pataki I was suspicious about his pro-gun credentials. His answers just seemed too tailored and rehearsed. Imagine that, a politician being disingenuous. Who knew?

The red flag for me was Pataki's full response when Patrick Nolan challenged the term "illegal guns." He recovered quickly, but wandered off into an explanation of how criminals ought to be targeted, rather than legal gun owners. He seemed to think changing a law that hinged on how many guns a criminal possessed was somehow a solid pro-gun issue. It gave me the impression that he felt someone with more than one or two guns was immediately suspect.

The whole concept of permits and illegal possession is so foreign to me that I have trouble wrapping my mind around what Pataki was bragging about. We tend to forget how good we have it here in South Carolina. Our counterparts in many other areas of the country have to endure some pretty onerous hardships just to enjoy a Constitutional right.

So, to help me understand what Pataki was referring to, I contacted Jacob Rieper, my friend and counterpart in the New York State Rifle & Pistol Association (NYSRPA). Jacob handles legislative issues for NYSRPA. Here is Jacob's well informed explanation:

He changed the penalties for criminal possession of a weapon. In '05 he changed criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree (Class C felony) to illegal possession of 5+ firearms (originally 10+) and criminal possession of a weapon in the first degree (Class B felony) to illegal possession of 10+ firearms (originally 20+). In June '06 he changed criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree to illegal possession of 5+ firearms or possession of one loaded firearm. NY law originally defined a "firearm" as handguns only. In 2000 Pataki changed the definition of "firearm" to mean handguns or "assault weapons." It has always been a felony to possess a handgun in NY without a license.

Now I suppose that sounds reasonable enough, but when you consider that it would be pretty easy for an innocent visitor (or a resident for that matter) to get wrapped up in an "illegal possession" case, it starts to sound less and less reasonable. You see, in general, it's illegal to possess a gun in New York. Don't misunderstand, I'm opposed to criminals who misuse guns, knives, fist, or feet as assault weapons. But to criminalize guns is just wrong. Does NY law really focus only on criminals as Pataki contends. I very much doubt it.

I'm not interested in dissecting New York gun laws. I've heard nightmares about the things New Yorkers have to put up with. The bottom-line for me is this:

Pataki's had twelve years as governor to fix the problems in New York. He may have made progress on some issues, but the Second Amendment is still getting short shrift. Do we really want Pataki to bring his brand of pro-gun politics to South Carolina and the rest of the country. I think not. So, I'm still shopping around for a presidential hopeful to support.

Next week I'll be spending time with another New Yorker who wants to be president. On August 16th Rudy Giuliani will be in Charleston. I'm helping coordinate his security detail (how ironic). I'll get to ask him some questions. It'll be interesting to see what he has to say.

And, YES, Jacob has already given me the facts. This should be interesting.

2006-08-07T20:50:00.000-05:00

Pataki Part Deux

I left my meeting with Governor Pataki on Saturday with mixed impressions. On the one hand, he was very personable and he said a lot of things I liked. Most of these things were not directly related to guns. Some of what he did say on guns was okay, but the answers were very scripted and vague.

So, I left unconvinced about his commitment to Second Amendment issues.

One of the things he talked about was "illegal guns." Well here in South Carolina that phrase sets off alarm bells. So, a fellow NRA member Patrick Nolan quickly asked for clarification. Pataki rebounded pretty well by explaining that he actually meant "illegal possession of a gun."

Governor Pataki said that he had revamped the laws regarding illegal possession to make it easier to target real criminals rather than law abiding citizens. Both Patrick and I still felt a little uneasy with his answer. I'm not familiar enough with NY laws to determine if he was being completely honest with his answer.

Luckily I have some friends who live in New York and they are very familiar with gun laws and gun issues in NY. And these friends helped me better understand exactly why I got bad vibes from Pataki.

I'm fleshing out the details, so I guess we'll have a Pataki Part Three tomorrow.

2006-08-05T16:01:00.000-05:00

New York Governor Visits State

I was recently invited to represent Gun Owners of South Carolina (NRA State Association) at a luncheon and roundtable discussion with Governor George Pataki of New York. While I liked Pataki, I'm not sure he's as pro-gun as most South Carolinians (and probably not most New Yorkers). This is important to know, because Pataki is obviously exploring the possibility of a presidential run on the Republican ticket in 2008.

During the roundtable session I asked Governor Pataki how he'd appeal to pro-gunners who often see New York politicians as unsupportive of our issues? His answer was rehearsed and predictable.

Basically Pataki explained that he was a state's rights conservative and (in his view) the federal government ought not interfere with lawful gun ownership. He would oppose efforts at the federal level to infringe on the right to keep and bear arms. Okay, but not a very strong pro-gun answer.

Pataki also talked about how crime had dropped in New York during his tenure. Tougher sentences, good judicial appointments, and strict prosecution of even small crimes were all cited as contributing to the drop. I agree with that approach and it prompted me to ask about right-to-carry.

I prefaced my question with a brief explanation of how effective our shall-issue CWP law has been at reducing crime. I asked, what (if anything) he had done in New York to move things in a similar direction? Again, he gave a reasonable, albeit rehearsed answer.

After again mentioning the state's rights angle, Pataki went on to say that "what works in one part of the country might not work in others." He said each state should decide. He also said that an effort was underway in New York (with his support) to make concealed weapons permits good statewide.

Apparently such permits are fairly common in New York with the exception of New York City. He said permits issued in other parts of the state should be honored in NYC. He scored a few points by observing, "After all, that's where you're most likely to need one."

My good friends in New York are fortunate to have Pataki in the Governor's Office. As I understand it, he has been a breath of fresh air compared to the liberals that preceded him. I also understand that he's moderated his previously pro-gun state assembly record to have a broader appeal in places like NYC. With that in mind, I'll explain in my next post why I think he has a long way to go if he hopes to gain pro-gun support across the country.

2006-08-04T21:56:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday Heather!

Today, August 4th, is my little girl's birthday. Problem is she's no longer a little girl! My first daughter, Heather, is 19-years-old today. And YES she does own a gun (three in fact) and Dad made sure she knows how to shoot. Anyway, I'm real proud of her and since this is my little space on the Internet.....I'm taking the liberty to say:

Happy Birthday Heather!

2006-07-31T20:59:00.000-05:00

GOSC Leaders Meet With NRA's LaPierre

Members of the Gun Owners of South Carolina leadership team had another chance to meet with Wayne LaPierre on Friday, July 28th, when he was in Columbia for a book signing. NRA director Herb Lanford, GOSC women's issues chair Patty Clark, GOSC president Jerry Stoudemire, and I joined dozens of NRA members and pro-gun citizens for the book signing.

After the event ended Wayne and I took a few minutes to renew a friendship we've shared for over a decade. He thanked SC gun rights activists for our hard work here in South Carolina and offered to support our efforts in any way possible. I explained how helpful NRA-ILA has been in support of our efforts and thanked him in return. Wayne's a real class act for sure.

On a side note, Wayne had PR and legislative consulting guru Tony Makris along for the book signing. It was good to get reacquainted with Tony. I first met him about 12 years ago and have been an admirer ever since. We do the same kind of work professionally..... only Tony operates at a much higher level. Tony is truly one of the best at what he does.

You may recognize Tony's name. In addition to handling PR for NRA folks like Charlton Heston and Wayne Lapierre, he's the host of ESPN's "Under Wild Skies-Africa".

2006-07-23T18:46:00.000-05:00

NRA's Wayne LaPierre Coming
to Columbia This Friday

On Friday, July 28th, at 7:00 pm, NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre will be at the Books-A-Million on Harbison Boulevard in Columbia. He will be signing copies of his new book The Global War On Your Guns.

Don't miss this chance to met Wayne and to purchase an autographed copy of this timely and important book.

I will be there along with other local GOSC and NRA representatives. Come on out and meet with us and perhaps learn how you might get involved in the local fight to keep and bear arms. I look forward to seeing you there this Friday.

2006-07-22T21:34:00.000-05:00

Scarborough Acted Properly

According to a story today in the Charleston Post, Rep. Wallace Scarborough will not be prosecuted over an incident that occurred last Sunday night. Solicitor Ralph Hoisington concluded that Scarborough acted within the law when he investigated noises in his parents fenced and locked back yard.

As I suggested in an earlier post, Scarborough simply did the prudent thing when he grabbed his 9mm handgun to confront two men he thought might be burglars. Additionally, he violated no laws in connection with the unintentional firing of the gun into the ground near a back porch.

Solicitor Hoisington had the benefit of first person accounts recorded in witness statements and affidavits. If those statements included any evidence of impropriety, Scaborough would have faced prosecution. The bottom-line is Scarborough acted properly.

And although he did nothing wrong, Scarborough was still considerate enough to apologize to the utility workers. Just another example of the quality of individuals who own guns, have CWPs, and belong to the National Rifle Association.

Rep. Wallace Scarborough is truly a class act.

2006-07-21T19:15:00.000-05:00

Paranoid or Just Prepared?

A fellow NRA member who happens to be a state legislator has been in the news lately over an incident that occurred last weekend in Charleston.

Rep. Wallace Scarborough was house sitting for his elderly parents when, during the night, he heard noises and saw flashlights shining in the back yard. Scarborough, a CWP holder who successfully completed SLED approved legal and practical firearms training, grabbed his 9mm handgun and went to investigate.

Scarborough discovered that two men had entered the locked and fenced back yard. When challenged they shined blinding flashlights directly into his face. The men, who Scarborough could not clearly see, claimed to be employees of a utility company. They would not produce identification and insisted they had a legal right to be there. Scarborough took exception and told them to leave. They refused to leave.

As Scarborough walked away to call the police, he tripped and unintentionally fired a round into the back porch. At that point the unwelcome visitors made a hasty retreat and themselves called 911. The two intruders, who were later identified as utility workers, claimed that Scarborough made threats and fired a gun at them.

The police came and Scarborough was arrested for assault with intent to kill. Should he have been arrested?

I was not there and can only consider the information I’ve been provided, so I’m not going to judge the case one way or another. However, I do believe we should give Scarborough the benefit of the doubt based on the knowledge I have gained.

Without a doubt the whole thing could have been avoided had the utility company representatives been appropriately trained and taught to show proper identification upon request of a property owner.

Think for a minute. How would you react in similar circumstances? Would you automatically assume the interlopers had a legal right to be there? Would you take a gun to investigate?

I suspect that most “security minded” people would generally react like Scarborough did. Yes, he could have practiced better tactics (cover, illumination, etc.) but in general, he did what I would have done. In other words….grab a gun and investigate.

I’m sure that some less cautious individuals consider this a paranoid overreaction, but they’re wrong. Nowadays it’s better to be overly cautious than to be overly deluded. If you think it can’t happen to you, then you’re likely to be the next victim.

Want proof that Scarborough wasn’t off base with his basic instincts and initial reaction?

Just yesterday the Lexington County Sheriff’s Office issued a public alert to elderly citizens regarding burglaries and thefts being committed by criminals posing as utility company employees. Sound familiar?

Two suspicious prowlers who claimed to be utility workers frightened Scarborough. He thought they might be burglars. Did he overreact as some have suggested? It’s starting to look less and less so.

Cynical types will no doubt roll their eyes at the thought of defending ones home against what they perceive to be a minor threat. But in reality, nighttime burglary is far from minor. In fact, it’s one of the most dangerous crimes for homeowners.

Think about it. Any idiot bold enough to invade an occupied home or property, especially in the South where almost every homeowner is armed, has to be dangerous. In such circumstances an armed response is not only warranted, but also imperative for self-preservation.

The plain fact is nighttime burglary is so serious that South Carolina law has long made an exception in Section 17-13-20 for the use of deadly force in such circumstances.

For convenience here’s what it says:

A citizen may arrest a person in the nighttime by efficient means as the darkness and the probability of escape render necessary, even if the life of the person should be taken, when the person:

(a) has committed a felony;
(b) has entered a dwelling house without express or implied permission;
(c) has broken or is breaking into an outhouse with a view to plunder;
(d) has in his possession stolen property; or
(e) being under circumstances which raise just suspicion of his design to steal or to commit some felony, flees when he is hailed.

The self-righteous Monday morning QBs and the ivory towered finger pointers in the press either don’t know about the nighttime burglary law, or they prefer to ignore it. Either way it’s disappointing to see so many automatically assume Scarborough was in the wrong.

Now that things are a little clearer, the real question is: Was it reasonable for Scarborough to think that the two men prowling around the fenced backyard in the nighttime might be burglars? The inescapable conclusion is YES!

Clear thinking persons would naturally assume that two prowlers in a dark backyard, especially in today’s world, were likely up to no good. And in my view, one has a duty to respond to such threats armed and prepared to defend life and property.

But maybe that’s just me.

2006-07-16T20:01:00.000-05:00

Liberals Just Don't Get it

Washington, D.C. police chief Charles Ramsey (pictured here) has declared a crime emergency in response to a recent spike in violence and murder. (Assuming D.C. officers follow the Chief's physical fitness standards, the donut shops ought to pretty safe for tourists.)

Two things are certain....

Number one, the liberals (like Ramsey) will have any number of "summits" to talk about the problem; and

Number two, nothing substantive will come of all the talk.

Why? Because the liberals love to talk, but they never really want solve problems because they rely on them.

The truth is, if they eliminated crime or poverty or pollution, they'd have no constituencies. Its in their interest to perpetuate problems, that's why they talk so much.

Look at D.C. for proof. It's illegal to possess a gun in the nations capitol, yet criminals seem to have them. Why?

If gun control works, why is the crime rate so high in Washington, D.C.?

We know the answer and its found right here in South Carolina. In fact, I had a couple of posts last month about our falling violent crime rate. But its not just South Carolina.

Look at Florida, a state that also allows its citizens to carry firearms.

In almost every case, crime is up where citizens are prohibited from having handguns for self-defense and down where citizens are allowed to carry handguns for self-defense.

Unlike liberals, criminals are smart. They fear pain and naturally prefer areas (like D.C.) where they are unlikely to encounter any.

Its that simple.

2006-07-14T18:52:00.000-05:00

Joe Wilson Reinforces 2A Support

My Congressman Joe Wilson recently spoke out again in support of the Second Amendment. Not that he had anything to prove, but its nice to see a US House member offer such a solid statement of belief in our Constitutional right to keep and bear arms. Its particularly refreshing when its in response to some misguided liberals latest "crime control" plan.

Congressman Wilson clearly understands that in order to be truly safe from harm, individuals need to have the ready means to defend themselves.

Joe knows......Guns Save Lives!

2006-07-10T19:35:00.000-05:00

Mad Props For The Master!

My friend and neighbor Rod Shealy recently got some good ink regarding his success as a political consultant in the recent primary elections. As the article points out, Rod is among the best in the business.

I've worked on campaigns with all the guys mentioned in the article and know their varying styles pretty well. One thing that stands out about Rod is his unique approach to things. He's advised me informally in the past and although I sometimes question his approach, more times than not, he's right on the money.

One of Rod's high-profile candidates is Lt. Governor Andre Bauer. As we gun owners know, Andre pulled out an impressive, come from behind win last week in the run-off elections. A story in the Greenville news reveals that Andre outspent his opponent Mike Campbell by a wide margin.

You can't argue with the numbers, but it sure is interesting to note how determined the news media is to avoid reporting the obvious.

The truth is Andre outworked the other guy and he's proven himself as a leader over the last decade. His dedication and success have earned him an extremely loyal base of supporters. Unfortunately for Campbell, they came out and worked hard too.

Contrast that with an opponent (Campbell) who never held elected office and had no record to run on. Also, try as he might, there was no way Campbell could ever keep up with even a crippled Andre (remember Andre's ankle was shattered in a recent plane crash) and there's your recipe for sure defeat.

The bottom-line is that Campbell was simply outclassed, out worked, and under supported.

And, oh yeah, out consulted by the master.

2006-07-10T19:07:00.000-05:00

Future of the Second Amendment
My good friend Patty Clark (director of GOSC's Women's Programs) recently e-mailed this picture of her niece along with the subject line: Future of the Second Amendment. This is a really cool picture and the story that goes along with it illustrates a very important aspect of preserving our cherished rights.

In an example that should inspire us all, Patty's brother, Donald Zappone, presented his 7-year old daughter, Stephanie, with a rifle after she proved to have the discipline to learn proper gun handling and complete the NRA's Eddie Eagle Gun Safety Program. This wise approach will help ensure that Stephanie is safe and that she understands the important role firearms play in a free society.

Interestingly, Stephanie and her dad live in California where guns are not as socially acceptable as were accustomed to in South Carolina. But that doesn't deter the Zappone family one little bit. In fact, they strongly support the Second Amendment and are working to raise a well rounded family that understands how to use and respect firearms.

My hat's off to Donald Zappone and to Stephanie too!!! Keep up the good work!!!

2006-07-09T19:28:00.000-05:00

Lifetime CWP in South Carolina?

Indiana recently passed legislation establishing a lifetime concealed weapons permit. Under the new law a person can obtain a CWP that never expires. The cost of the permit would be considerably higher than one that renews every three or four years, but in most cases the benefit to both the state and the permit holder makes the cost easily justifiable.

Although we have managed to make some significant improvements to South Carolina's CWP program, I must admit the idea of a lifetime permit never occurred to me. But recognizing a good idea when I see one, I've taken the initiative to contact several law makers. Right now the interest is high. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised to see South Carolina follow Indiana's lead in the next legislative session.

2006-07-09T15:32:00.000-05:00

Joe Wilson Continues His Pro-Gun Ways

Congressman Joe Wilson has again shown gun owners why his service is so important to keeping our Second Amendment rights. In a brilliant move recently, the US House of Representatives took the bold step of passing legislation that suspends the requirement that new guns include a trigger lock.

The anti-gunners were quick to condemn the measure. According to the Brady Campaign the extra money (tax) that gun owners would be forced to pay is worth it "if it saves one life." Our man Congressman Wilson was a little more level headed. According to Wilson, "Responsible and law-abiding gun owners do not need the government to tell them to be safe." I couldn't agree more.

Joe's excellent quote reminded me of why I've always been a BIG supporter of his various campaigns. He was my state senator for many years and helped NRA and GOSC pass right to carry in 1996. In fact, if not for Joes leadership, it never would have made it out of the Senate.

Thanks Joe for continuing to support the Second Amendment. Over and over you've proven to be a friend of gun owners. I'm proud to live in your district and proud to call you my friend and my Congressman.

2006-06-28T19:58:00.000-05:00

Thomas Ravenel For State Treasurer

Now that the primaries (and run-offs) are over, it's time to focus on the November elections. As a start I want to mention Thomas Ravenel, the Republican nominee for State Treasurer.

You may be wondering why I'd write about the office of State Treasurer. Well, other than the fact that this is my blog and I can write whatever I like.....

Thomas Ravenel is pro-gun. Ravenel actually ran for US Senate two years ago and based on questionnaires that I helped review, he is very much on our side.

Another reason I'm interested in State Treasurer is that I worked in that office from 1995-1999. I know what can be accomplished there with the right person. We did a lot during our tenure (even influenced a few gun related measures) and I'm convinced that Thomas can do the same and more.

Finally, I know Thomas Ravenel personally and I want to see him do well in politics. He has a future and knowing that, we really ought to support pro-gun folks at all levels. He might have little to do with gun issues as State Treasurer, but he could hold a different office later.

So, as time goes on I'll write more about Thomas and others who might not seem to fit the profile of elected offices we gun owners would normally care much about. I'm going to do my best to change that attitude and hopefully other gun owners will see the wisdom of having friends at all levels of government.

2006-06-28T19:40:00.000-05:00

Andre Bauer Wins Big!

Our friend Andre Bauer prevailed yesterday in his bid for the Republican nomination for Lt. Governor. He defeated his opponent thanks in large part to support from gun owners and other grassroots supporters.

Andre asked me to pass along his thanks to all the gun owners who turned out to vote for him. He pledged his continued support and encouraged us to get involved with other campaigns to help elect pro-gun candidates at all levels.

Congratulations Andre and good luck in the November elections!

2006-06-21T18:47:00.000-05:00

Lt. Governor's Run-Off Crucial For Gun Owners

It is very important for gun owners to turn out on Tuesday, June 27th, to vote for Andre Bauer in the run-off election for Lt. Governor. Andre is A+ rated by the National Rifle Association which places him in a rare minority among elected officials. His record of support for gun rights is flawless. Andre is without question one of the best friends we've had in the last decade.

Andre Bauer is a close personal friend. I have spent many hours discussing gun issues with him and he is a true believer in the Second Amendment. He knows guns and he is a shooter. He even hosted several CWP courses that I taught for him at his business.

Again, there is no greater friend of gun owners than Lt. Governor Andre Bauer.

In April, Andre Bauer was our special guest at the annual Mid-Carolina Friends of NRA Dinner in Columbia. This was the eighth or ninth time he's attended this event. He spoke for several minutes and thanked NRA and GOSC for our past support. He has been there for us and now we need to show up for him on June 27th.

Over the next few days NRA members in South Carolina will be receiving phone calls recorded by NRA-ILA's Chris Cox. Please listen to what Chris has to say about Andre Bauer. Also, you may receive a postcard and/or e-mail from NRA-PVF regarding the Bauer endorsement. All of this should be an indicator to you as to who is the best candidate for gun rights. In fact, here is what NRA-PVF had to say in a recent press release:

For Immediate Release www.nrapvf.com For More Information

June 20, 2006 NRA Public Affairs (703) 267-3820

NRA - PVF Endorses
Lieutenant Governor Andre` Bauer

for Re-Election in South Carolina

Fairfax, VA-The National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) has endorsed Lieutenant Governor Andre` Bauer in South Carolina’s runoff election Tuesday, June 27, 2006.

"Law-abiding gun owners in South Carolina have a true friend in Lieutenant Governor Andre` Bauer," said Chris W. Cox, Executive Director and Chairman of NRA - Political Victory Fund (PVF). "We are pleased to endorse him for re-election, because we know he will continue to protect the Second Amendment and help preserve the shooting sports for future generations."

Andre` Bauer received an A rating and NRA endorsement in his first election to South Carolina’s State House in 1996 and A+ ratings for both his election to the State Senate in 1999 and his election as Lieutenant Governor in 2002.

While in the senate, he worked with NRA to pass legislation protecting shooting ranges, preempting reckless lawsuits, and reforming Right-To-Carry laws. As Lieutenant Governor, he supported NRA’s successful effort to repeal the one-handgun-a-month restriction, as well as the recently passed “Emergency Powers Protection Act” and “Castle Doctrine” bills. Lieutenant Governor Bauer has also pledged to continue his support for NRA efforts to improve South Carolina’s Right-To-Carry reciprocity.

Cox continued, "As one of South Carolina's finest public servants, Andre` Bauer has been a steadfast advocate for gun owners, hunters, and the Second Amendment. His pro-gun stance has earned him another A+ rating and endorsement of NRA-PVF."

“We ask every gun owner to vote for Andre Bauer June 27th,” concluded Cox. “South Carolinians value their right to own firearms, and Andre` Bauer is the right man to represent them.”

--nra - pvf--

2006-06-18T09:08:00.000-05:00

NRA/GOSC Lead SC Gun Rights Out of Stone Ages

Two years ago NRA/GOSC did something EXTREMELY rare in the gun rights arena. We managed to repeal a BAD gun law. When we turned back the one handgun/thirty day law we effectively eliminated a law that dated back to the stone ages.

Okay, it really only dated back to the 1970's, but this guy was popular then, so the analogy is not totally off base. The point is, we took the strong initiative to improve things for all gun owners by doing away with a silly, ineffective, and pointless law.

In the past law enforcement officials here allowed gun phobic rabble rousers from New York City (New York City! Git a rope!) to dictate how we regulate gun sales. According to the tenuous and unproven theory, guns bought is SC were being re-sold to street criminals in New York City.

Of course, this was a ridiculous notion, but for nearly thirty years law abiding gun owners in the Palmetto State were inconvenienced simply to appease a few misguided Yankee hand wringers.

Thank goodness, NRA and GOSC were able to convince SC lawmakers of the sheer lunacy of continuing down the stone age path we were on.

2006-06-15T20:15:00.000-05:00

Relationships Key to Legislative Success

The National Rifle Association and its state affiliate Gun Owners of South Carolina have enjoyed great legislative success in recent years. In fact, since leading the way on right-to-carry in 1996 we have had numerous other major victories. Range protection, reckless lawsuit protection, one handgun/thirty day repeal, castle doctrine, and emergency powers have all been NRA/GOSC initiatives.

In addition, GOSC led the way on negotiating expanded reciprocity (we worked with the NC and SC attorney's general to secure a reciprocal agreement). And we worked directly with Governor Sanford in helping ease some of SLED's arbitrary permit issuing standards. We also were consulted on numerous CWP friendly AG's opinions issued over the last few years.

Why is GOSC the "go to" group in South Carolina on Second Amendment issues? Well, aside from the obvious advantage of being associated with the premier gun lobby organization, we have worked diligently here at home to develop relationships and to maintain a positive image among elected officials and decision makers.

One example of our relationship building activities is the Legislative CWP training we've conducted over the last two years. Working through Rep. Mike Pitts and with the sponsorship of Ellett Brothers in Chapin, GOSC has presented three CWP training classes for dozens of legislators, legislative staffers, and even a few friendly lobbyists. Current GOSC president Jerry Stoudemire and I taught these classes.

As a result of this one initiative we had allies in key areas to help with our two main issues this year. Mike Pitts has said that our classes did more to educate legislators on our issues than any number of postcards, letters, or phone calls could ever accomplish. The legislators who took our class were primed and ready to help. Some even introduced good gun friendly bills on their own as a result of what they learned and observed in our classes.

For example Rep. Catherine Ceips has become not only a good friend, but also a strong female voice for the right to keep and bear arms. She introduced this year a bill that would have required judges who issue orders of protection in connection with criminal domestic violence to notify the victim of the availability of a concealed weapons permit. And Catherine even took it one step further. Her bill required SLED to issue permits to such victims on a immediate emergency basis. Unfortunately, Catherine's bill did not pass. She is not deterred, however, and will re-introduce it next year.

Another of our students, Rep. Billy Witherspoon concluded that 8-hours is far too long for the required CWP training (he's right). So, Billy promptly introduced a bill cutting the time to 6-hours. We didn't have sufficient time to devote to this bill given our other priorities, so it'll also be re-introduced next year. After talking to Billy at a Sportsmen's Caucus Sporting Clays shoot (we were teamed together) I think he's agreed to cut it to an even more reasonable 4-hours of training.

It's clear that our strategy works. As the leaders of the pro-gun movement in South Carolina, GOSC will continue to build relationships and move forward in making improvements that benefit all gun owners in South Carolina.

2006-06-12T20:20:00.000-05:00

NRA-ILA's Chris Cox Thanks Governor Sanford and Pro-Gun Legislative Leaders

On Friday, June 9, Governor Mark Sanford (R) signed two prominent National Rifle Association (NRA)-backed bills into law. The "Castle Doctrine" self-defense bill protects the rights of innocent victims to protect themselves from criminal attack, while the "Emergency Powers Protection" language prevents local governments from confiscating firearms during a state of emergency.

"I want to thank Governor Mark Sanford for signing these critical victims' rights bills into law," said Chris W. Cox, NRA's chief lobbyist. "When you're confronted by a criminal, you don't have the luxury of time. The "Castle Doctrine" bill states that if victims choose to stand their ground and fight, their decision will not be second-guessed by the State of South Carolina."

"Furthermore, the breakdown of civil order in New Orleans during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina demonstrates that Americans' rights to keep and bear arms are especially important during a state of emergency. S. 1261 ensures that local governments will be unable to restrict law-abiding citizens' use, sale, or transportation of firearms during such difficult times."

H. 4301, the "Castle Doctrine" self-defense bill, simply states that if a criminal breaks into your home, your occupied vehicle or your place of business, you may presume he is there to do bodily harm and you may use any force necessary against him. Furthermore, this law provides protection from criminal prosecution and civil litigation for those who defend themselves from criminal attack.

S. 1261 was originally introduced to allow qualified Right-to-Carry permit applicants who live outside the Palmetto State to be issued permits if they own land in South Carolina. It was amended in the House, however, to include the language that bars the ability of local governments to restrict the use, sale, or transportation of firearms during a state of emergency.

The "Castle Doctrine" bill passed unanimously in both the state house and senate. South Carolina joins ten other states who have signed similar legislation into law this legislative cycle.

S. 1261, with the "Emergency Powers Protection" language, passed by a vote of 109-1 in the house and was ratified unanimously by the State Senate. Seven other states have enacted such legislation this year.

"On behalf of all NRA members in South Carolina, I want to thank Governor Mark Sanford for signing these important bills into law. I'd also like to thank Representative G. Murell Smith (R-67) for his leadership in passing "Castle Doctrine" through the legislature, Representative Mike Pitts (R-14) for his commitment to seeing the "Emergency Protection" language become law, and Senator Danny Verdin for his efforts with both bills in the Senate," concluded Cox. "Both of these bills are about putting the law back on the side of the victim, the way it's supposed to be."

2006-06-12T19:38:00.000-05:00

SC Violent Crime Rate: It Just Keeps Going Down

The FBI stats are out and two of South Carolina’s largest cities have registered significant drops in violent crime. SLED's statewide report is also due out soon and I’m sure the news media will trot out a crime "expert" from the Columbia PD to credit "community policing" for the drop, but we know the real reason..... more guns in good hands equals less violent crime. It's that simple.

Don't believe me? Well maybe you'll believe a liberal research professor named John Lott, from the University of Chicago. Lott's the kind of guy the news media normally loves, but unfortunately he tells the truth, so they ignore him.

In his book “More Guns, Less Crime” Dr. John Lott decisively proves wrong the politically correct idea that modern concealed weapons laws are bad for society. In fact, Lott’s exhaustive research confirms my notion that good citizens carrying legally permitted guns are bad for criminals, but good for the rest of us. He proves this by analyzing crime statistics from 3,000 U. S. counties over a period of 18 years.

While Lott’s book is lengthy and boring (he is a professor), the facts are astounding. It shows that every time "shall-issue" right-to-carry laws are enacted, the crime rate (especially for violent crimes like murder, rape, robbery) immediately goes down significantly. And the rate continues to drop over time. Most compelling is the fact that the decrease in the crime rate is always proportional to the number of permits issued.

Causing me to again ask…..Who knew?

2006-06-10T06:49:00.000-05:00

Availability of Guns Decreases Crime Rate

When I worked for former Attorney General Charlie Condon we often noted that beginning about 1997 the violent crime rate in South Carolina began to drop. In fact, every year when we'd get the crime reports from SLED and the FBI we found that (on average) the violent crime rate dropped about 7% per year.

Every year the so-called experts would speculate about the reason(s) for the drop in the violent crime rate. And every year we'd laugh about it because the news media and the criminal justice "experts" never quite got it right. We knew the primary reason was the nearly 25 fold increase in the number of citizens with concealed weapons permits.

The truth is, in 1996 we sent the violent crime rate into a spiral with the passage of the "Law Abiding Citizens Self-Defense Act". Criminals got the message, more guns equals a major impact on their ability to prey on defenseless citizens. As former Rep. Jeff Young put it "now the sheep have guns too".

In 2001 my friend (and boss) Charlie Condon added more ammunition to our arsenal. In the wake of a rash of home invasions across the state, he issued a policy statement to help deter further problems. He made it very clear: "Invade a Home, Invite a Bullet". And it worked. Following this announcement the number of home invasions dropped to near ZERO.

Here is an article written by Larry Pratt of Gun Owners of America on the AG's policy. Charlie's announcement made national news. It even aired in a segment on the CBS news program 60 Minutes after we enforced the policy in defense of a home owner.

Well our view that more guns, backed by a solid right to self-defense really does mean less violent crime was reinforced again this week with the release of a new report. This report shows that while the number of guns in the hands of Americans has increased, the crime rate and firearms accident rates have fallen sharply. Who Knew?

2006-06-09T19:26:00.000-05:00

Other NRA Endorsements for Primaries

In addition to Endorsing Governor Sanford and Lt. Governor Bauer the NRA-PVF has made the following endorsements for the primary elections on Tuesday, June 13th:

Bill Whitmire (R) District1 - Oconee County
Jeff Duncan (R) District 15 - Laurens & Newberry Counties
Adam Taylor (R) District 16 - Greenville & Laurens Counties
Ted Vick (D) District 53 - Chesterfield County
Phillip Lowe (R) District 60 - Florence & Sumter Counties
Skipper Perry (R) District 81 - Aiken County
Thomas Rhoad (D) District 90 - Bamberg, Barnwell, & Orangeburg Counties
Richard Chalk (R) District 123 - Beaufort County

All but one of these House candidates are incumbents. The sole exception is Phillip Lowe who is running for the seat left vacant by the retiring Marty Coates.

NRA members in each of these districts should be receiving phone calls, e-mails, postcards or a combination of all three. Also, postcards and/or e-mails concerning Governor Sanford and Lt. Governor Bauer.

2006-06-08T20:34:00.000-05:00

Governor Sanford Signs Gun Bills

Governor Sanford today signed two important pro-gun bills. I learned just this afternoon that the Governor signed both our "New Orleans/Emergency Powers" and our "Castle Doctrine" bills. This is great news for gun owners and we should all thank Governor Sanford for his support.

Although not directly related to today's good news, it's important to note that Governor Sanford is A rated by the National Rifle Association and he is endorsed for the Republican Primary on June 13th. Sanford has an overall good record on gun issues during his four years as Governor and certainly during his years in Congress.

In fact, in addition to the two good bills he signed today, Governor Sanford also worked two years ago with NRA/GOSC and signed the repeal of the outdated "One Handgun/Thirty" law. He has also worked to expand reciprocity on concealed weapons permits. Under his leadership the number of states recognizing South Carolina issued CWPs has nearly doubled.

2006-06-07T18:48:00.000-05:00

Andre Bauer Endorsed By NRA

The National Rifle Association endorsements are out for the June 13th Republican Primary and a proven, pro-gun advocate has again received the nod for Lt. Governor. That's right, current A+ rated Lt. Governor Andre Bauer has again been endorsed by NRA.

As most long-time SC gun rights advocates know Andre has been endorsed every time he's run for office. He is among the most reliable statewide officials when it comes to gun owner rights.

Andre is a gun owner, shooter, and CWP holder. He has attended several GOSC Annual Meetings and received multiple awards/recognitions from both GOSC and NRA. Just last month he was a special guest at the Mid-Carolina Friends of NRA dinner in Columbia.

Our friend Andre faces a tough opponent in Tuesday's elections, so it is imperative that we get out and vote.

Be sure to vote for Andre Bauer in the June 13th Republican Primary for Lt. Governor!