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Gun Rights Group Aims at Doubling Concealed Weapon
Josey1
Member Posts: 9,598 ✭✭
Gun Rights Group Aims at Doubling Concealed Weapons Permit Holders in SC
By Tom Crabtree
NewsChannel 7
May 17, 2002
"Ready on the right? Ready on the left? Line ready? Fire!"
The voice of the instructor at the Mid-Carolina Rifle Club in West Columbia is drowned out by the pop-pop-pop of bullets being fired at targets. The South Carolinians firing the handguns believe the best way to fight crime is to carry a gun -legally- and learn how to use it. They're completing the final phase of the class required to get a concealed weapons permit.
If you're at least 21 years old, have no criminal record, get the required training and pass a background check, you can get a CWP. The permit costs fifty dollars.
According to the State Law Enforcement Division, more than 33,000 South Carolinians have a concealed weapons permit. That number includes about 6,000 women.
Since the September 11 terrorist attacks, the number of CWP holders has surged.
From September through December 2001, SLED issued over 800 more permits than during the same period in 2000. This year, from January through April, almost 3,500 CWP's have been issued.
The gun rights group Grass Roots South Carolina hopes to double the number of permit holders within five years. The group believes if more law-abiding citizens carry guns, crime will go down because criminals won't know if their would-be victims have a concealed weapon.
Recently NewsChannel 7 Anchor Tom Crabtree and Photojournalist Ryan Goodman watched a concealed weapons permit class at the Mid-Carolina Rifle Club.
The students included Elizabeth and Michael Bradley of Elgin. Like the other students, the Bradleys had completed their classroom training, and now it was time to prove their gun proficiency.
"I live a great distance from where I work," says Elizabeth. "I'm in the car alot. I just wanted to be able to have the gun with me legally and be sure it was legal for wherever I needed to go."
Michael is glad his wife is getting the permit because "I know that if I'm not there, she had to, she could take care of herself."
The Bradleys also want to be able to protect their property. Notes Michael, "We got broke into about a year ago. They got all our weapons, guns, everything."
Ed Kelleher of West Columbia is president of Grass Roots and the Mid-Carolina Rifle Club. "People obtain firearms to protect themselves, and they might have to use them in any circumstance," notes Kelleher. "A responsible person is gonna go practice to make sure that if he has to use a firearm, he knows how to do it."
Senator Jake Knotts of Lexington is teaching this day's CWP course. Knotts coauthored the concealed weapons permit law when he was a state representative and has helped nearly 3,600 South Carolinians get their permit. The former law enforcement officer and Vietnam veteran teaches the course free of charge.
Knotts is proud of how CWP holders have complied with the law. "There's only been 2 violations," he points out. "There's never been a law in South Carolina that's been enacted by the General Assembly with that type of track record. The reason is because we are dealing with law-abiding citizens, people who are bankers, lawyers, doctors, just ordinary people who want to abide by the law."
"When people get the education needed to fire the weapon, they're much safer and the communities become much safer," says Knotts.
At the end of the class, Knotts grades the Bradleys' targets and gives the couple tips for improving their marksmanship. Elizabeth and Michael both got passing grades.
Next the Bradleys submit their CWP applications to SLED. Elizabth and Michael are confident they can handle guns safely, and if their lives were threatened, use guns effectively.
Says Michael, "It gives you confidence to know that you could hit what you're aiming at."
NewsChannel 7 has been telling you about proposed changes to the CWP law. You'll recall the controversy over the idea of allowing permit holders to take guns on school property. That change never happened.
Senator Knotts says the House and Senate did approve changes that increase the places where permit holders can legally take their concealed weapons. The bill also clarifies language to allow concealed weapons in churches. With the permission of the pastor or church board, a permit holder can have a weapon in church to protect church funds from theft.
A spokesperson for Governor Jim Hodges says the bill containing the changes to the CWP law hasn't reached the Governor's desk.
(If you wish to apply for a concealed weapons permit, application packets are available at any sheriff's office.)
http://www.wspa.com/concealed.shtml
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
By Tom Crabtree
NewsChannel 7
May 17, 2002
"Ready on the right? Ready on the left? Line ready? Fire!"
The voice of the instructor at the Mid-Carolina Rifle Club in West Columbia is drowned out by the pop-pop-pop of bullets being fired at targets. The South Carolinians firing the handguns believe the best way to fight crime is to carry a gun -legally- and learn how to use it. They're completing the final phase of the class required to get a concealed weapons permit.
If you're at least 21 years old, have no criminal record, get the required training and pass a background check, you can get a CWP. The permit costs fifty dollars.
According to the State Law Enforcement Division, more than 33,000 South Carolinians have a concealed weapons permit. That number includes about 6,000 women.
Since the September 11 terrorist attacks, the number of CWP holders has surged.
From September through December 2001, SLED issued over 800 more permits than during the same period in 2000. This year, from January through April, almost 3,500 CWP's have been issued.
The gun rights group Grass Roots South Carolina hopes to double the number of permit holders within five years. The group believes if more law-abiding citizens carry guns, crime will go down because criminals won't know if their would-be victims have a concealed weapon.
Recently NewsChannel 7 Anchor Tom Crabtree and Photojournalist Ryan Goodman watched a concealed weapons permit class at the Mid-Carolina Rifle Club.
The students included Elizabeth and Michael Bradley of Elgin. Like the other students, the Bradleys had completed their classroom training, and now it was time to prove their gun proficiency.
"I live a great distance from where I work," says Elizabeth. "I'm in the car alot. I just wanted to be able to have the gun with me legally and be sure it was legal for wherever I needed to go."
Michael is glad his wife is getting the permit because "I know that if I'm not there, she had to, she could take care of herself."
The Bradleys also want to be able to protect their property. Notes Michael, "We got broke into about a year ago. They got all our weapons, guns, everything."
Ed Kelleher of West Columbia is president of Grass Roots and the Mid-Carolina Rifle Club. "People obtain firearms to protect themselves, and they might have to use them in any circumstance," notes Kelleher. "A responsible person is gonna go practice to make sure that if he has to use a firearm, he knows how to do it."
Senator Jake Knotts of Lexington is teaching this day's CWP course. Knotts coauthored the concealed weapons permit law when he was a state representative and has helped nearly 3,600 South Carolinians get their permit. The former law enforcement officer and Vietnam veteran teaches the course free of charge.
Knotts is proud of how CWP holders have complied with the law. "There's only been 2 violations," he points out. "There's never been a law in South Carolina that's been enacted by the General Assembly with that type of track record. The reason is because we are dealing with law-abiding citizens, people who are bankers, lawyers, doctors, just ordinary people who want to abide by the law."
"When people get the education needed to fire the weapon, they're much safer and the communities become much safer," says Knotts.
At the end of the class, Knotts grades the Bradleys' targets and gives the couple tips for improving their marksmanship. Elizabeth and Michael both got passing grades.
Next the Bradleys submit their CWP applications to SLED. Elizabth and Michael are confident they can handle guns safely, and if their lives were threatened, use guns effectively.
Says Michael, "It gives you confidence to know that you could hit what you're aiming at."
NewsChannel 7 has been telling you about proposed changes to the CWP law. You'll recall the controversy over the idea of allowing permit holders to take guns on school property. That change never happened.
Senator Knotts says the House and Senate did approve changes that increase the places where permit holders can legally take their concealed weapons. The bill also clarifies language to allow concealed weapons in churches. With the permission of the pastor or church board, a permit holder can have a weapon in church to protect church funds from theft.
A spokesperson for Governor Jim Hodges says the bill containing the changes to the CWP law hasn't reached the Governor's desk.
(If you wish to apply for a concealed weapons permit, application packets are available at any sheriff's office.)
http://www.wspa.com/concealed.shtml
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
Comments
Thank God for the people of South Carolina. Wish it would happen all over!