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*** GrassRoots Action Alert ***

H. 3292 Update

March 6, 2011

This Action Alert might well be the most important Action Alert we have ever sent out. PLEASE read it carefully. Then, YOU NEED to TAKE ACTION. If YOU fail to read and take action, the future of YOUR gun rights will be put at risk.

There is much misinformation concerning what is happening with H. 3292, and people are getting confused.     Unfortunately, when people get confused, they tend to just give up trying.     Politicians are counting on this confusion to hide the truth.     YOUR gun rights are too important to let them be taken away because you are confused.     GrassRoots wants to clear things up for you.

GrassRoots sent out an Action Alert on Feb 26 warning you of how the Viers amendment to H. 3292 passed on Feb 24, 2011, would violate YOUR constitutional rights and take away gun rights we now have.     Rep. Thad Viers immediately denied his amendment violated or took away anyone's constitutional gun rights, and told you GrassRoots was being "dishonest."     So, who is telling the truth?

GrassRoots pointed out how the official Viers amendment would violate both the constitutional rights of out of state gun owners and the constitutional rights of 18 to 20 year old young adults.     Taking away the constitutional rights of others to possess a handgun is gun control.     GrassRoots stated we could not support unconstitutional gun control, and we asked YOU to take action.     It was the unconstitutional taking away of gun rights that GrassRoots objected to in the Viers amendment.     Any accusations to the contrary are meant to CONFUSE YOU.     Do not allow yourself to get confused by false accusations.

Before we go any further, GrassRoots wants YOU to see what the SC Supreme Court said about the constitutional rights of young adults 18 to 20 years old.    The SC Supreme Court was quite clear when it stated "the state constitution precludes the General Assembly from prohibiting this age group's [18 to 20 year old young adults] possession of handguns."     See State v. Bolin, 378 S.C. 96; 662 S.E.2d 38 (2008).

The SC Constitution in Article I, Section 3 protects the rights of out of state gun owners with these words:

"The privileges and immunities of citizens of this State and of the United States under this Constitution shall not be abridged, nor shall any person be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, nor shall any person be denied the equal protection of the laws."


GrassRoots makes no apologies for supporting YOUR Constitutional rights, standing firm on principle, or refusing to give away the gun rights of others so that we might get something else in return.     There is nothing politicians can offer to gun owners to justify taking away the constitutional rights of others.     GrassRoots wants to get whatever goodies politicians offer to gun owners, but NOT if we have to violate the constitutional rights of others to get them.

Make no mistake about H. 3292, the original version of H. 3292 introduced by Rep. Mike Pitts DID NOT violate the constitutional rights of anyone!    It was not until Rep. Viers introduced the official Viers amendment that any constitutional rights were put in jeopardy!     GrassRoots and others realized the original version of H. 3292 needed some improvements, and we all asked for reasonable amendments - not violations of our constitutional rights.    It is important to remember that the Rep. Mike Pitts version of H. 3292 protected the constitutional rights of all, and that is what we need to continue to do.

GrassRoots is and has been willing to support the original version of H. 3292 introduced by Rep. Mike Pitts, which can be fixed with a few simple amendments to protect gun owners.     If YOU are not confused and already oppose more gun control on principle, then you can jump to the Action Steps at the end of this alert.

So, lets get back to the Viers amendment.     Ideally, you would just read the amendment and see for yourself who was telling the truth.     But, the official Viers amendment passed by the General Laws subcommittee on Feb 24 was NEVER posted online.     GrassRoots obtained a copy of the Viers amendment passed on Feb 24 from the staff attorney after the subcommittee meeting, and posted it on our web site here.

Rep. Viers - in response to YOUR emails and phone calls - finally realized his official amendment did exactly what GrassRoots said it did, but Rep. Viers refused to admit the truth.    Instead, Rep. Viers created a new unofficial amendment on March 1, posted it online here, told people GrassRoots was being "dishonest" about his official amendment, and referred people to this new unofficial amendment as if it was the official amendment GrassRoots wrote to you about.     If you look at the top of the new unofficial amendment, you will see it says "Amendment to be Proposed By Rep. Viers at Full Judiciary." Notice it says "to be proposed."     But, this is NOT the official amendment Rep. Viers pushed through the General Laws subcommittee on Feb 24, nor is it the official Viers amendment that GrassRoots told you about in our Action Alert of Feb 26, nor is it the official Viers amendment that is sitting in the Judiciary Committee right now.     This is causing confusion because the official amendment passed by subcommittee is drastically different - and worse - than the unofficial amendment posted online.

Why did Rep. Viers only post his new unofficial amendment online?     Why did Rep. Viers fail to post online the official amendment passed by the subcommittee, which has already been sent to the Judiciary Committee, and which was the one GrassRoots warned you about?

The answer is simple: Politicians want YOU to get confused so that YOU stop contacting them!     Then, they can get away with taking away YOUR rights.

The ONLY reason Rep. Viers created a new unofficial amendment is because GrassRoots told YOU about how the official Viers amendment contained unconstitutional gun control, and YOU let him know YOU did NOT appreciate his trying to take away YOUR gun rights.     If YOU had not contacted Viers, he would never have created a new unofficial amendment.

Politicians are watching to see whether gun owners can be duped, or whether gun owners will stand up and protect their gun rights.     What YOU do - or fail to do - today will impact YOUR gun rights for many years to come.

The official Viers amendment to H. 3292 that passed unanimously out of the General Laws subcommittee on Feb 24 changes Section 16-23-20 of our current South Carolina law.     Current law found in Section 16-23-20 makes it illegal to carry a handgun unless you fit into one of the 16 listed allowable carry exceptions.     ANY person can now carry a handgun in South Carolina whether the person is from South Carolina or from out of state as long as the person can fit into one of the 16 allowable carry exceptions.     But, the official Viers amendment deletes all 16 allowable carry exceptions from the law, and then makes it a crime for out of state people or young adults 18 to 20 years old to carry a handgun - period, the only exception being for an out of state person with a concealed weapon permit (CWP) and only if their home state has CWP reciprocity with SC.

Let us count some of the ways that current law now allows an out of state person or a young adult 18 to 20 years old to legally carry a handgun in SC.     But, the official Viers amendment will make all of these a crime for most people from out of state - including all people from Georgia, and all young adults 18 to 20 years old - including military veterans.     It will be crime for most out of state people and all young adults 18 to 20 years old to carry a handgun when:
  1. Target shooting, or going to and from the gun range either as a member or guest of a gun club (this is exception 3 in Section 16-23-20, but exception 3 is deleted in the official Viers amendment) - say goodbye to out of state shooters in handgun competitions and the dollars they now spend in SC;
  2. Hunting or fishing or going to or from their places of hunting or fishing while in a vehicle or on foot (this is exception 4 in Section 16-23-20, but exception 4 is deleted in the official Viers amendment) - GA and NC fishermen better not let their boat drift across state lines, and handgun hunters will take their guns and money to GA;
  3. In his home or upon his real property or a guest of the owner or the person in legal possession or the person in legal control of the home or real property (this is exception 8 in Section 16-23-20, but exception 8 is deleted in the official Viers amendment) - out of state family and friends can not shoot handguns on Uncle Fred's farm anymore;
  4. In a vehicle if the handgun is secured in a closed glove compartment, closed console, closed trunk, or in a closed container secured by an integral fastener and transported in the luggage compartment of the vehicle (this is exception 9 in Section 16-23-20, but exception 9 is deleted in the official Viers amendment) - tourists and travelers will take their money elsewhere;
  5. Carrying a handgun unloaded and in a secure wrapper from the place of purchase to his home or fixed place of business or while in the process of changing or moving one's residence or changing or moving one's fixed place of business (this is exception 10 in Section 16-23-20, but exception 10 is deleted in the official Viers amendment) - out of state business owners will stay out of state along with their investment money;
  6. He is the owner or person in legal possession or the person in legal control of a fixed place of business, while at the fixed place of business (this is exception 13 in Section 16-23-20, but exception 13 is deleted in the official Viers amendment) - those out of state people should know their investment money is not wanted here;
  7. Engaged in firearms-related activities while on the premises of a fixed place of business which conducts, as a regular course of its business, activities related to sale, repair, pawn, firearms training, or use of firearms (this is exception 14 in Section 16-23-20, but exception 14 is deleted in the official Viers amendment) - this will stop factory representatives who provide safety inspections and cleanings for their products from coming to SC;
  8. Transferring a handgun directly from or to a vehicle and a location specified in this section where one may legally possess the handgun (this is exception 15 in Section 16-23-20, but exception 15 is deleted in the official Viers amendment) - a visitor used to be able to keep a handgun in her vehicle and take it into the home of a friend, but not after the Viers amendment - say good-bye to self-defense for out of state visitors; and
  9. On a motorcycle when the pistol is secured in a closed saddlebag or other similar closed accessory container attached (this is exception 16 in Section 16-23-20, but exception 16 is deleted in the official Viers amendment) - say good-bye to all those motorcycle rallies that bring in tourist dollars from all over the US and Canada.
The above are examples of how the official Viers amendment - the Viers amendment that GrassRoots warned you about in our Feb 26 Action Alert - would take away rights we now have.    These are just some of the problems with the official Viers amendment, and there are more.     But, these examples are enough to show the GrassRoots analysis was correct and YOU needed to know how YOUR rights were being attacked.

Thanks to YOUR emails and phone calls, the new unofficial Viers amendment will remove the unconstitutional taking away of gun rights for out of state gun owners, if it gets passed.     But, if GrassRoots had not told YOU about the official Viers amendment and how it took away the gun rights of others, or if YOU had failed to contact politicians as GrassRoots asked you to do, then there would never have been a reason to create the new unofficial Viers amendment.     THANK YOU!!!

But, the unofficial Viers amendment still violates the constitutional rights of 18 to 20 year old young adults even though the SC Supreme Court has told the General Assembly it can not do so, and even after GrassRoots and YOU have told Viers to stop taking away the constitutional gun rights of these young adults.    While the new unofficial Viers amendment contains some goodies for most of us, it still violates the constitutional rights of young adults 18 to 20 years old and makes them second class citizens in violation of the SC Constitution.

Some people will say "I don't care about out of state gun owners or young adults 18 to 20 years old."     Well, that is exactly why more and more gun control gets enacted into law.     Once we allow the constitutional rights of some to be violated, we create a precedent to allow more of our rights to be violated.

If every state started doing as Viers wants SC to do, our right to keep and bear arms would stop at the state line.     If we want people in other states to protect our rights, then we must protect their rights here.     The 2nd Amendment protects people anywhere in the USA regardless of what state they are in or from.     Together we stand, divided we fall.

As to young adults, the SC Supreme Court was quite clear when it stated "the state constitution precludes the General Assembly from prohibiting this age group's [18 to 20 year old young adults] possession of handguns."     See State v. Bolin, 378 S.C. 96; 662 S.E.2d 38 (2008).

Any self respecting pro gun rights organization could never support legislation that tries to deny honest law abiding people - including young legal adults - their constitutional right to keep and bear arms.     It has been said many times that it is crucial that young people be exposed to firearms early on so that young people will grow up knowing the importance of firearms in a free society.     How can violating the constitutional rights of young adults 18 to 20 years old help promote the long term protection of YOUR gun rights?

If we allow the government to deny a constitutional right to one minority, then what is there to stop the government from denying a constitutional right to another minority?     If young adults can have their constitutional rights denied because we fear they are not mature enough to act like older adults, then older people can have their constitutional rights denied because we fear they might be at risk of senility.     The number of imagined justifications for denying a person their constitutional rights is virtually limitless.     We must not allow ourselves to be duped into taking away the rights of "others" because we are the "others" to everyone else.

In an effort to confuse people, some politicians are falsely claiming GrassRoots demands an "all or nothing" effort to both H. 3292 in particular and gun rights in general.     That is a lie meant to confuse you and cause you to stop contacting politicians.

In 2000, GrassRoots pushed to get the Shooting Range Protection Act passed.    GrassRoots did not get everything we wanted, but we still supported the bill because we got something more without giving away anything.

In 2002, GrassRoots pushed for CWP and gun law improvements.     GrassRoots did not get everything we wanted, but we still supported the bill because we got something more without giving away anything.

In 2004, GrassRoots pushed for more CWP and gun law improvements.     GrassRoots did not get everything we wanted, but we still supported the bill because we got something more without giving away anything.

In 2009, GrassRoots pushed for a CWP carry on school grounds law.     GrassRoots did not get everything we wanted, but we still supported the bill because we got something more without giving away anything.

As any reasonable person can clearly see, GrassRoots has a long history of accepting what we can reasonably expect to get.     But, GrassRoots has NEVER agreed to give away any of the rights we already had.

Do not let the politicians to confuse you with their lies about H. 3292.     GrassRoots has always been willing to accept and support H. 3292 with less than we ask for.     Why?     Because that is the political reality in which we live.     But, GrassRoots refuses to violate the constitutional rights of others or give away any of our existing rights in order to restore some other rights.     GrassRoots is not in the trading away of our gun rights game.     GrassRoots is dedicated to restoring our gun rights - and it is NOT a game.

Remember, politicians want you to get confused and then stop contacting them.    If YOU stop contacting politicians because they confused you, then they win and YOU lose.

Here is what Viers wrote to one person who asked Viers to respond to the GrassRoots alert:

"You are wrong. Follow these instructions and you are welcome to call me:
Go to www.scstatehouse.gov
Its on the citizens interest page.
8037343000 if you are still having problems."



Notice that Rep. Viers referred the person to the new unofficial Viers amendment even though the person was asking about the original official Viers amendment.     That is dishonest.     The new unofficial Viers amendment removed most of the unconstitutional things that GrassRoots wrote about.     But, that would not have happened unless YOU put the pressure on Viers to change.

Then Viers wrote:

"You are being duped by folks who are taking an all or nothing approach. The legal analysis is flawed in logic, approach and conclusion! Read my amendment. It does not do those things. There is a massive misinformation campaign out there. I am cosponsor of the bill.

There is nothing in the amd that has anything to do with Dudley Brown or gunrights is putting out. All current rights under the law do not change. Rights are increased.

This is amazing! The amount of disinformation is staggering!"



As can be clearly seen, the one doing all the duping is Rep. Thad Viers.     The "misinformation" and "disinformation" comes from Rep. Thad Viers, not GrassRoots.     Current rights are being taken away.

Yes, GrassRoots did read the official Viers amendment, and the official Viers amendment did terrible things to the rights of gun owners.     Yes, GrassRoots also read the unofficial Viers amendment - the one created to confuse people, and it does remove most of the unconstitutional things from the official Viers amendment.     But, even the new unofficial Viers amendment continues to violate the constitutional rights of young adults 18 to 20 years old.     And yes, both of the Viers amendments gave some goodies to gun owners in order to tempt them into violating the constitutional rights of others.

What Viers is failing to tell people is that the original official anti-gun Viers amendment - the one that is now officially sitting in front of the Judiciary Committee - is NOT the one posted online.     It is the original official anti-gun Viers amendment that was passed by the subcommittee, it is the original official anti-gun Viers amendment that the House Judiciary Committee must vote to accept or reject on Tuesday March 8, and - most importantly - it is the original official Viers amendment that GrassRoots GunRights wrote about in its Action Alert.

Gun owners need to let the Judiciary Committee know it must reject the original official Viers amendment.     Then, the Judiciary Committee can consider other amendments to H. 3292.     One of those other amendments will be the new unofficial Viers amendment - the one that still contains constitutional violations of the gun rights of young adults 18 to 20 years old.

GrassRoots alerted YOU about this taking away of rights.    Then, YOU took action and temporarily stopped it.     YOU have won a temporary victory.     What YOU do next is important.

We need to reject all amendments that contain gun control.     We need to fix the Rep. Mike Pitts version of H. 3292, which did NOT contain any gun control.

ACTION STEPS TO TAKE NOW!

1. Call the Judiciary Committee at (803) 734-3120 and tell them "GrassRoots GunRights speaks for me!     Remove all constitutional violations from H. 3292."

2. Email each member of the Judiciary Committee - email addresses are below - and tell them "GrassRoots GunRights speaks for me!     Remove all constitutional violations from H. 3292."

3. Email each co-sponsor of H. 3292 - email addresses are below - and tell them "GrassRoots GunRights speaks for me!     Remove all constitutional violations from H. 3292."

4. Call the Judiciary Committee at (803) 734-3120 and ask to be transferred to whichever member you are calling from the list of email addresses below.

5. Forward this to everyone you know who is concerned about protecting our Constitutional rights, and ask them to take action too.

Thank you,

Robert D. Butler, J.D.
V.P
GrassRoots GunRights


The following email addresses should allow you to send an email to each member of the House Judiciary Committee with a simple "cut and paste" into your email "To" field:

"James Harrison" <JimHarrison@schouse.gov>, "James Smith" <JamesSmith@schouse.gov>, "George Hearn" <GeorgeHearn@schouse.gov>, "Karl Allen" <KarlAllen@schouse.gov>, "Bruce Bannister" <BruceBannister@schouse.gov>, "Boyd Brown" <BoydBrown@schouse.gov>, "Alan Clemmons" <Clemmons1@aol.com>, "Derham Cole" <DerhamCole@schouse.gov>, "Greg Delleney" <GregDelleney@schouse.gov>, "Laurie Slade Funderburk" <LaurieFunderburk@schouse.gov>, "Daniel Hamilton" <DanHamilton@schouse.gov>, "Jenny Horne" <JennyHorne@schouse.gov>, "Peter McCoy" <PeterMcCoy@schouse.gov>, "Walt McLeod" <WaltMcLeod@schouse.gov>, "Wendy Nanney" <WendyNanney@schouse.gov>, "Todd Rutherford" <ToddRutherford@schouse.gov>, "Bakari Sellers" <BakariSellers@schouse.gov>, "Garry Smith" <GarrySmith@schouse.gov>, "Mike Sottile" <MikeSottile@schouse.gov>, "Leon Stavrinakis" <leonstav@schouse.gov>, "Eddie Tallon" <EddieTallon@schouse.gov>, "Thad Viers" <tviers@yahoo.com>, "David Weeks" <DavidWeeks@schouse.gov>, "Seth Whipper" <SethWhipper@schouse.gov>, "Tom Young" <TomYoung@schouse.gov>

The following email addresses should allow you to send an email to each co-sponsor of H. 3292 with a simple "cut and paste" into your email "To" field:

"Mike Pitts" <MikePitts@schouse.gov>, "Dan Cooper" <DanCooper@schouse.gov>, "Greg Delleney" <GregDelleney@schouse.gov>, "Dennis Moss" <DennisMoss@schouse.gov>, "Chip Huggins" <ChipHuggins@schouse.gov>, "Kenny Bingham" <KennyBingham@schouse.gov>, "Bill Hixon" <BillHixon@schouse.gov>, "Liston Barfield" <ListonBarfield@schouse.gov>, "Andy Patrick" <AndyPatrick@schouse.gov>, "Garry Smith" <GarrySmith@schouse.gov>, "Dwight Loftis" <DwightLoftis@schouse.gov>, "David Umphlett" <DavidUmphlett@schouse.gov>, "Don Bowen" <DonBowen@schouse.gov>, "Phil Owens" <PhilOwens@schouse.gov>, "Chris Murphy" <ChrisMurphy@schouse.gov>, "David Hiott" <DavidHiott@schouse.gov>, "Eric Bikas" <Ericbikas@schouse.gov>, "Bill Sandifer" <BillSandifer@schouse.gov>, "Brian White" <BrianWhite@schouse.gov>, "Peter McCoy" <PeterMcCoy@schouse.gov>, "George Hearn" <GeorgeHearn@schouse.gov>, "Steve Parker" <SteveParker@schouse.gov>, "Shannon Erickson" <ShannonErickson@schouse.gov>, "Deborah Long" <DeborahLong@schouse.gov>, "Phyllis Henderson" <PhyllisHenderson@schouse.gov>, "Bill Taylor" <BillTaylor@schouse.gov>, "Rick Quinn" <RickQuinn@schouse.gov>, "Bruce Bannister" <BruceBannister@schouse.gov>, "Daniel Hamilton" <DanHamilton@schouse.gov>, "Eric Bedingfield" <EricBedingfield@schouse.gov>, "Mike Forrester" <MikeForrester@schouse.gov>, "Bill Herbkersman" <BillHerbkersman@schouse.gov>, "Gary Simrill" <GarySimrill@schouse.gov>, "Tom Young" <TomYoung@schouse.gov>, "Tommy Pope" <TommyPope@schouse.gov>, "Mark Willis" <MarkWillis@schouse.gov>, "Murrell Smith" <MurrellSmith@schouse.gov>, "David Weeks" <DavidWeeks@schouse.gov>, "Thad Viers" <tviers@yahoo.com>, "Alan Clemmons" <Clemmons1@aol.com>, "Patsy Knight" <PatsyKnight@schouse.gov>


*** Action Alert - H. 3292 ***


 February 26, 2011

SC House General Laws Subcommittee Passes Amendment to Destroy Your 2nd Amendment Rights!

NRA Praises General Laws Subcommittee for Passing Unconstitutional, Anti-Gun Amendment!

History is filled with examples of people making absolutely horrible decisions.   The indians sold Manhattan Island for beads and trinkets.   Judas sold out Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.   Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of porridge.   Russia sold Alaska to the US for 2 cents an acre.

And now, NRA "leadership" is asking you to sell out the 2nd Amendment for even less than beads and trinkets!

GrassRoots GunRights is asking you to protect the 2nd Amendment.

Politicians are waiting for you to tell them where you stand.

Do you stand with NRA "leadership" in their efforts to sell out the 2nd Amendment, or do you stand with GrassRoots GunRights in our uncompromising support of the 2nd Amendment?

There has never been a better example of the difference between GrassRoots GunRights leadership and NRA "leadership."   Politicians will be watching to see which side you choose to stand with - NRA "leadership" or GrassRoots GunRights.   (Please take the "Action Steps" at the end of this article.)

The issue is quite simple - do YOU support selling out the 2nd Amendment?  Yes or No.

On Thursday, February 24, the SC House General Laws subcommittee passed an amendment - the Viers amendment - to replace the original H. 3292.   The Viers amendment will help destroy the Second Amendment to the US Constitution by denying the right to keep and bear arms to people from out of state.   The General Laws subcommittee would like you to think the Second Amendment reads as follows:

"A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed - except by the State of South Carolina which claims the power to infringe the right to keep and bear arms to people from out of state."

Every gun owner in every state should recoil in fear over what the SC House General Laws subcommittee is doing to your fundamental, God given, natural right to keep and bear arms - a pre-existing right of every person in the United States of America, which the 2nd Amendment prohibits government from infringing.   If SC can legally infringe some peoples' rights protected by the 2nd Amendment now, what stops SC from infringing the 2nd Amendment rights of even more law abiding people later?   Imagine what would happen to the 2nd Amendment if every state did as SC is trying to do.   Sadly, NRA "leadership" supports this attack upon the 2nd Amendment.

The US Constitution protects the rights of all people in the United States from abuse by any level of government - regardless of which state the person is in or from at the time.   Can you imagine South Carolina passing a law denying people from out of state the right to attend church services while in SC - a clear violation of your rights as protected by the 1st Amendment?   Can you imagine South Carolina passing a law denying people from out of state the right to write news articles not approved by the state of South Carolina - also a clear violation of your rights protected by the 1st Amendment?   Can you imagine South Carolina passing a law denying people from out of state the right to be secure against unreasonable searches and seizures - a clear violation of your rights protected by the 4th Amendment?   Can you imagine South Carolina passing a law denying people from out of state the right to a fair trial - a clear violation of your rights protected by the 6th Amendment?   People would think it was time to tar and feather politicians who did such things.   But, that is exactly what the SC House General Laws subcommittee is doing to the rights protected by the 2nd Amendment!   And sadly, NRA "leadership" gave its blessing to the General Laws subcommittee's infringement of your 2nd Amendment rights.

The politicians claim to have talked with interested parties on how to amend the original H. 3292.   That is simply not the truth.   The politicians failed to talk with GrassRoots GunRights, even after GrassRoots Gunrights gave them a detailed legal analysis of the bill, and even though GrassRoots Gunrights leaders repeatedly offered to meet with members of the subcommittee.   The politicians ignored the reasonable GrassRoots GunRights proposed amendments to H. 3292, and instead took orders from the NRA.

GrassRoots GunRights leaders have been to every subcommittee meeting on every gun rights related bill for over ten years.   This was the first time we have ever seen a roll call vote in a subcommittee meeting.   Why now?   Because the NRA ordered a roll call vote.   Why?   To use as a weapon come election season against any politician who dared to oppose this NRA "leadership" supported attack upon your 2nd Amendment rights!

Sometimes there is no substitute for seeing and hearing something with your own eyes and ears.   That is why GrassRoots GunRights videotaped the SC House General Laws subcommittee meeting on February 24.   Please note at about 38 seconds into the video where Rep. Viers has a slip of the tongue and states the politicians have been "ordered" to have a roll call vote.   Then, realizing how bad it sounds to admit the politicians are taking orders from the NRA, Rep. Viers quickly changes his story from "ordered" to "requested."   You can - and should - view the video clip at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1eS5mlOXzc

For those who simply do not believe NRA "leadership" is supporting selling out the 2nd Amendment, please read the NRA-ILA alert dated February 25, wherein the NRA states:

"While this legislation was amended in subcommittee, it remains a solid, pro-gun reform bill.   Please contact members of the House Judiciary Committee and urge them to pass H. 3292 without any further amendments."

NRA "leadership" wants the Viers amendment passed "without any further amendments."   Why on earth would NRA "leadership" encourage the blatant infringement of your rights protected by the 2nd Amendment?

The politicians and NRA "leadership" worked together to come up with the Viers amendment, which will help destroy your 2nd Amendment rights.   They own it.   But, are you buying it?

GrassRoots GunRights believes H. 3292 MUST be amended to remove the attacks upon the 2nd Amendment.   (Please take the "Action Steps" at the end of this article.)

The choice is simple and yours to make - support the NRA "leadership" in destroying the 2nd Amendment or support GrassRoots GunRights in protecting the 2nd Amendment.   (Please take the "Action Steps" at the end of this article.)

The unconstitutional, anti-gun Viers amendment passed by the House General Laws subcommittee repeatedly denies the right to possess a handgun to "non South Carolina residents and non United States citizens" unless they first get a CWP from either 1) SC, or 2) their home state and that home state must have reciprocity with SC (see page 1, lines 39 to 41; page 4, lines 4 to 7; and page 6, lines 14 to 17 of the Viers amendment).   (The Viers amendment is not yet posted on the official legislative web site, but GrassRoots GunRights will post a copy on the GrassRoots GunRights web site.)

Imagine what would be left of our 2nd Amendment rights if every state infringed the 2nd Amendment just like SC is infringing the 2nd Amendment now.   If we fail to protect the 2nd Amendment now, there may not be a 2nd Amendment left to protect later.   Our children deserve better from us than to let this infringement upon the 2nd Amendment go unchallenged.

In addition to the harm done to the 2nd Amendment, there are real life harms to real people that the unconstitutional, anti-gun Viers amendment will cause.   The Viers amendment will:

  • Make it a crime for out of state gun owners to have a handgun in their glove box or console unless they have a concealed weapon permit (CWP) from their home state, and then only if that state has CWP reciprocity with SC.   In addition to being unconstitutional, this will increase violent crimes against tourists here, just as it did in Florida years ago - which will then harm the SC tourism industry.   Current SC law allows all adults not legally barred from possessing a firearm to keep a handgun in the glove box or console.   Why does Rep. Viers, the General Laws subcommittee, and NRA "leadership" support this step backwards?
  • Make it a crime for out of state gun owners - including NRA members - to shoot in competitive handgun matches - including NRA sanctioned matches - in SC unless they have a CWP from their home state, and then only if that state has CWP reciprocity with SC.   In addition to being unconstitutional, this will harm SC gun ranges - including NRA affiliated ranges - that hold regional and national competitive handgun matches - and the tourism revenue from these events will be lost to us.   Current SC law allows all adults not legally barred from possessing a firearm to shoot handguns in competition.   Why does Rep. Viers, the General Laws subcommittee, and NRA "leadership" support this step backwards?
  • Make it a crime for out of state gun owners to shoot or even possess a handgun in SC unless they have a CWP from their home state, and then only if that state has CWP reciprocity with SC.   In addition to being unconstitutional, this will stop out of state gun owners from being able to defend themselves or others while on private property - even property owned by family members.   It will be illegal at family reunions to enjoy a day at the range together if one of the family members is from out of state.   Current SC law allows all adults not legally barred from possessing a firearm to possess a handgun on private property with permission.   Why does Rep. Viers, the General Laws subcommittee, and NRA "leadership" support this step backwards?
  • Make it a felony to help an out of state gun owner shoot a handgun in SC unless they have a CWP from their home state, which again must have CWP reciprocity with SC.   Although the person doing the shooting would only be charged with a misdemeanor for possessing the handgun, both the person doing the shooting and the person who helps them shoot could be charged with a felony because conspiracy to commit a misdemeanor is a felony.   A felony conviction brings on a lifetime federal firearms disability.   It could take a life time and a small fortune for middle aged and older people to finally prevail in court to restore their rights lost as a result of the unconstitutional, anti-gun Viers amendment.
  • Unconstitutionally deny young legal adults the right to possess a handgun in SC.   If young adults can be denied their constitutional rights, then what is there to protect older adults from the same unconstitutional denial of rights?   It is not hard to imagine anti-gun politicians denying older people the right to keep and bear arms because these older people are more prone to senility or dementia.   See State v. Bolin, 378 S.C. 96, 100, 662 S.E.2d 38, 40 (2008), wherein the South Carolina Supreme Court held it was unconstitutional to prohibit young legal adults from possessing a handgun.   Current SC law allows all adults not legally barred from possessing a firearm to possess a handgun.   Why does Rep. Viers, the General Laws subcommittee, and NRA "leadership" support this step backwards?
  • Repeal the current law that allows one to possess a handgun in certain locations if given permission to do so, and replaces it with an absolute prohibition.
  • Fail to protect the state firearms pre-emption law from anti-gun politicians, and sets the stage for countless local gun control laws across SC.

  • Make it a crime for out of state gun owners to hunt with a handgun in SC unless they have a CWP from their home state, and then only if that state has CWP reciprocity with SC.   In addition to being unconstitutional, this will harm the tourism industry as handgun hunters are forced to go to other states like Georgia.   Current SC law allows all adults not legally barred from possessing a firearm to hunt with a handgun.   Why does Rep. Viers, the General Laws subcommittee, and NRA "leadership" support this step backwards?

  • Make it a crime for a tourist to carry her self-defense handgun from her car into her hotel room.   Existing law allows this, but obviously Rep. Viers, the General Laws subcommittee, and NRA "leadership" want to keep her defenseless.
Sadly, NRA "leadership" supports all of the above harms to real people.   As we have already shown, NRA "leadership" is on record as opposing any amendments to H. 3292 to fix any of these problems.   Why?
GrassRoots GunRights tried to help Rep. Thad Viers and the rest of the House General Laws subcommittee fix H. 3292.   But, these politicians refused the GrassRoots GunRights offer of assistance.   Instead, these politicians listened to NRA "leadership" tell them this attack upon the 2nd Amendment was acceptable.   So, instead of fixing H. 3292, the unconstitutional, anti-gun Viers amendment has made H. 3292 even worse.

These SC politicians made a choice to destroy your 2nd Amendment rights.   Gun owners in South Carolina deserve better than politicians who claim to be pro-gun, but pass unconstitutional, anti-gun legislation!   Any claim of ignorance or mistake is unacceptable and inexcusable when expert advice has been offered, but rejected.

GrassRoots GunRights will never support destroying our 2nd Amendment rights!

There is nothing in H. 3292 that can justify destroying the 2nd Amendment!   It does not matter what trinkets and baubles may be placed into H. 3292 in an attempt to buy support for this unconstitutional infringement of the 2nd Amendment.   They can keep their 30 pieces of silver!

GrassRoots GunRights stands strong in support of the 2nd Amendment, and will not compromise away our inalienable rights!

Any good Judas will argue there is some good - enough good - in H. 3292 to justify selling out our fundamental, God given, natural right to keep and bear arms.   This unprincipled argument becomes easier to swallow when you are just selling away the rights of "someone else."   But, everywhere you go, you are that "someone else" to others.   So, when you sell out the rights of others, you are really selling out your own rights.

It does not matter how much "good stuff" they add to H. 3292 - when they take away any of our rights - WE LOSE!   GrassRoots GunRights will NOT compromise or give away any of our rights to gain something else.

Any good found in H. 3292 can be enacted into law in other legislation.   Gun owners do NOT need to accept the seeds of destruction of the 2nd Amendment as the price to pay to get some of our other rights restored.

GrassRoots GunRights and all defenders of the 2nd Amendment must oppose H. 3292 as currently amended by the House General Laws subcommittee.   Everyone at the only public hearing on H. 3292 agreed that H. 3292 in its original form needed to be amended.   So, simply refusing to accept the Viers amendment does not fix the problem because then gun owners would be saddled with the poorly drafted original version of H. 3292.

The original version of H. 3292 failed gun owners in too many ways.   GrassRoots GunRights proposed amendments to H. 3292 to fix the problems identified in the original draft of H. 3292.   GrassRoots GunRights detailed those problems at the first General Laws subcommittee meeting.   GrassRoots GunRights hand delivered the GrassRoots GunRights analysis to each member of the General Laws subcommittee and each primary sponsor of H. 3292.   Thus, not one of these politicians can honestly claim ignorance of the problems found in H. 3292.   Please re-read the original GrassRoots GunRights analysis of H. 3292 at: http://www.scfirearms.org/Legislative/H3292_analysis.pdf.  

Unfortunately, not a single improvement suggested by GrassRoots GunRights was included by the General Laws subcommittee.   Instead, the General Laws subcommittee elected to pass the unconstitutional, anti-gun Viers amendment with the support of NRA "leadership."

The General Laws subcommittee decided to continue to allow innocent gun owners to risk becoming felons for entering private businesses housed in publicly owned buildings.   The failure to fix this is deplorable.   Please re-read the example of the SC Aquarium in the original GrassRoots GunRights analysis of H. 3292 (which can be found at the URL above) to understand why.

The General Laws subcommittee decided to continue to allow innocent hunters to risk becoming felons for a simple trespass on rural property owned by an educational institution, even if the boundaries were not marked and the property was not posted.   The failure to fix this is deplorable, too.   Please re-read the GrassRoots GunRights analysis of H. 3292 to understand why.

Probably the single biggest indicator of the General Laws subcommittee's disdain for gun owners is their failure to delete the words "full time" from Section 16-23-420, which would have protected innocent gun owners from becoming felons simply for driving a vehicle on a road near a school that had, unbeknownst to the driver, been closed at any time in the past.   This would have been a simple change.   But, the House General Laws subcommittee was not willing to do something even this simple to protect innocent gun owners!

We - the gun owners in SC - deserve to have our rights restored, not bandied about like trading cards.

What needs to be done now is to have the House Judiciary Committee send H. 3292 back to the House General Laws subcommittee for more study.   Then, the House General Laws subcommittee needs to meet with GrassRoots GunRights leaders to honestly discuss how to fix H. 3292.   No more of these surprise amendments should be tolerated by gun owners.   (Please take the "Action Steps" at the end of this article.)

There is only one continuing legal education (CLE) class certified by the SC Supreme Court for teaching judges, magistrates, and attorneys about SC gun laws.   Obviously, the General Laws subcommittee members should have attended this CLE class.   It would be reasonable to expect the House General Laws subcommittee to consult with the instructors of that class when trying to draft amendments to H. 3292.   But, the House General Laws subcommittee has refused to do so up until now.   It is time the House General Laws started getting advice from certified experts on SC gun law instead of relying upon those who obviously either 1) do not know what they are doing, 2) are extremely anti-gun, or 3) both.

Gun owners in SC need to demand more from our elected representatives.

Decision time is now.   Where do you stand?   Do you stand with GrassRoots GunRights because you unwilling to compromise away your 2nd Amendment rights?   Or, do you stand with NRA "leadership" because you are willing to sell out the 2nd Amendment rights of others?   The politicians need to know ASAP because the House Judiciary Committee meets on Tuesday March 1, 2011.

ACTION STEPS:

1.   Call the Judiciary Committee at (803) 734-3120 and tell them either 1) "GrassRoots GunRights speaks for me!   Send H. 3292 back to subcommittee.", or 2) "The NRA speaks for me.   I will sell my 2nd Amendment rights to the highest bidder."

2.   Email each member of the Judiciary Committee - email addresses are below - and tell them the same thing, either 1) "GrassRoots GunRights speaks for me!   Send H. 3292 back to subcommittee.", or 2) "The NRA speaks for me.   I will sell my 2nd Amendment rights to the highest bidder."

3.   Call each member of the Judiciary Committee at (803) 734-3120 and ask to be transferred to whichever member you are calling from the list of email addresses below.

4.   Forward this to everyone you know who is concerned about protecting our Constitutional rights, and ask them to take action too.

Thank you,

Robert D. Butler, J.D.

V.P

GrassRoots GunRights

The following email addresses should allow you to send an email to each member of the House Judiciary Committee with a simple "cut and paste" into your email "To" field:

"James Harrison" <JimHarrison@schouse.gov>, "James Smith" <JamesSmith@schouse.gov>, "George Hearn" <GeorgeHearn@schouse.gov>, "Karl Allen" <KarlAllen@schouse.gov>, "Bruce Bannister" <BruceBannister@schouse.gov>, "Boyd Brown" <BoydBrown@schouse.gov>, "Alan Clemmons" <Clemmons1@aol.com>, "Derham Cole" <DerhamCole@schouse.gov>, "Greg Delleney" <GregDelleney@schouse.gov>, "Laurie Slade Funderburk" <LaurieFunderburk@schouse.gov>, "Daniel Hamilton" <DanHamilton@schouse.gov>, "Jenny Horne" <JennyHorne@schouse.gov>, "Peter McCoy" <PeterMcCoy@schouse.gov>, "Walt McLeod" <WaltMcLeod@schouse.gov>, "Wendy Nanney" <WendyNanney@schouse.gov>, "Todd Rutherford" <ToddRutherford@schouse.gov>, "Bakari Sellers" <BakariSellers@schouse.gov>, "Garry Smith" <GarrySmith@schouse.gov>, "Mike Sottile" <MikeSottile@schouse.gov>, "Leon Stavrinakis" <leonStavrinakis@schouse.gov>, "Eddie Tallon" <EddieTallon@schouse.gov>, "Thad Viers" <tviers@yahoo.com>, "David Weeks" <DavidWeeks@schouse.gov>, "Seth Whipper" <SethWhipper@schouse.gov>, "Tom Young" <TomYoung@schouse.gov>

*** Action Alert - H. 3292 ***

 February 9, 2011

H. 3292 - if amended as GrassRoots proposes - could be the most important pro gun bill this legislative session!

H. 3292 could - if properly amended - resolve many gun rights issues in just one bill.

Gun owners can - and should - push hard to get H. 3292 amended, and then enacted into law. Why fight many small wars when we could - and can - get it all with one big war.

After you read the GrassRoots analysis of H. 3292, you will understand just how important H. 3292 is to you, if it is properly amended.

Click here to read the "GrassRoots GunRights Analysis of H. 3292 with Proposed Amendments" posted on our website. Yes, it is long and detailed. But, something as important as how H. 3292 could impact your gun rights needs to be accurate and thorough. Unless you understand exactly what H. 3292 does and does not do, you can not know just how important it is that H. 3292 be amended as GrassRoots proposes, and then enacted into law. Anything less thorough would require you to have faith in, but not knowledge of, what is truly contained in H. 3292.

After you read the GrassRoots analysis of H. 3292, you will understand how important it is for you - and everyone else you can enlist to join us - to print out and mail in those post cards without delay. Click here to read why postcards are so important.

H. 3292 could come before the House General Laws subcommittee as early as Thursday, Feb 17. We - you, me, and everyone else we can get to join us - must start doing all we can to get H. 3292 amended and enacted into law.

It is time to use the card stock and stamps GrassRoots recently asked you to purchase to get your voice heard in support of H. 3292! If you have not yet purchased the card stock and postage, please do so quickly. We have heard that some stores have sold out of the orange card stock. If you can not get orange, then get whatever color you can get. It is more important that you send the postcards now rather than miss out because you could not find orange. See Action Steps below.

It is time to make phone calls to our elected representatives in support of H. 3292!

It is time to send emails to our elected representatives in support of H. 3292!

GrassRoots has created a document with eight post cards addressed to the five members of the House General Laws subcommittee and to the three principal sponsors of H. 3292.

ACTION STEPS TO TAKE NOW:

1. Download and print out the post cards. Click here to download the post card file. (Click here if you need instructions for printing the post cards.)

2. Cut the card stock into four post cards.

3. Sign the bottom of the message side of each post card.

4. Write your return address in the upper left corner of the address side of each card.

5. Put at least a 28 cent stamp on each post card and mail them.

6. CALL and email each member of the House General Laws subcommittee and tell them "GrassRoots GunRights Speaks for Me!" Then, call the three principal sponsors of H. 3292 and tell them the same thing.

Members of the SC House General Laws Subcommittee:

Rep. Thad Viers
(803) 734-3064
ThadViers@schouse.gov

Rep. Dan Hamilton
(803) 212-6795
DanHamilton@schouse.gov

Rep. George Hearn
(803) 212-6796
GeorgeHearn@schouse.gov

Rep. Laurie Funderburk
(803) 734-3044
LaurieFunderburk@schouse.gov

Rep.David Weeks
(803) 734-3102
DavidWeeks@schouse.gov

The three principal sponsors of H. 3292:

Rep. Mike Pitts
(803) 734-2830
MikePitts@schouse.gov

Rep. Dan Cooper
(803) 734-3144
DanCooper@schouse.gov

Rep. Greg Delleney
(803) 734-3074
GregDelleney@schouse.gov

If you are unable to reach any of these Representatives at their individual office numbers listed above, call the House Judiciary Committee (803) 734-3120 and ask to be transferred.

Once you have done this, you should also send post cards to every House member in the county in which you live. GrassRoots has created a separate document for each county with post cards for each House member. Click here and download the post cards for your county House members and follow the same Action Steps as 1 through 5 above. Give any extra postcards to your friends and neighbors to send in.

The politicians MUST hear what good, law-abiding gun owners like YOU think about H. 3292, and they need to hear it NOW!

Gun owners have the power to win. The question is whether gun owners have the will to win. If gun owners work together and follow the Action Steps above, we can get H. 3292 amended and enacted into law.

Thank you for taking immediate action on this very important gun rights issue!

Bill Rentiers
Executive Officer
GrassRoots GunRights of SC

*** Action Alert - Possible Magazine Ban ***

 February 3, 2011

GrassRoots just received the email below from National Association for Gun Rights. GrassRoots has not had time to verify this, but if true, GrassRoots knew you would want to have this information immediately, since time is of the essence.

Please call Senators Jim DeMint (202-224-6121) and Lindsey Graham (202-224-5972) and tell them you're with GrassRoots GunRights South Carolina and you think any such amendment stinks!

Bill Rentiers
Executive Officer

Dear fellow Patriot,

I've just received word from inside sources in the U.S. Senate.

Senate Democrats are planning to execute a sneak attack on gun rights as soon as TODAY!

Their plan is to sneak Carolyn McCarthy's Magazine Ban into law as an amendment to the Federal Aviation Administration Bill, a routine piece of generally non-controversial legislation.

And they hope YOU won't notice.

That's why you and I need to make our voices heard RIGHT NOW!

We need to let them know we're watching them like a hawk!

Please call Jim DeMint at 202-224-6121 and Lindsey Graham at 202-224-5972.

Make sure they know about this scheme and that they must oppose Carolyn McCarthy's Magazine Ban every step of the way whether it's attached as an amendment or not.

And make sure they know you're watching.

Thanks for taking action,

Dudley Brown
Executive Director
National Association for Gun Rights

*** GrassRoots Action Alert - H. 3405 ***

January 25, 2011

Some elected representatives are finally seeing the prohibited carry restrictions placed upon concealed weapon permit (CWP) holders are unreasonable and need to be abolished - but not for you. Unfortunately, the only gun related legislation moving forward in the SC General Assembly is a bill - H. 3405 - to make politicians more equal than the rest of us.

H. 3405 would let "any other elected or appointed public official" - that means politicians - who possesses a CWP to carry a self-defense firearm anywhere in the state. But, this bill will NOT allow YOU same freedom! H. 3405 is nothing more than a self serving bill that proves that politicians think their lives are more important than your life or the lives of your family!

H. 3405 will allow politicians to carry in schools, restaurants that serve alcoholic beverages, churches, day care facilities, high school and college football games, publicly owned buildings, court houses and court rooms, private residences without permission, and even into posted businesses! But, H. 3405 will do NOTHING for you!

H. 3405 is another example of how politicians seem to forget the fact that they are public servants, not our lords and masters. Why should public servants have greater privileges than you? Isn't your life and your family's life just as important as the life of a politician?

GrassRoots GunRights strongly opposes H. 3405, just as we did similar proposed legislation last session and the session before that.

GrassRoots still believes the words "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." Evidently, some SC politicians do not believe SC citizens should be treated as their equals. Unfortunately, some politicians think like the pigs from George Orwell's book "Animal Farm" where the ruling pigs said "All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others."

After the recent AZ shootings, Rep. Ron Paul wrote about the "growing perception that politicians view their own lives as far more important than the lives of ordinary citizens." H. 3405 is a perfect example of why people have such a perception.

H. 3405 needs to die in subcommittee. SC does not need another law granting special privileges to politicians while leaving you and your family at risk.

H. 3405 will be discussed on Thursday, January 27, at 9:00 am in room 511 of the Blatt Building in a meeting of the House Judiciary General Laws Subcommittee. GrassRoots GunRights leaders will be there to speak against the bill. If you can attend this meeting, please join us. There is strength in numbers, and every extra body in that room will help show that GrassRoots GunRights members oppose special laws for politicians. If politicians believe the present laws are too restrictive for their safety, then those present laws are too restrictive for our safety, too.

Yes, the world is a dangerous place. But, the solution is to grant ALL citizens the right to keep and bear arms to defend themselves and their loved ones. The solution is NOT to give special privileges to politicians.

GrassRoots GunRights has led the fight to kill similar legislation in the last two sessions. But, GrassRoots GunRights is only as strong as you make it. GrassRoots GunRights is only your voice. YOU are the POWER that makes politicians listen to your voice.

Please take the following "Action Steps" ASAP and let the members of the subcommittee know how strongly you feel about politicians giving themselves special privileges while leaving you and your family at risk.

ACTION STEPS:

1) Call each member of the House General Laws Subcommittee and tell them the following:

"I strongly urge you to Vote NO on H. 3405! No special privileges for public officials! If it's good enough for YOU, it's good enough for ME. GrassRoots GunRights speaks for me!"

2) Send the message below to each member of House General Laws Subcommittee using the submission form at the links provided.

"Dear Representative (INSERT NAME):

I strongly urge you to Vote NO on H. 3405! No special privileges for public officials! If it's good enough for YOU, it's good enough for ME. GrassRoots GunRights speaks for me! Sincerely,

(YOUR NAME)
(YOUR TOWN)"

Members of the SC House General Laws Subcommittee:

Rep. Thad Viers
(803) 734-3064
http://www.scstatehouse.gov/members/bios/1876136139.html

Rep. Dan Hamilton
(803) 212-6795
http://www.scstatehouse.gov/members/bios/0742045366.html

Rep. George Hearn
(803) 212-6796
http://www.scstatehouse.gov/members/bios/0806818085.html

Rep. Laurie Funderburk
(803) 734-3044
http://www.scstatehouse.gov/members/bios/0629545379.html

Rep.David Weeks
(803) 734-3102
http://www.scstatehouse.gov/members/bios/1898863409.html

If you are unable to reach any of these Representatives at their individual office numbers listed above, call the House Judiciary Committee (803) 734-3120 and ask to be transferred.

Thank you for taking immediate action on this very important gun rights issue!

Bill Rentiers
Executive Officer
GrassRoots GunRights of SC

*** Oppose the DISCLOSE Act AGAIN ***

 Senate Scheduled to Vote on anti-Free Speech Bill
-- DISCLOSE Act Vote Set For Thursday

Gun Owners of America E-Mail Alert
8001 Forbes Place, Suite 102, Springfield, VA 22151
Phone: 703-321-8585 / FAX: 703-321-8408
gunowners.org

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Anti-gun Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (NV) is giving voters yet another reason why he must be defeated in November.

Preparing for heavy losses in the general election, anti-gun Democrat leaders like Reid and Charles Schumer (D-NY) appear to be readying for a vote on the so-called DISCLOSE Act, possibly this week.

While Reid has not yet officially taken the necessary steps to move the bill, his communications director sent out this Tweet on Tuesday: "We're debating DISCLOSE Act tomorrow w/ vote Thursday."

You may recall that the DISCLOSE Act, which passed the House in June, died in the Senate in July after an intense lobbying effort by Gun Owners of America and other groups.

The bill, sponsored by Schumer, puts severe and unconstitutional limits on GOA's ability to hold individual congressmen accountable in the weeks leading up to an election.

Instead of protecting the most important type of speech protected by the First Amendment -- political speech -- this bill would force groups like GOA to "disclose" the names of donors in certain political advertisements.

Since Gun Owners of America is not willing to disclose its membership lists to the Federal Election Commission, we could be prohibited from running radio or TV ads exposing a federal candidate's voting record within 60 days of a general election.

This is just another attempt by pathetic, anti-gun politicians to save their jobs before the political earthquake in November strikes.

And, as has been the case so often over the past two years, Reid, Schumer and Co. are using the rules of the Senate to bring the bill directly to the floor. There have been no committee hearings to debate the merits of the bill, thus the American people have no opportunity to see just how egregiously DISCLOSE violates the Constitution.

While the bill does contain a controversial provision to exempt the National Rifle Association, GOA remains adamantly opposed to it on constitutional grounds.

Please urge your Senators to protect ALL of the Bill of Rights. Remind them that your ability to protect the Second Amendment relies on the safeguards of the First Amendment.

ACTION: Please contact your Senators and urge them to oppose the DISCLOSE Act. You can use the Gun Owners Legislative Action Center at gunowners.org/activism.htm to send your Senators the pre-written e-mail message below.

----- Pre-written letter -----

Dear Senator:

I stand with Gun Owners of America in opposing Senator Schumer's so-called DISCLOSE Act.

This bill was defeated once in the Senate, but now anti-gun Majority Leader Harry Reid plans to bring it back to the floor for another vote.

The DISCLOSE Act is just another attempt by politicians to cling to their jobs by silencing groups like Gun Owners of America.

And, as has been the case so often over the past two years, Reid, Schumer and Co. are using the rules of the Senate to bring the bill directly to the floor. There have been no committee hearings to debate the merits of the bill, thus the American people have no opportunity to see just how the ironically named DISCLOSE Act violates the Constitution.

Gun Owners of America represents the views of hundreds of thousands of Second Amendment supporters. Any bill that squelched the free speech rights of groups like GOA is also an attack on my rights.

Please vote NO on Sen. Schumer's DISCLOSE Act.

Sincerely,

*** Oppose HR 5175 the DISCLOSE Act ***

June 25, 2010

Yesterday, federal legislation called the DISCLOSE Act (HR 5175) passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 219 to 206.

The DISCLOSE Act is a direct attack on the First Amendment right of groups like GrassRoots GunRights to inform you about anti-gun legislation or the anti-gun voting records of politicians during the election season. The DISCLOSE Act was written to protect anti-gun politicians in Washington D.C. from being exposed when it counts the most - during election season.

The DISCLOSE Act was designed to muzzle groups like the NRA, Gun Owners of America (GOA), National Association for Gun Rights (NAGR), Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership (JPFO), Campaign for Liberty (C4L), GrassRoots GunRights, and all other gun rights groups. Unfortunately, the NRA's opposition to the DISCLOSE Act evaporated after the adoption of a special exemption that would protect such political speech only for very large groups (such as the NRA, AARP, Sierra Club) and unions. But the free-speech rights of smaller groups like GOA, NAGR, JPFO, and GrassRoots GunRights of SC would still be severely restricted by the DISCLOSE Act.

If the DISCLOSE Act passes, then the ONLY "pro-gun" voice you will hear during election season is the NRA's voice. Just remember back to election season in 2000 when Sen. John Land was given an "A" rating by the NRA even as Land was bragging in his campaign materials that Land had led the fight to kill the "shall issue" CWP law in 1996. If others had not pointed out the truth about Sen. Land's being the lead opponent of "shall issue" CWP in 1996, gun owners would have been led by the NRA to believe that Sen. Land was pro-gun. Is this what you want?

Your rights will never be safe if only one organization is allowed to speak to you during election season. Act NOW to ensure you get complete and honest information from which to make your election season decisions.

As currently written, the DISCLOSE Act will force organizations like GrassRoots GunRights to publish the names of our top five contributors in any ads and make a complete list of our contributors available upon request. The DISCLOSE Act will also drown organizations in red tape in order to comply with the provisions of the bill.

If passed into law, the DISCLOSE Act could silence virtually every state and national gun rights group in the country, including the GrassRoots GunRights of SC.

Thursday afternoon House Speaker Nancy Pelosi forced the free-speech-limiting DISCLOSE Act through the House of Representatives. The fight against the free-speech infringement that is the DISCLOSE Act must now be taken to the U.S. Senate.

South Carolina gun owners should oppose the DISCLOSE Act for the many reasons already pointed out by GOA (http://gunowners.org/a062510.htm), NAGR (http://nationalgunrights.org/blog), JPFO (http://www.jpfo.org/alerts2010/alert20100610.htm), Campaign for Liberty ( http://www.campaignforliberty.com/blog.php?view=36255), and others.

If gun rights activists like you can keep the pressure up in the U.S. Senate, we still have a chance of killing this awful legislation.

ACTION STEPS:

Please call U.S. Senators Jim DeMint and Lindsey Graham and demand that they publicly oppose the DISCLOSE Act and vote to kill it at every opportunity.

Let Sen. DeMint and Sen. Graham know that even if the NRA will not hold a vote in support of the DISCLOSE Act against them, we - the voters - will hold it against them come election season! Tell them that any vote to restrict free speech will be considered a vote against gun owners.

Sen. Jim DeMint
Washington DC: (202) 224-6121
Charleston: (843) 727-4525
Columbia: (803) 771-6112
Greenville: (864) 233-5366

Sen. Lindsey Graham
Washington DC: (202) 224-5972
Charleston: (843) 849-3887
Columbia: (803) 933-0112
Greenville: (864) 250-1417

Thank you for taking immediate action on this very important issue!

AG McMaster - Whose Rating Should You Trust?

June 4, 2010

On May 22nd AG Henry McMaster announced that the NRA had given him an him an "A+" rating in the June 8th primary for the Republican nomination for Governor. We at GrassRoots were surprised and disappointed, because we had previously compiled a study of McMaster's record as AG. Our research showed quite clearly that McMaster is no friend of gun owners. McMaster has, in fact, worked against our interests. Our study was published on the front page of the May 2010 issue of The Defender. If you would like to share it with friends, its available online.i

People have been asking how GrassRoots and the NRA could be so far apart in their opinions. We can not speak for the NRA, nor can we find any evidence to support their "A+" rating. What we can do is explain how we at GrassRoots determined that McMaster is a poor choice for gun owners.

GrassRoots believes that the best way to predict what a politician will do in the future is to look at what he has done in the past. We went through all of McMaster's published AG opinions as far back as 2005, to see if they were good or bad for law abiding gun owners. Most of his AG opinions have nothing to do with guns. Some that do involve guns really don't concern GrassRoots, law abiding gun owners, or CWP holders. These gun related opinions that do not concern us include the legality of a school offering a class in gunsmithing,ii whether reserve and off duty officers may carry on school property,iii and whether a convicted felon may hunt with a muzzle loader.iv

An AG opinion that does greatly concern GrassRoots, and that should greatly concern our members and CWP holders everywhere, is the one dated March 5, 2009, where AG McMaster said counties may ban CWP carry in county parks. South Carolina law says CWP holders may carry in county parks.v SC also has a firearms pre-emption law (Section 23-31-510) that prohibits local governments from regulating the carrying of firearms. Oconee County passed an ordinance banning firearms in county parks. In spite of the pre-emption law, AG McMaster issued an opinion stating any local government could ban CWP carry on public property within its borders if it posted signs giving notice that CWP was banned. McMaster claimed the pre-emption law does not apply to CWP carry!

GrassRoots gave a detailed analysis of McMaster's March 5, 2009 AG opinion in our The Defender article. We concluded that his opinion misinterpreted SC law generally, and could become the basis for undercutting the entire CWP law. We said "Gun owners need to let McMaster know how they feel about his anti-gun opinion."

GrassRoots says Henry McMaster is bad for our state's gun owners. The NRA gave him an "A+" rating. GrassRoots has explained why we believe McMaster is bad for SC gun owners. Has the NRA explained why they think he's good for SC gun owners? Has the NRA explained its "A+" rating in spite of McMaster's March 5, 2009 AG opinion?

Once again, GrassRoots finds itself in total disagreement with the NRA. Which organization has been proven right in the past? Which organization has given you the facts on which it bases its conclusion? Which organization can you trust for honest answers on issues important to South Carolina gun owners and CWP holders?

i http://www.scfirearms.org/TheDefender/DefenderMay2010.pdf>

ii http://www.scattorneygeneral.com/opinions/pdf/walters l d 2-16-07 os-8334 credit certificate prog.pdf

iii http://www.scattorneygeneral.com/opinions/pdf/crawford k r 6-4-07 os-8397 off-duty police, reserve officers - concealed weapons - school property.pdf

iv http://www.scattorneygeneral.com/opinions/pdf/2008/knotts j m os-8560 3-17-08 felony or CDV conviction hunting with muzzleloader.pdf

v http://www.scattorneygeneral.com/opinions/pdf/2009/whitmire w r os-8584 3-5-09 concealed weapon in county park.PDF

Sen. Knotts caught lying about GrassRoots and H. 3585!
*** For information purposes only - No immediate action is required ***
June 4, 2010

On May 3, 2010, GrassRoots GunRights (hereafter GrassRoots) asked you to contact the members of a Senate subcommittee to tell them "GrassRoots GunRights speaks for me!" to help kill a bill - H. 3585 - that could have put innocent gun owners in prison for two years and fined them $10,000.

In response to your contacts, Sen. Jake Knotts sent out an offensive email on May 5 attacking GrassRoots and insulting your intelligence. Many of you contacted GrassRoots asking for an explanation.

The best explanation is simply that Sen. Jake Knotts is a liar. This may sound harsh, but there is no better word to describe a person who says something he knows is untrue when he says it and he says it with the intent to deceive. That is the very definition of the word liar. GrassRoots can - and will - prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that Sen. Knotts is a liar.

The truth is that you killed H. 3585 after GrassRoots asked you to contact the Senate subcommittee and ask them to kill H. 3585. Your actions in contacting the Senate subcommittee chaired by Sen. Knotts was the reason H. 3585 was killed, and Sen. Knotts did not like the heat you provided.

GrassRoots will provide a "Short Summary of the Truth about H. 3585" both in this Action Alert and on the GrassRoots web site, and then GrassRoots will provide a "Detailed Time Line of the Truth about H. 3585" available only on the GrassRoots web site at www.SCFirearms.org/Knotts_lies.html

Short Summary of the Truth about H. 3585:

H. 3585 was a bad bill for gun owners. On April 20, 2010, Sen. Knotts scheduled the very first Senate subcommittee meeting on H. 3585 to be held on April 22. On April 22, GrassRoots appeared at the subcommittee meeting and tried to kill H. 3585 without asking you to help. Sen. Knotts' subcommittee failed to kill H. 3585. Instead, on April 30, Sen. Knotts scheduled another subcommittee meeting on H. 3585 to be held on May 5, and H. 3585 was the ONLY bill on the agenda. GrassRoots sent an Action Alert to gun owners on May 3. Gun owners put the heat on Sen. Knotts to kill H. 3585. On May 5, Sen. Knotts sent an email claiming H. 3585 was dead "three weeks ago" (which would be April 14) and GrassRoots was just stirring up trouble. Then, later on May 5, the subcommittee voted to carry H. 3585 over, which is a procedural move to kill the bill. There were no additional subcommittee meetings for H. 3585.

Now, please go to www.SCFirearms.org/Knotts_lies.html to read the detailed proof that Sen. Jake Knotts is a liar.

*** YOUR IMMEDIATE ACTION IS NEEDED ***

3 May 2010

Have you installed a gun safe in your car, boat, motor home or other vehicle?

If you have ever done so, and if H. 3585 becomes law, then perhaps you should NEVER sell that vehicle. If someone later buys your car or boat and uses that gun safe to store something illegal, YOU could be prosecuted for installing a "false or secret compartment" and/or for selling a vehicle that has such a compartment - EVEN if you never stored, or intended to store something illegal in that compartment. If the new owner is found to have something illegal in the compartment, it is suddenly a "false or hidden compartment." But remember, YOU installed the compartment and YOU sold the vehicle!

Amazingly, the way H. 3585 is written, such a compartment does not have to be hidden at all to be considered a "false or secret compartment." H. 3585 could be interpreted so that even a compartment that is "original factory equipment on a vehicle" could be used to send someone to prison. It is absurd to label original factory equipment as a "secret compartment," especially when doing so could be used to harm innocent citizens.

If convicted of violating H. 3585, innocent gun owners could be fined ten thousand dollars or sent to prison for two years, or both. H. 3585 will do little to catch real criminals, but it has the potential to hurt many innocent people.

The Senate Subcommittee is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, May 5th, at 11:00am to discuss H. 3585.

ACTION STEPS:

1) CALL each member of the Senate Subcommittee where H. 3585 sits and tell them "I strongly urge you to kill H. 3585! GrassRoots GunRights speaks for me."

2) EMAIL each member of the Senate Subcommittee with the same message: "I strongly urge you to kill H. 3585! GrassRoots GunRights speaks for me."

Below is the contact information for the Senate Subcommittee.

Sen. Jake Knotts (chairman)
(803) 212-6350
SIV@scsenate.org

Sen. Creighton Coleman
(803) 212-6180
CBC@scsenate.org

Sen. Shane Massey
(803) 212-6000
shanemassey@scsenate.org

Thank you for taking action on this very important issue.

Bill Rentiers
Executive Officer
GrassRoots GunRights of SC

March 18, 2010

Tell SC lawmakers you want H. 3994 passed NOW!

H. 3994 would prevent a person, property owner, tenant, employer, or business entity from making a policy or rule that prohibits a person from transporting and storing firearms in a locked vehicle on property set aside for the vehicle.

If H. 3994 passes, gun owners will be able to legally keep self defense weapons in their vehicles virtually everywhere they go. No longer will gun owners be forced to travel unarmed just because some business or employer bans firearms since such bans will no longer apply to firearms in private vehicles. Once H. 3994 passes, the law would protect businesses from being sued without jeopardizing safety.

H. 3994 is both pro business and pro gun. GrassRoots GunRights has already proposed an amendment to allow possession in both a locked or attended vehicle instead of just a locked vehicle. So, be sure to tell them that "GrassRoots GunRights speaks for me!"

ACTION STEPS:

1) Call each member of the House General Laws Subcommittee and tell them the following:

"I urge you to pass H. 3994 NOW! This bill is both pro business and pro gun, which makes it good for South Carolina.

GrassRoots GunRights speaks for me!"

2) Email each member of House General Laws Subcommittee with the same message:

"Dear Representative (INSERT NAME):

I urge you to pass H. 3994 NOW! This bill is both pro business and pro gun, which makes it good for South Carolina.

GrassRoots GunRights speaks for me!

Sincerely,

(YOUR NAME)
(YOUR TOWN)"

Members of the SC House General Laws Subcommittee:

Rep.Bruce Bannister
(803) 734-3009
BannisterB@schouse.org

Rep. Dan Hamilton
(803) 212-6795
DanHamilton@schouse.org

Rep. George Hearn
(803) 212-6796
GeorgeHearn@schouse.org

Rep. Leon Stavrinakis
(803) 734-3039
StavL@schouse.org

Rep.David Weeks
(803) 734-3102
JDW@schouse.org

Thank you for taking immediate action on this very important gun rights issue!

Bill Rentiers
Executive Officer
GrassRoots GunRights of SC

March 1, 2010

It will come as no surprise to gun owners that some politicians think they should be able to enjoy certain privileges that the rest of us mere citizens should not get.

Well, those same politicians are at it again here in South Carolina!

H. 4112 would let politicians in the SC General Assembly (and certain other public officials) who possess a concealed weapon permit (CWP) carry a self-defense firearm virtually anywhere in the state. But will this bill allow YOU same freedom? NO!

Why should politicians have privileges greater than the rest of us mere mortals? H. 4112 is an example of how politicians seem to forget the fact that they are public servants, not our masters.

GrassRoots GunRights strongly opposes H. 4112 as currently drafted. GrassRoots still believes the words "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

Evidently, some SC politicians do not think SC citizens should be treated as their equals.

H. 4112 will be discussed at a meeting of the House Judiciary General Laws Subcommittee on Wednesday morning. H. 4112 needs to either be amended to provide the same carry privileges for ALL CWP holders. Otherwise, H. 4112 needs to die.

ACTION STEPS:

1) Call each member of the House General Laws Subcommittee and tell them the following:

"I strongly urge you to Vote NO on H. 4112! No special privileges for politicians! If it's good enough for YOU, it's good enough for ME. GrassRoots GunRights speaks for me!"

2) Email each member of House General Laws Subcommittee with the same message:

"Dear Representative (INSERT NAME):

I strongly urge you to Vote NO on H. 4112! No special privileges for politicians! If it's good enough for YOU, it's good enough for ME. GrassRoots GunRights speaks for me!

Sincerely,

(YOUR NAME)
(YOUR TOWN)"

Members of the SC House General Laws Subcommittee:

Rep.Bruce Bannister
(803) 734-3009
BannisterB@schouse.org

Rep. Dan Hamilton
(803) 212-6795
DanHamilton@schouse.org

Rep. George Hearn
(803) 212-6796
GeorgeHearn@schouse.org

Rep. Leon Stavrinakis
(803) 734-3039
StavL@schouse.org

Rep.David Weeks
(803) 734-3102
JDW@schouse.org

If you are unable to reach any of these Representatives at their individual office numbers listed above, call the House Judiciary Committee (803)734-3120 and ask to be transferred.

Thank you for taking immediate action on this very important gun rights issue!

Bill Rentiers
Executive Officer
GrassRoots GunRights of SC

January 27, 2010

As currently drafted, H. 4022 could cause innocent South Carolina gun owners to lose their right to keep and bear arms for life!

If passed as written, South Carolina gun owners who rely on H. 4022 and abide by South Carolina law will still be considered to be in violation of federal law. This means the federal government will still prosecute South Carolina gun owners who abide by South Carolina law. H. 4022 must be amended to better protect gun owners in South Carolina.

GrassRoots GunRights has proposed language to fix the problems with H. 4022. GrassRoots delivered this letter to the sponsor of H. 4022 and to each Senator on the Judiciary Subcommittee reviewing H. 4022. Please read the letter to understand the problems with H. 4022 and the GrassRoots proposed solution.

The Senate Subcommittee will meet at 9:00am on Thursday January 28, 2010 in room 209 of the Gressette Building to discuss H. 4022.

ACTION STEPS:

1. Call and email each member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee today! Tell these lawmakers "I support the GrassRoots GunRights proposed changes to H. 4022."

Sen. Jake Knotts
(803) 212-6350
SIV@scsenate.org

Sen. Creighton Coleman
(803) 212-6180
CBC@scsenate.org

Sen. Shane Massey
(803) 212-6000
shanemassey@scsenate.org

Thank you for taking immediate action on this very important issue affecting your gun rights!

Bill Rentiers
Executive Officer
GrassRoots GunRights of SC

*** GrassRoots Action Alert ***

Help Stop Anti-Gun Nominee Eric Holder From Becoming Attorney General!
22 January 2009

Anti-gun Eric Holder served in the Clinton/Reno Justice Department. Eric Holder is now President Obama's nominee to become Attorney General.

Contacting the U.S. Senators who represent South Carolina is particularly important because Senator Lindsey Graham is on the Judiciary Committee, which is holding the confirmation hearings on Mr. Holder. It is CRITICAL that you immediately contact Senators Graham and DeMint and STRONGLY oppose the confirmation of Eric Holder as Attorney General! Here's why:

Holder has taken the following anti-gun positions:
  • Opposes the individual right to keep and bear arms by joining in an amicus brief which supported the DC gun ban in the DC vs Heller Supreme Court case
  • Supported a 3-day waiting period for handgun purchases
  • Supported one-gun-a-month rationing
  • Supported mandatory so-called smart gun technology
  • Supported a lifetime gun ban for certain juvenile offenses
  • Supported regulating gun shows out of existence
  • Supported licensing and registration of all gun owners
GrassRoots GunRights of SC joins other gun rights groups in strongly opposing anti-gun Eric Holder as Attorney General.

Gun Owners of America Opposes Confirmation of Holder

NRA Opposes Confirmation of Holder

Unless you want someone with these extremist anti-gun positions to become Attorney General... Act NOW!

Action Steps:

  1. VISIT the GOA action center to EMAIL Senators Graham and DeMint objecting to the nomination of Eric Holder as Attorney General.
  2. CAll the office of Senator Graham at (202) 224-5972 and Senator DeMint at (202) 224-6121 and tell them you strongly OPPOSE anti-gun Eric Holder becoming Attorney General.

Bill Rentiers
Executive Officer
GrassRoots GunRights of SC

*** GrassRoots Action Alert ***

Senate Plans to Quietly Kill H. 3212!

Take Action Now!

May 22, 2008

The CWP Recognition bill - H. 3212 - is in grave danger of dying in the Senate! Your immediate action is critical to saving this important legislation!

GrassRoots GunRights just received inside information from members of the House and Senate that the Senate plans to let H. 3212 quietly die without taking any action on H. 3212. The Senate does NOT plan to go into a conference committee on H. 3212. But, it is possible for the Senate to by-pass the conference committee.

The Senate can vote to accept the House version of H. 3212 without going to conference committee. This can be done. But, it will only get done if YOU let your senator know how strongly you feel about being denied the right to carry and properly protect your family in other states.

If you want CWP recognition to pass so that you can carry in 30+ states, then it is critical YOU make PHONE CALLS (not just send emails) to the Senate immediately! We need to shut the Senate switchboard down! We need to do this EVERY DAY until the Senate adjourns on June 5.

*** Action Steps ***

  1. CALL every Senator from your county TODAY. Insist they PASS the House version of H. 3212 this session! Tell them you will be watching this bill closely and it will affect how you vote in November! "Tell them GrassRoots GunRights speaks for me!"

  2. Call them again TOMORROW. CALL again every day until the House version of H. 3212 passes.

The Senate switchboard number is 803-212-6200. Individual telephone numbers and email addresses for each Senator are listed below.

Only YOUR repeated phone calls can save H. 3212. Thank you for your activism!

Bill Rentiers
Executive Officer

Abbeville County
Sen. John W. Drummond
Sen. William H. O'Dell
PTE@scsenate.org
WHO@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6455
(803) 212-6040
Aiken County
Sen. W. Greg Ryberg
Sen. A. Shane Massey
Sen. Nikki G. Setzler
SLC@scsenate.org
shanemassey@scsenate.org
NGS@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6320
(803) 212-6000
(803) 212-6140
Allendale County
Sen. C. Bradley Hutto
CBH@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6140
Anderson County
Sen. Kevin L. Bryant
Sen. William H. O'Dell
BRYANTK@scsenate.org
WHO@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6024
(803) 212-6040
Bamberg County
Sen. C. Bradley Hutto
Sen. John W. Matthews, Jr.
CBH@scsenate.org
JWM@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6140
(803) 212-6056
Barnwell County
Sen. C. Bradley Hutto
CBH@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6140
Beaufort County
Sen. Catherine C. Ceips
Sen. Clementa C. Pinckney
CEIPS@scsenate.org
CCP@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6032
(803) 212-6056
Berkeley County
Sen. Paul G. Campbell, Jr.
Sen. George E. "Chip" Campsen III
Sen. Lawrence K. "Larry" Grooms
PaulCampbell@scsenate.org
CAMPSEN@scsenate.org
STR@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6016
(803) 212-6016
(803) 212-6400
Calhoun County
Sen. John C. Land III
JCL@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6180
Charleston County
Sen. George E. "Chip" Campsen III
Sen. Ray Cleary
Sen. Robert Ford
Sen. Lawrence K. "Larry" Grooms
Sen. Glenn F. McConnell
Sen. Clementa C. Pinckney
Sen. Randy Scott
CAMPSEN@scsenate.org
CLEARYR@scsenate.org
RIF@scsenate.org
STR@scsenate.org
SJU@scsenate.org
CCP@scsenate.org
SCOTTR@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6016
(803) 212-6100
(803) 212-6124
(803) 212-6400
(803) 212-6610
(803) 212-6056
(803) 212-6024
Cherokee County
Sen. Harvey S. Peeler, Jr.
MED@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6430
Chester County
Sen. Linda H. Short
LHS@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6148
Chesterfield County
Sen. Gerald Malloy
Sen. Vincent A. Sheheen
MALLOYG@scsenate.org
VS@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6148
(803) 212-6124
Clarendon County
Sen. John C. Land III
JCL@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6180
Colleton County
Sen. Lawrence K. "Larry" Grooms
Sen. John W. Matthews, Jr.
Sen. Clementa C. Pinckney
STR@scsenate.org
JWM@scsenate.org
CCP@scsenate.org

(803) 212-6400
(803) 212-6056
(803) 212-6056
Darlington County
Sen. Hugh K. Leatherman, Sr.
Sen. Gerald Malloy
SFI@scsenate.org
MALLOYG@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6640
(803) 212-6148
Dillon County
Sen. Dick Elliott
Sen. Kent M. Williams
DE@scsenate.org
WILLIAMSK@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6116
(803) 212-6008
Dorchester County
Sen. Lawrence K. "Larry" Grooms
Sen. John W. Matthews, Jr.
Sen. Randy Scott
STR@scsenate.org
JWM@scsenate.org
SCOTTR@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6400
(803) 212-6056
(803) 212-6024
Edgefield County
Sen. A. Shane Massey
shanemassey@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6000
Fairfield County
Sen. Linda H. Short
LHS@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6148
Florence County
Sen. John C. Land III
Sen. Hugh K. Leatherman, Sr.
Sen. J. Yancey McGill
Sen. Kent M. Williams
JCL@scsenate.org
SFI@scsenate.org
JYM@scsenate.org
WILLIAMSK@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6180
(803) 212-6640
(803) 212-6132
(803) 212-6008
Georgetown County
Sen. Ray Cleary
Sen. J. Yancey McGill
CLEARYR@scsenate.org
JYM@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6100
(803) 212-6132
Greenville County
Sen. Ralph Anderson
Sen. Michael L. Fair
Sen. James H. "Jim" Ritchie, Jr.
Sen. David L. Thomas
Sen. Lewis R. Vaughn
Sen. Daniel B. "Danny" Verdin III
RA@scsenate.org
FAIRM@scsenate.org
JHR@scsenate.org
SBI@scsenate.org
LRV@scsenate.org
SAG@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6108
(803) 212-6420
(803) 212-6032
(803) 212-6240
(803) 212-6100
(803) 212-6230
Greenwood County
Sen. John W. Drummond
Sen. William H. O'Dell
PTE@scsenate.org
WHO@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6455
(803) 212-6040
Hampton County
Sen. John W. Matthews, Jr.
Sen. Clementa C. Pinckney
JWM@scsenate.org
CCP@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6056
(803) 212-6056
Horry County
Sen. Ray Cleary
Sen. Dick Elliott
Sen. J. Yancey McGill
Sen. Luke A. Rankin
CLEARYR@scsenate.org
DE@scsenate.org
JYM@scsenate.org
LR@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6100
(803) 212-6116
(803) 212-6132
(803) 212-6132
Jasper County
Sen. Clementa C. Pinckney
CCP@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6056
Kershaw County
Sen. Joel Lourie
Sen. Vincent A. Sheheen
JBL@scsenate.org
VS@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6116
(803) 212-6124
Lancaster County
Sen. Chauncey K. Gregory
Sen. Vincent A. Sheheen
SFG@scsenate.org
VS@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6330
(803) 212-6124
Laurens County
Sen. John W. Drummond
Sen. Daniel B. "Danny" Verdin III
PTE@scsenate.org
SAG@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6455
(803) 212-6230
Lee County
Sen. Phil P. Leventis
Sen. Gerald Malloy
PL@scsenate.org
MALLOYG@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6000
(803) 212-6148
Lexington County
Sen. John E. Courson
Sen. Ronnie W. Cromer
Sen. John M. "Jake" Knotts, Jr.
Sen. Nikki G. Setzler
EDU@scsenate.org
CROMERR@scsenate.org
SIV@scsenate.org
NGS@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6250
(803) 212-6040
(803) 212-6350
(803) 212-6140
Marion County
Sen. Dick Elliott
Sen. Kent M. Williams
DE@scsenate.org
WILLIAMSK@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6116
(803) 212-6008
Marlboro County
Sen. Dick Elliott
Sen. Gerald Malloy
Sen. Kent M. Williams
DE@scsenate.org
MALLOYG@scsenate.org
WILLIAMSK@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6116
(803) 212-6148
(803) 212-6008
McCormick County
Sen. A. Shane Massey
shanemassey@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6000
Newberry County
Sen. Ronnie W. Cromer
CROMERR@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6040
Oconee County
Sen. Thomas C. Alexander
SGE@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6220
Orangeburg County
Sen. C. Bradley Hutto
Sen. John W. Matthews, Jr.
CBH@scsenate.org
JWM@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6140
(803) 212-6056
Pickens County
Sen. Thomas C. Alexander
Sen. Larry A. Martin
SGE@scsenate.org
SRU@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6220
(803) 212-6340
Richland County
Sen. John E. Courson
Sen. Darrell Jackson
Sen. Joel Lourie
Sen. Kay Patterson
EDU@scsenate.org
DJ1@scsenate.org
JBL@scsenate.org
KAY@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6250
(803) 212-6048
(803) 212-6116
(803) 212-6048
Saluda County
Sen. Ronnie W. Cromer
Sen. A. Shane Massey
Sen. Nikki G. Setzler
CROMERR@scsenate.org
shanemassey@scsenate.org
NGS@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6040
(803) 212-6000
(803) 212-6140
Spartanburg County
Sen. John D. Hawkins
Sen. Harvey S. Peeler, Jr.
Sen. Glenn G. Reese
Sen. James H. "Jim" Ritchie, Jr.
DH@scsenate.org
MED@scsenate.org
GR@scsenate.org
JHR@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6008
(803) 212-6430
(803) 212-6108
(803) 212-6032
Sumter County
Sen. John C. Land III
Sen. Phil P. Leventis
JCL@scsenate.org
PL@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6180
(803) 212-6000
Union County
Sen. Harvey S. Peeler, Jr.
Sen. James H. "Jim" Ritchie, Jr.
Sen. Linda H. Short (Mrs. Paul)
MED@scsenate.org
JHR@scsenate.org
LHS@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6430
(803) 212-6032
(803) 212-6148
Williamsburg County
Sen. J. Yancey McGill
JYM@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6132
York County
Sen. Chauncey K. Gregory
Sen. Robert W. Hayes, Jr.
Sen. Harvey S. Peeler, Jr.
Sen. Linda H. Short
SFG@scsenate.org
set@scsenate.org
MED@scsenate.org
LHS@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6330
(803) 212-6410
(803) 212-6430
(803) 212-6148

=====================================

*** GrassRoots Action Alert ***

Attention Concealed Weapon Permit (CWP) holders!

20 May 2008

It is crunch time for H. 3212, the concealed weapon permit (CWP) recognition/reciprocity bill that has been awaiting Senate action since March 26, 2008, when the House refused to concur with the Senate amendment just as GrassRoots GunRights asked them to refuse to do.

The Senate version of H. 3212 is completely unacceptable to gun owners. GrassRoots GunRights provided a detailed analysis of the Senate amendment to H. 3212 to every member of the House in a letter dated March 24, 2008. The GrassRoots analysis - which is repeated below - exposes exactly why the Senate amendment would make South Carolina CWP law worse than existing law. Interestingly, the Senate amendment would change the law so drastically that South Carolina could not even get reciprocity with itself! The Senate version of H. 3212 should be opposed by all pro gun rights supporters!

Multiple independent practicing pro gun rights attorneys have read the GrassRoots analysis of the Senate version of H. 3212, and all have agreed the GrassRoots analysis is legally sound (their letters of agreement can be found on the GrassRoots web site). Not a single independent practicing pro gun rights attorney has found fault with the GrassRoots analysis of H. 3212.

Read the rest of the story here.

*** ACTION STEPS: ***

  1. Email every senator who represents people from the county in which you live. Tell these politicians that "GrassRoots GunRights speaks for me on H. 3212!" The pro gun House is listening to GrassRoots GunRights, but the anti gun Senate is pushing a terrible bill. Politicians need to know GrassRoots GunRights speaks for gun owners in South Carolina, or else you will get the Senate version of H. 3212. Contact information is below.

  2. Call your senator and tell them "GrassRoots GunRights speaks for me on H. 3212!" Use the Senate switchboard (803) 212-6200, or use the individual office numbers listed below.

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

Abbeville County
Sen. John W. Drummond
Sen. William H. O'Dell
PTE@scsenate.org
WHO@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6455
(803) 212-6040
Aiken County
Sen. W. Greg Ryberg
Sen. A. Shane Massey
Sen. Nikki G. Setzler
SLC@scsenate.org
shanemassey@scsenate.org
NGS@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6320
(803) 212-6000
(803) 212-6140
Allendale County
Sen. C. Bradley Hutto
CBH@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6140
Anderson County
Sen. Kevin L. Bryant
Sen. William H. O'Dell
BRYANTK@scsenate.org
WHO@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6024
(803) 212-6040
Bamberg County
Sen. C. Bradley Hutto
Sen. John W. Matthews, Jr.
CBH@scsenate.org
JWM@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6140
(803) 212-6056
Barnwell County
Sen. C. Bradley Hutto
CBH@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6140
Beaufort County
Sen. Catherine C. Ceips
Sen. Clementa C. Pinckney
CEIPS@scsenate.org
CCP@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6032
(803) 212-6056
Berkeley County
Sen. Paul G. Campbell, Jr.
Sen. George E. "Chip" Campsen III
Sen. Lawrence K. "Larry" Grooms
PaulCampbell@scsenate.org
CAMPSEN@scsenate.org
STR@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6016
(803) 212-6016
(803) 212-6400
Calhoun County
Sen. John C. Land III
JCL@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6180
Charleston County
Sen. George E. "Chip" Campsen III
Sen. Ray Cleary
Sen. Robert Ford
Sen. Lawrence K. "Larry" Grooms
Sen. Glenn F. McConnell
Sen. Clementa C. Pinckney
Sen. Randy Scott
CAMPSEN@scsenate.org
CLEARYR@scsenate.org
RIF@scsenate.org
STR@scsenate.org
SJU@scsenate.org
CCP@scsenate.org
SCOTTR@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6016
(803) 212-6100
(803) 212-6124
(803) 212-6400
(803) 212-6610
(803) 212-6056
(803) 212-6024
Cherokee County
Sen. Harvey S. Peeler, Jr.
MED@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6430
Chester County
Sen. Linda H. Short
LHS@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6148
Chesterfield County
Sen. Gerald Malloy
Sen. Vincent A. Sheheen
MALLOYG@scsenate.org
VS@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6148
(803) 212-6124
Clarendon County
Sen. John C. Land III
JCL@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6180
Colleton County
Sen. Lawrence K. "Larry" Grooms
Sen. John W. Matthews, Jr.
Sen. Clementa C. Pinckney
STR@scsenate.org
JWM@scsenate.org
CCP@scsenate.org

(803) 212-6400
(803) 212-6056
(803) 212-6056
Darlington County
Sen. Hugh K. Leatherman, Sr.
Sen. Gerald Malloy
SFI@scsenate.org
MALLOYG@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6640
(803) 212-6148
Dillon County
Sen. Dick Elliott
Sen. Kent M. Williams
DE@scsenate.org
WILLIAMSK@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6116
(803) 212-6008
Dorchester County
Sen. Lawrence K. "Larry" Grooms
Sen. John W. Matthews, Jr.
Sen. Randy Scott
STR@scsenate.org
JWM@scsenate.org
SCOTTR@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6400
(803) 212-6056
(803) 212-6024
Edgefield County
Sen. A. Shane Massey
shanemassey@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6000
Fairfield County
Sen. Linda H. Short
LHS@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6148
Florence County
Sen. John C. Land III
Sen. Hugh K. Leatherman, Sr.
Sen. J. Yancey McGill
Sen. Kent M. Williams
JCL@scsenate.org
SFI@scsenate.org
JYM@scsenate.org
WILLIAMSK@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6180
(803) 212-6640
(803) 212-6132
(803) 212-6008
Georgetown County
Sen. Ray Cleary
Sen. J. Yancey McGill
CLEARYR@scsenate.org
JYM@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6100
(803) 212-6132
Greenville County
Sen. Ralph Anderson
Sen. Michael L. Fair
Sen. James H. "Jim" Ritchie, Jr.
Sen. David L. Thomas
Sen. Lewis R. Vaughn
Sen. Daniel B. "Danny" Verdin III
RA@scsenate.org
FAIRM@scsenate.org
JHR@scsenate.org
SBI@scsenate.org
LRV@scsenate.org
SAG@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6108
(803) 212-6420
(803) 212-6032
(803) 212-6240
(803) 212-6100
(803) 212-6230
Greenwood County
Sen. John W. Drummond
Sen. William H. O'Dell
PTE@scsenate.org
WHO@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6455
(803) 212-6040
Hampton County
Sen. John W. Matthews, Jr.
Sen. Clementa C. Pinckney
JWM@scsenate.org
CCP@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6056
(803) 212-6056
Horry County
Sen. Ray Cleary
Sen. Dick Elliott
Sen. J. Yancey McGill
Sen. Luke A. Rankin
CLEARYR@scsenate.org
DE@scsenate.org
JYM@scsenate.org
LR@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6100
(803) 212-6116
(803) 212-6132
(803) 212-6132
Jasper County
Sen. Clementa C. Pinckney
CCP@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6056
Kershaw County
Sen. Joel Lourie
Sen. Vincent A. Sheheen
JBL@scsenate.org
VS@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6116
(803) 212-6124
Lancaster County
Sen. Chauncey K. Gregory
Sen. Vincent A. Sheheen
SFG@scsenate.org
VS@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6330
(803) 212-6124
Laurens County
Sen. John W. Drummond
Sen. Daniel B. "Danny" Verdin III
PTE@scsenate.org
SAG@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6455
(803) 212-6230
Lee County
Sen. Phil P. Leventis
Sen. Gerald Malloy
PL@scsenate.org
MALLOYG@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6000
(803) 212-6148
Lexington County
Sen. John E. Courson
Sen. Ronnie W. Cromer
Sen. John M. "Jake" Knotts, Jr.
Sen. Nikki G. Setzler
EDU@scsenate.org
CROMERR@scsenate.org
SIV@scsenate.org
NGS@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6250
(803) 212-6040
(803) 212-6350
(803) 212-6140
Marion County
Sen. Dick Elliott
Sen. Kent M. Williams
DE@scsenate.org
WILLIAMSK@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6116
(803) 212-6008
Marlboro County
Sen. Dick Elliott
Sen. Gerald Malloy
Sen. Kent M. Williams
DE@scsenate.org
MALLOYG@scsenate.org
WILLIAMSK@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6116
(803) 212-6148
(803) 212-6008
McCormick County
Sen. A. Shane Massey
shanemassey@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6000
Newberry County
Sen. Ronnie W. Cromer
CROMERR@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6040
Oconee County
Sen. Thomas C. Alexander
SGE@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6220
Orangeburg County
Sen. C. Bradley Hutto
Sen. John W. Matthews, Jr.
CBH@scsenate.org
JWM@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6140
(803) 212-6056
Pickens County
Sen. Thomas C. Alexander
Sen. Larry A. Martin
SGE@scsenate.org
SRU@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6220
(803) 212-6340
Richland County
Sen. John E. Courson
Sen. Darrell Jackson
Sen. Joel Lourie
Sen. Kay Patterson
EDU@scsenate.org
DJ1@scsenate.org
JBL@scsenate.org
KAY@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6250
(803) 212-6048
(803) 212-6116
(803) 212-6048
Saluda County
Sen. Ronnie W. Cromer
Sen. A. Shane Massey
Sen. Nikki G. Setzler
CROMERR@scsenate.org
shanemassey@scsenate.org
NGS@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6040
(803) 212-6000
(803) 212-6140
Spartanburg County
Sen. John D. Hawkins
Sen. Harvey S. Peeler, Jr.
Sen. Glenn G. Reese
Sen. James H. "Jim" Ritchie, Jr.
DH@scsenate.org
MED@scsenate.org
GR@scsenate.org
JHR@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6008
(803) 212-6430
(803) 212-6108
(803) 212-6032
Sumter County
Sen. John C. Land III
Sen. Phil P. Leventis
JCL@scsenate.org
PL@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6180
(803) 212-6000
Union County
Sen. Harvey S. Peeler, Jr.
Sen. James H. "Jim" Ritchie, Jr.
Sen. Linda H. Short (Mrs. Paul)
MED@scsenate.org
JHR@scsenate.org
LHS@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6430
(803) 212-6032
(803) 212-6148
Williamsburg County
Sen. J. Yancey McGill
JYM@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6132
York County
Sen. Chauncey K. Gregory
Sen. Robert W. Hayes, Jr.
Sen. Harvey S. Peeler, Jr.
Sen. Linda H. Short
SFG@scsenate.org
set@scsenate.org
MED@scsenate.org
LHS@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6330
(803) 212-6410
(803) 212-6430
(803) 212-6148
=====================================

*** GrassRoots Action Alert ***

Attention Concealed Weapon Permit (CWP) holders!

29 April 2008

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

GrassRoots GunRights analyzed the Senate amendment to H. 3212 and exposed in detail how the Sen. Jake Knotts amendment would make SC CWP reciprocity law WORSE than existing law. GrassRoots sent a detailed analysis of H. 3212 to every member of the SC House of Representatives, which you can read here.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

*** ACTION STEPS: ***

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

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

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

Abbeville County
Rep. Paul Agnew
Rep. Michael W. "Mike" Gambrell
Rep. Michael A. Pitts
Sen. John W. Drummond
Sen. William H. O'Dell
AgnewP@schouse.org
GambrellM@schouse.org
PittsM@schouse.org
PTE@scsenate.org
WHO@scsenate.org
(803) 734-2993
(803) 734-2947
(803) 734-2830
(803) 212-6455
(803) 212-6040
Aiken County
Rep. William "Bill" Clyburn
Rep. Robert S. "Skipper" Perry, Jr.
Rep. Donald C. Smith
Rep. J. Roland Smith
Rep. Kit Spires
Rep. James E. "Jim" Stewart
Sen. W. Greg Ryberg
Sen. A. Shane Massey
Sen. Nikki G. Setzler
WC@schouse.org
RSP@schouse.org
DCS@schouse.org
JS@schouse.org
SpiresK@schouse.org
jim@stewartbuilders.com
SLC@scsenate.org
shanemassey@scsenate.org
NGS@scsenate.org
(803) 734-3033
(803) 734-3032
(803) 734-3031
(803) 734-3114
(803) 734-3010
(803) 734-3034
(803) 212-6320
(803) 212-6000
(803) 212-6140
Allendale County
Rep. Lonnie Hosey
Sen. C. Bradley Hutto
LH1@schouse.org
CBH@scsenate.org
(803) 734-2829
(803) 212-6140
Anderson County
Rep. Paul Agnew
Rep. Don Carson Bowen
Rep. Daniel T. Cooper
Rep. Michael W. "Mike" Gambrell
Rep. Michael D. Thompson
Rep. W. Brian White
Sen. Kevin L. Bryant
Sen. William H. O'Dell
AgnewP@schouse.org
BowenD@schouse.org
HWM@schouse.org
GambrellM@schouse.org
MT@schouse.org
WBW@schouse.org
BRYANTK@scsenate.org
WHO@scsenate.org
(803) 734-2993
(803) 734-3038
(803) 734-3144
(803) 734-2947
(803) 734-3014
(803) 734-3113
(803) 212-6024
(803) 212-6040
Bamberg County
Rep. Bakari T. Sellers
Sen. C. Bradley Hutto
Sen. John W. Matthews, Jr.
SellersB@schouse.org
CBH@scsenate.org
JWM@scsenate.org
(803) 734-3003
(803) 212-6140
(803) 212-6056
Barnwell County
Rep. Lonnie Hosey
Rep. Bakari T. Sellers
Sen. C. Bradley Hutto
LH1@schouse.org
SellersB@schouse.org
CBH@scsenate.org
(803) 734-2829
(803) 734-3003
(803) 212-6140
Beaufort County
Rep. Curtis Brantley
Rep. Richard Chalk
Rep. Shannon S. Erickson
Rep. William G. "Bill" Herbkersman
Rep. Kenneth F. Hodges
Sen. Catherine C. Ceips
Sen. Clementa C. Pinckney
BrantleyC@schouse.org
ChalkR@schouse.org
shannonerickson@schouse.org
HerbkersmanB@schouse.org
HodgesK@schouse.org
CEIPS@scsenate.org
CCP@scsenate.org
(803) 734-2965
(803) 734-3067
(803) 734-3261
(803) 734-3063
(803) 734-3062
(803) 212-6032
(803) 212-6056
Berkeley County
Rep. Thomas M. "Tom" Dantzler
Rep. Joseph H. Jefferson, Jr.
Rep. Harry B. "Chip" Limehouse III
Rep. James H. Merrill
Rep. C. David Umphlett, Jr.
Sen. Paul G. Campbell, Jr.
Sen. George E. "Chip" Campsen III
Sen. Lawrence K. "Larry" Grooms
TMD@schouse.org
JeffersonJ@schouse.org
HBL@schouse.org
JM1@schouse.org
UmphlettD@schouse.org
PaulCampbell@scsenate.org
CAMPSEN@scsenate.org
STR@scsenate.org
(803) 734-2949
(803) 734-2936
(803) 734-2977
(803) 734-3138
(803) 734-2946
(803) 212-6016
(803) 212-6016
(803) 212-6400
Calhoun County
Rep. Harry L. Ott, Jr.
Sen. John C. Land III
HLO@schouse.org
JCL@scsenate.org
(803) 734-2998
(803) 212-6180
Charleston County
Rep. Floyd Breeland
Rep. Robert L. Brown
Rep. Thomas M. "Tom" Dantzler
Rep. Ben A. Hagood, Jr.
Rep. Robert W. Harrell, Jr., Speaker
Rep. Heyward G. Hutson
Rep. Harry B. "Chip" Limehouse III
Rep. David J. Mack III
Rep. James H. Merrill
Rep. Vida O. Miller
Rep. Wallace B. Scarborough
Rep. Leonidas E. "Leon" Stavrinakis
Rep. J. Seth Whipper
Rep. Annette D. Young
Sen. George E. "Chip" Campsen III
Sen. Ray Cleary
Sen. Robert Ford
Sen. Lawrence K. "Larry" Grooms
Sen. Glenn F. McConnell
Sen. Clementa C. Pinckney
Sen. Randy Scott
FB@schouse.org
RLB@schouse.org
TMD@schouse.org
HagoodB@schouse.org
HSP@schouse.org
heywardhutson@schouse.org
HBL@schouse.org
DJM@schouse.org
JM1@schouse.org
VOM@schouse.org
WBS@schouse.org
StavL@schouse.org
JSW@schouse.org
ADY@schouse.org
CAMPSEN@scsenate.org
CLEARYR@scsenate.org
RIF@scsenate.org
STR@scsenate.org
SJU@scsenate.org
CCP@scsenate.org
SCOTTR@scsenate.org
(803) 734-2987
(803) 734-3170
(803) 734-2949
(803) 734-2950
(803) 734-3125
(803) 734-3239
(803) 734-2977
(803) 734-3192
(803) 734-3138
(803) 734-2957
(803) 734-2948
(803) 734-3039
(803) 734-3191
(803) 734-2953
(803) 212-6016
(803) 212-6100
(803) 212-6124
(803) 212-6400
(803) 212-6610
(803) 212-6056
(803) 212-6024
Cherokee County
Rep. Lanny F. Littlejohn
Rep. Dennis Carroll Moss
Rep. Olin R. Phillips
Sen. Harvey S. Peeler, Jr.
LFL@schouse.org
MossD@schouse.org
ORP@schouse.org
MED@scsenate.org
(803) 734-3141
(803) 734-3073
(803) 734-2958
(803) 212-6430
Chester County
Rep. Creighton B. Coleman
Rep. F. Gregory "Greg" Delleney, Jr.
Rep. Dennis Carroll Moss
Sen. Linda H. Short
cbc@schouse.org
fgd@schouse.org
MossD@schouse.org
LHS@scsenate.org
(803) 734-3140
(803) 734-3074
(803) 734-3073
(803) 212-6148
Chesterfield County
Rep. Douglas Jennings, Jr.
Rep. James H. "Jay" Lucas
Rep. Denny Woodall Neilson
Rep. Ted Martin Vick
Sen. Gerald Malloy
Sen. Vincent A. Sheheen
DJ@schouse.org
JL@schouse.org
DWN@schouse.org
VickT@schouse.org
MALLOYG@scsenate.org
VS@scsenate.org
(803) 734-3065
(803) 734-2961
(803) 734-3097
(803) 734-2999
(803) 212-6148
(803) 212-6124
Clarendon County
Rep. Cathy B. Harvin
Rep. G. Murrell Smith, Jr.
Sen. John C. Land III
HarvinC@schouse.org
GMS@schouse.org
JCL@scsenate.org
(803) 734-3135
(803) 734-3042
(803) 212-6180
Colleton County
Rep. William K. Bowers
Rep. Robert L. Brown
Rep. Kenneth F. Hodges
Sen. Lawrence K. "Larry" Grooms
Sen. John W. Matthews, Jr.
Sen. Clementa C. Pinckney
WKB@schouse.org
RLB@schouse.org
HodgesK@schouse.org
STR@scsenate.org
JWM@scsenate.org
CCP@scsenate.org

(803) 734-2959
(803) 734-3170
(803) 734-3062
(803) 212-6400
(803) 212-6056
(803) 212-6056
Darlington County
Rep. James H. "Jay" Lucas
Rep. Denny Woodall Neilson
Rep. Robert Quintin Williams
Sen. Hugh K. Leatherman, Sr.
Sen. Gerald Malloy
JL@schouse.org
DWN@schouse.org
WilliamsR@schouse.org
SFI@scsenate.org
MALLOYG@scsenate.org
(803) 734-2961
(803) 734-3097
(803) 734-3142
(803) 212-6640
(803) 212-6148
Dillon County
Rep. Jackie E. Hayes
Sen. Dick Elliott
Sen. Kent M. Williams
JH@schouse.org
DE@scsenate.org
WILLIAMSK@scsenate.org
(803) 734-3099
(803) 212-6116
(803) 212-6008
Dorchester County
Rep. Robert W. Harrell, Jr., Speaker
Rep. Heyward G. Hutson
Re. Patsy Knight
Rep. Annette D. Young
Sen. Lawrence K. "Larry" Grooms
Sen. John W. Matthews, Jr.
Sen. Randy Scott
HSP@schouse.org
heywardhutson@schouse.org
KnightP@schouse.org
ADY@schouse.org
STR@scsenate.org
JWM@scsenate.org
SCOTTR@scsenate.org
(803) 734-3125
(803) 734-3239
(803) 734-2960
(803) 734-2953
(803) 212-6400
(803) 212-6056
(803) 212-6024
Edgefield County
Rep. William "Bill" Clyburn
Rep. Donald C. Smith
Sen. A. Shane Massey
WC@schouse.org
DCS@schouse.org
shanemassey@scsenate.org
(803) 734-3033
(803) 734-3031
(803) 212-6000
Fairfield County
Rep. Creighton B. Coleman
Sen. Linda H. Short
cbc@schouse.org
LHS@scsenate.org
(803) 734-3140
(803) 212-6148
Florence County
Rep. Terry Alexander
Rep. Lester P. Branham. Jr.
Rep. Kristopher R. "Kris" Crawford
Rep. Phillip Dean Lowe
Rep.Robert Quintin Williams
Sen. John C. Land III
Sen. Hugh K. Leatherman, Sr.
Sen. J. Yancey McGill
Sen. Kent M. Williams
AlexanderT@schouse.org
BranhamL@schouse.org
CrawfordK@schouse.org
LoweP@schouse.org
WilliamsR@schouse.org
JCL@scsenate.org
SFI@scsenate.org
JYM@scsenate.org
WILLIAMSK@scsenate.org
(803) 734-3004
(803) 734-3002
(803) 734-2992
(803) 734-2975
(803) 734-3142
(803) 212-6180
(803) 212-6640
(803) 212-6132
(803) 212-6008
Georgetown County
Rep. Carl Anderson
Rep. Vida O. Miller
Sen. Ray Cleary
Sen. J. Yancey McGill
AndersonC@schouse.org
VOM@schouse.org
CLEARYR@scsenate.org
JYM@scsenate.org
(803) 734-2933
(803) 734-2957
(803) 212-6100
(803) 212-6132
Greenville County
Rep. Karl B. Allen
Rep. Bruce W. Bannister
Rep. Eric Michael Bedingfield
Rep. Harry F. Cato
Rep. Glenn L. Hamilton
Rep. Gloria Arias Haskins
Rep. Robert W. "Bob" Leach, Sr.
Rep. Dwight A. Loftis
Rep. Rex F. Rice
Rep. Phillip W. Shoopman
Rep. Fletcher N. Smith, Jr.
Rep. Garry R. Smith
Rep.J. Adam Taylor
Sen. Ralph Anderson
Sen. Michael L. Fair
Sen. James H. "Jim" Ritchie, Jr.
Sen. David L. Thomas
Sen. Lewis R. Vaughn
Sen. Daniel B. "Danny" Verdin III
KBA@schouse.org
BannisterB@schouse.org
BedingfieldE@schouse.org
HLC@schouse.org
GLH@schouse.org
GAH@schouse.org
RWL@schouse.org
DAL@schouse.org
RFR@schouse.org
ShoopmanP@schouse.org
FNS@schouse.org
SmithG@schouse.org
at@schouse.org
RA@scsenate.org
FAIRM@scsenate.org
JHR@scsenate.org
SBI@scsenate.org
LRV@scsenate.org
SAG@scsenate.org
(803) 734-3006
(803) 734-3009
(803) 734-2962
(803) 734-3015
(803) 734-3075
(803) 734-2978
(803) 734-3107
(803) 734-3101
(803) 734-3035
(803) 734-3072
(803) 734-3059
803) 734-3045
(803) 734-2990
(803) 212-6108
(803) 212-6420
(803) 212-6032
(803) 212-6240
(803) 212-6100
(803) 212-6230
Greenwood County
Rep. J. Anne Parks
Rep. Lewis E. "Gene" Pinson
Rep. Michael A. Pitts
Sen. John W. Drummond
Sen. William H. O'Dell
JAP@schouse.org
PinsonG@schouse.org
PittsM@schouse.org
PTE@scsenate.org
WHO@scsenate.org
(803) 734-3069
(803) 734-2821
(803) 734-2830
(803) 212-6455
(803) 212-6040
Hampton County
Rep. William K. Bowers
Rep. Curtis Brantley
Sen. John W. Matthews, Jr.
Sen. Clementa C. Pinckney
BrantleyC@schouse.org
WKB@schouse.org
JWM@scsenate.org
CCP@scsenate.org
(803) 734-2965
(803) 734-2959
(803) 212-6056
(803) 212-6056
Horry County
Rep. Liston D. Barfield
Rep. Alan D. Clemmons
Rep. Tracy R. Edge
Rep. Nelson Hardwick
Rep. Jackie E. Hayes
Rep. Thad T. Viers
Rep. William D. Witherspoon
Sen. Ray Cleary
Sen. Dick Elliott
Sen. J. Yancey McGill
Sen. Luke A. Rankin
LDB@schouse.org
ClemmonsA@schouse.org
TE@schouse.org
HardwickN@schouse.org
JH@schouse.org
ViersT@schouse.org
WDW@schouse.org
CLEARYR@scsenate.org
DE@scsenate.org
JYM@scsenate.org
LR@scsenate.org
(803) 734-2968
(803) 734-2994
(803) 734-3013
(803) 734-2967
(803) 734-3099
(803) 734-3064
(803) 734-3022
(803) 212-6100
(803) 212-6116
(803) 212-6132
(803) 212-6132
Jasper County
Rep. Curtis Brantley
Sen. Clementa C. Pinckney
BrantleyC@schouse.org
CCP@scsenate.org
(803) 734-2965
(803) 212-6056
Kershaw County
Rep. William F. "Bill" Cotty
Rep. Laurie Slade Funderburk
Rep. James H. "Jay" Lucas
Sen. Joel Lourie
Sen. Vincent A. Sheheen
WFC@schouse.org
FunderburkL@schouse.org
JL@schouse.org
JBL@scsenate.org
VS@scsenate.org
(803) 734-4851
(803) 734-3044
(803) 734-2961
(803) 212-6116
(803) 212-6124
Lancaster County
Rep. James H. "Jay" Lucas
Rep. J. Michael "Mick" Mulvaney
Rep. James M. "Jimmy" Neal
Sen. Chauncey K. Gregory
Sen. Vincent A. Sheheen
JL@schouse.org
MulvaneyM@schouse.org
jmn@schouse.org
SFG@scsenate.org
VS@scsenate.org
(803) 734-2961
(803) 734-2937
(803) 734-2976
(803) 212-6330
(803) 212-6124
Laurens County
Rep. Jeffrey D. "Jeff" Duncan
Rep. J. Adam Taylor
Rep. Michael A. Pitts
Sen. John W. Drummond
Sen. Daniel B. "Danny" Verdin III
DuncanJ@schouse.org
at@schouse.org
PittsM@schouse.org
PTE@scsenate.org
SAG@scsenate.org
(803) 734-2974
(803) 734-2830
(803) 734-2990
(803) 212-6455
(803) 212-6230
Lee County
Rep. Grady A. Brown
Sen. Phil P. Leventis
Sen. Gerald Malloy
GB@schouse.org
PL@scsenate.org
MALLOYG@scsenate.org
(803) 734-2934
(803) 212-6000
(803) 212-6148
Lexington County
Rep. Nathan Ballentine
Rep. Kenneth A. "Kenny" Bingham
Rep. Marion B. Frye
Rep. Nikki Randhawa Haley
Rep. Chip Huggins
Rep. Walton J. McLeod
Rep. Harry L. Ott, Jr.
Rep. Edward H. "Ted" Pitts, Jr.
Rep. Lawrence Kit Spires
Rep. McLain R. "Mac" Toole
Sen. John E. Courson
Sen. Ronnie W. Cromer
Sen. John M. "Jake" Knotts, Jr.
Sen. Nikki G. Setzler
BallentineN@schouse.org
KAB@schouse.org
MBF@schouse.org
HaleyN@schouse.org
ch@schouse.org
WJM@schouse.org
HLO@schouse.org
PittsT@schouse.org
SpiresK@schouse.org
TooleM@schouse.org
EDU@scsenate.org
CROMERR@scsenate.org
SIV@scsenate.org
NGS@scsenate.org
(803) 734-2969
(803) 734-2988
(803) 734-3275
(803) 734-2970
(803) 734-2971
(803) 734-3276
(803) 734-2998
(803) 734-2972
(803) 734-3010
(803) 734-2973
(803) 212-6250
(803) 212-6040
(803) 212-6350
(803) 212-6140
Marion County
Rep. Terry Alexander
Rep. James A. "Jim" Battle, Jr.
Sen. Dick Elliott
Sen. Kent M. Williams
AlexanderT@schouse.org
jab@schouse.org
DE@scsenate.org
WILLIAMSK@scsenate.org
(803) 734-3004
(803) 734-3001
(803) 212-6116
(803) 212-6008
Marlboro County
Rep. Douglas Jennings, Jr.
Sen. Dick Elliott
Sen. Gerald Malloy
Sen. Kent M. Williams
DJ@schouse.org
DE@scsenate.org
MALLOYG@scsenate.org
WILLIAMSK@scsenate.org
(803) 734-3065
(803) 212-6116
(803) 212-6148
(803) 212-6008
McCormick County
Rep. J. Anne Parks
Sen. A. Shane Massey
JAP@schouse.org
shanemassey@scsenate.org
(803) 734-3069
(803) 212-6000
Newberry County
Rep. Jeffrey D. "Jeff" Duncan
Rep. Walton J. McLeod
Sen. Ronnie W. Cromer
DuncanJ@schouse.org
WJM@schouse.org
CROMERR@scsenate.org
(803) 734-2974
(803) 734-3276
(803) 212-6040
Oconee County
Rep. Don Carson Bowen
Rep. William E. "Bill" Sandifer III
Rep. William R. "Bill" Whitmire
Sen. Thomas C. Alexander
BowenD@schouse.org
WES@schouse.org
WhitmireW@schouse.org
SGE@scsenate.org
(803) 734-3038
(803) 734-3109
(803) 734-3068
(803) 212-6220
Orangeburg County
Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter
Rep. Jerry N. Govan, Jr.
Rep. Harry L. Ott, Jr.
Rep. Bakari T. Sellers
Sen. C. Bradley Hutto
Sen. John W. Matthews, Jr.
gch@schouse.org
JNG@schouse.org
HLO@schouse.org
SellersB@schouse.org
CBH@scsenate.org
JWM@scsenate.org
(803) 734-2809
(803) 734-3012
(803) 734-2998
(803) 734-3003
(803) 212-6140
(803) 212-6056
Pickens County
Rep. David R. Hiott
Rep. Phillip D. "Phil" Owens
Rep. Rex F. Rice
Rep. William E. "Bill" Sandifer III
Rep. B. R. Skelton
Sen. Thomas C. Alexander
Sen. Larry A. Martin
HiottD@schouse.org
owensp@schouse.org
RFR@schouse.org
WES@schouse.org
SkeltonBR@schouse.org
SGE@scsenate.org
SRU@scsenate.org
(803) 734-3323
(803) 734-3237
(803) 734-3035
(803) 734-3109
(803) 734-3036
(803) 212-6220
(803) 212-6340
Richland County
Rep. Dr. Jimmy C. Bales
Rep. Nathan Ballentine
Rep. Joan Brady
Rep. William F. "Bill" Cotty
Rep. James H. Harrison
Rep. Christopher Richard Hart
Rep. Leon Howard
Rep. Joseph H. Neal
Rep. J. Todd Rutherford
Rep. John L. Scott, Jr.
Rep. James E. Smith, Jr.
Sen. John E. Courson
Sen. Darrell Jackson
Sen. Joel Lourie
Sen. Kay Patterson
JCB@schouse.org
BallentineN@schouse.org
BradyJ@schouse.org
WFC@schouse.org
HJU@schouse.org
HartC@schouse.org
LH@schouse.org
JN@schouse.org
JTR@schouse.org
JLS@schouse.org
RepSmith@JamesSmith.org
EDU@scsenate.org
DJ1@scsenate.org
JBL@scsenate.org
KAY@scsenate.org
(803) 734-3058
(803) 734-2969
(803) 734-3027
(803) 734-4851
(803) 734-3120
(803) 734-3061
(803) 734-3046
(803) 734-2804
(803) 734-9441
(803) 734-2963
(803) 734-2997
(803) 212-6250
(803) 212-6048
(803) 212-6116
(803) 212-6048
Saluda County
Rep. Marion B. Frye
Sen. Ronnie W. Cromer
Sen. A. Shane Massey
Sen. Nikki G. Setzler
MBF@schouse.org
CROMERR@scsenate.org
shanemassey@scsenate.org
NGS@scsenate.org
(803) 734-3275
(803) 212-6040
(803) 212-6000
(803) 212-6140
Spartanburg County
Rep. Michael A. Anthony
Rep. G. Ralph Davenport, Jr.
Rep. R. Keith Kelly
Rep. Lanny F. Littlejohn
Rep. Joseph G. Mahaffey
Rep. Harold Mitchell, Jr.
Rep. W. Douglas "Doug" Smith
Rep. Scott F. Talley
Rep. Robert E. "Bob" Walker
Sen. John D. Hawkins
Sen. Harvey S. Peeler, Jr.
Sen. Glenn G. Reese
Sen. James H. "Jim" Ritchie, Jr.
AnthonyM@schouse.org
GRD@schouse.org
KellyK@schouse.org
LFL@schouse.org
MahaffeyJ@schouse.org
MITCHELLH@schouse.org
SPT@schouse.org
SFT@schouse.org
REW@schouse.org
DH@scsenate.org
MED@scsenate.org
GR@scsenate.org
JHR@scsenate.org
(803) 734-3060
(803) 734-3098
(803) 734-3008
(803) 734-3141
(803) 734-3028
(803) 734-6638
(803) 734-2701
(803) 734-3005
(803) 734-3053
(803) 212-6008
(803) 212-6430
(803) 212-6108
(803) 212-6032
Sumter County
Rep. Grady A. Brown
Rep. Phillip Dean Lowe
Rep. Joseph H. Neal
Rep. G. Murrell Smith. Jr.
Rep. J. David Weeks
Sen. John C. Land III
Sen. Phil P. Leventis
GB@schouse.org
LoweP@schouse.org
JN@schouse.org
GMS@schouse.org
JDW@schouse.org
JCL@scsenate.org
PL@scsenate.org
(803) 734-2934
(803) 734-2975
(803) 734-2804
(803) 734-3042
(803) 734-3102
(803) 212-6180
(803) 212-6000
Union County
Rep. Michael A. Anthony
Sen. Harvey S. Peeler, Jr.
Sen. James H. "Jim" Ritchie, Jr.
Sen. Linda H. Short (Mrs. Paul)
AnthonyM@schouse.org
MED@scsenate.org
JHR@scsenate.org
LHS@scsenate.org
(803) 734-3060
(803) 212-6430
(803) 212-6032
(803) 212-6148
Williamsburg County
Rep. Carl Anderson
Rep. Cathy B. Harvin
Rep. Kenneth Kennedy
Sen. J. Yancey McGill
AndersonC@schouse.org
HarvinC@schouse.org
KK@schouse.org
JYM@scsenate.org
(803) 734-2933
(803) 734-3135
(803) 734-2986
(803) 212-6132
York County
Rep. F. Gregory "Greg" Delleney, Jr.
Rep. Carl Lee Gullick
Rep. Herb Kirsh
Rep. Bessie Moody-Lawrence
Rep. Dennis Carroll Moss
Rep. J. Michael "Mick" Mulvaney
Rep. J. Gary Simrill
Sen. Chauncey K. Gregory
Sen. Robert W. Hayes, Jr.
Sen. Harvey S. Peeler, Jr.
Sen. Linda H. Short
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LHS@scsenate.org
(803) 734-3074
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(803) 734-3071
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(803) 212-6330
(803) 212-6410
(803) 212-6430
(803) 212-6148

*** GrassRoots Action Alert ***

H. 3212 NEEDS YOUR HELP!

24 March 2008

ACT NOW! H. 3212 is now in YOUR hands!

Your calls and emails last week resulted in a slightly improved bill, but the Senate didn't properly fix the bill. The SC Senate failed to remove their amendment to H. 3212 and restore it to a recognition bill before sending it back the the SC House for their approval. In its current form, H. 3212 is still so poorly written that South Carolina could not even get reciprocity with itself! Below is the letter GrassRoots is providing to each member of the SC House of Representatives.

*** ACTION STEPS: *** (Scroll down for a contact list of your legislators.)

  1. Call EACH Representative from your county first thing in the morning on Tuesday. Tell them "I'm calling about H. 3212. GrassRoots GunRights speaks for me!"
  2. Email EACH Representative from your county and send the message "GrassRoots GunRights speaks for me!" (Cut and paste "GrassRoots GunRights speaks for me!" in both the subject line and the body of the text.)

The Honorable Robert W. Harrell, Jr.
South Carolina House of Representatives
P.O. Box 11867
Columbia, SC 29211

The concealed weapon permit (CWP) recognition bill - H. 3212 - passed by the House last year was amended in the Senate. The Senate amendment turns H. 3212 into a horrible bill that could easily make CWP reciprocity with South Carolina worse rather than better. The Senate amendment would change things so drastically that South Carolina could not even get reciprocity with itself!

The Senate amended H. 3212 to read as follows:

"(N) Valid out-of-state permits to carry concealable weapons held by a resident of a reciprocal state must be honored by this State , provided, that the reciprocal state requires an applicant to successfully pass a criminal background check and a course in firearm training and safety. A resident of a reciprocal state carrying a concealable weapon in South Carolina is subject to and must abide by the laws of South Carolina regarding concealable weapons. SLED shall make a determination as to those states which have permit issuance standards equal to or greater than the standards contained in this article and shall maintain and publish a list of those states as the states with which South Carolina has reciprocity."

The logical reasoning that follows below will prove why H. 3212 is a terrible bill as amended by the Senate and why it needs to be amended to actually accomplish that which the NRA inaccurately claims it does now. Then, GrassRoots will provide alternative language to amend H. 3212 so that H. 3212 will actually do what it is claimed that it does now.

Words have meaning, which is why they are so important in legal matters. Words are so important that the law frequently defines a word as it is to be used in a particular article of law rather than leaving the definition of the word to common usage, which could allow for different interpretations.

The South Carolina "Law Abiding Citizens Self-Defense Act of 1996" defined certain words. Those definitions can not be ignored when considering amendments to the law. A definition critical to a proper understanding of the impact of the Senate amendment to H. 3212 can found in Section 23-31-210(5), which reads as follows:

"Proof of training" means an original document or certified copy of the document supplied by an applicant that certifies that he is either:

(a) a person who, within three years before filing an application, has successfully completed a basic or advanced handgun education course offered by a state, county, or municipal law enforcement agency or a nationally recognized organization that promotes gun safety. This education course must be a minimum of eight hours and must include, but is not limited to:

(i) information on the statutory and case law of this State relating to handguns and to the use of deadly force;

(ii) information on handgun use and safety;

(iii) information on the proper storage practice for handguns with an emphasis on storage practices that reduces the possibility of accidental injury to a child; and

(iv) the actual firing of the handgun in the presence of the instructor;

(b) an instructor certified by the National Rifle Association or another SLED-approved competent national organization that promotes the safe use of handguns;

(c) a person who can demonstrate to the Director of SLED or his designee that he has a proficiency in both the use of handguns and state laws pertaining to handguns;

(d) an active duty police handgun instructor;

(e) a person who has a SLED-certified or approved competitive handgun shooting classification; or

(f) a member of the active or reserve military, or a member of the National Guard who has had handgun training in the previous three years.

SLED shall promulgate regulations containing general guidelines for courses and qualifications for instructors which would satisfy the requirements of this item. For purposes of subitems (a) and (b), "proof of training" is not satisfied unless the organization and its instructors meet or exceed the guidelines and qualifications contained in the regulations promulgated by SLED pursuant to this item.

Existing South Carolina law - Section 23-31-215(A)(5) - allows a person to qualify for a CWP if that person can satisfy just one of the six legal alternatives for "proof of training" found in Section 23-31-210(5) above. A "course in firearm training and safety" is only one of those alternatives, and what constitutes a proper "course in firearm training and safety" is further defined in Section 23-31-210(5)(a) as a minimum eight (8) hour class.

Existing South Carolina law Section 23-31-215(N) states:

Valid out-of-state permits to carry concealable weapons held by a resident of a reciprocal state must be honored by this State. SLED shall make a determination as to those states which have permit issuance standards equal to or greater than the standards contained in this article and shall maintain and publish a list of those states as the states with which South Carolina has reciprocity.

As can be readily seen from the above cited SC law, existing SC law allows for CWP reciprocity with states that do not necessarily require a "course in firearm training and safety." All that is required under existing SC law is that another state have CWP "issuance standards equal to or greater than the standards contained in this article," and SC legally allows for five alternatives that do not require a "course in firearm training and safety." Thus, if the Senate amendment to H. 3212 is enacted into law, South Carolina would not be eligible for CWP reciprocity with itself because South Carolina does not necessarily require a "course in firearm training and safety" to obtain a CWP as the Senate amendment would mandate. Does the Senate really fear NRA certified instructors, active duty police handgun instructors, or members of the active or reserve military or members of the National Guard who have had handgun training in the previous three years who qualified for a CWP in their home state? GrassRoots will propose an amendment to H. 3212 to remedy this shortcoming that was overlooked, misunderstood, and denied by the NRA.

There is no excuse for using ambiguous language to draft legislation when clear and concise language would ensure the intent of the legislature was codified. Otherwise, the ambiguous language could lead to years of litigation at best, and possibly great bodily harm or death to those denied the ability to properly defend themselves.

The NRA has claimed the Senate amendment will allow CWP reciprocity with states that do not require an eight (8) hour "course in firearm training and safety. " Unfortunately, that is not clear from the language used in the Senate amendment.

Going back to the definitions section of the South Carolina "Law Abiding Citizens Self-Defense Act of 1996," an eight (8) hour minimum class time is required to satisfy the "proof of training" requirement when the classroom alternative is chosen for "proof of training." The Senate amendment to H. 3212 does nothing to change the definition of what constitutes a proper education course. This failure makes for an ambiguous situation.

If SLED or a court was asked to decide what constituted a proper "course in firearm training and safety," it could easily be argued that the definitions section of the South Carolina "Law Abiding Citizens Self-Defense Act of 1996" controlled, which would mean a minimum eight (8) hour class. Why leave things to chance? Why leave things ambiguous? Why not say exactly what is meant?

It is important to note the NRA already made errors in drafting the Senate amendment to H. 3212 on March 13, 2008. Only after GrassRoots exposed those drafting errors in a letter to the Senate dated March 17, 2008, did the NRA then draft a new amendment to remedy one of the errors. Over the years, GrassRoots has proven itself as the organization best able to properly draft legislation without errors.

GrassRoots requests that the House reject the Senate amendment to H. 3212 and return H. 3212 back to the CWP recognition bill passed last year. But, if the House is determined to pass H. 3212 even as a CWP reciprocity bill, then the Senate amendment still needs to be rejected because it does not accomplish that which it is claimed it accomplishes. The Senate amendment to H. 3212 needs to be replaced with a GrassRoots proposed amendment that will accomplish that which the NRA wrongly claims the Senate amendment will do.

GrassRoots proposes the following language to replace the Senate amendment to H. 3212:

"(N) Valid out-of-state permits to carry concealable weapons held by a resident of a reciprocal state must be honored by this State, provided, the reciprocal state requires an applicant to successfully pass a criminal background check and either 1) any course in firearm training and safety accepted by the reciprocal state, or 2) other proof of training that would be accepted under South Carolina law. A resident of a reciprocal state carrying a concealable weapon in South Carolina is subject to and must abide by the laws of South Carolina regarding concealable weapons. SLED shall make a determination as to those states which have permit issuance standards equal to or greater than the standards contained in this article and shall maintain and publish a list of those states as the states with which South Carolina has reciprocity."

The GrassRoots proposed amendment makes it clear the SC CWP reciprocity law should not be interpreted using the definitions section of the South Carolina CWP law, and the GrassRoots proposed amendment will thus ensure the SC CWP law will allow less than an eight (8) hour minimum class time to satisfy the reciprocity requirement. This is exactly what people are now being told the Senate amendment will do, so this should not be a controversial change.

The GrassRoots proposed amendment will also allow for CWP reciprocity with states like South Carolina that allow alternatives to a "course in firearm training and safety" to satisfy the "proof of training" requirement, i.e., NRA certified instructors, active duty police handgun instructors, or members of the active or reserve military or members of the National Guard who have had handgun training in the previous three years who qualified for a CWP in their home state. This change will allow reciprocity with Florida, which allows for issuance of a CWP upon presentation of "evidence of equivalent experience with a firearm through participation in organized shooting competition or military service.

If you have any questions concerning H. 3212 or the effects of the intricacies of the various sections of law upon CWP reciprocity, please contact me at XXX.XXX.XXXX.

Robert D. Butler, J.D.
Vice President
GrassRoots GunRights of SC

*** ACTION STEPS: ***

  1. Call EACH Representative from your county first thing in the morning on Tuesday. Tell them "I'm calling about H. 3212. GrassRoots GunRights speaks for me!"
  2. Email EACH Representative from your county and send the message "GrassRoots GunRights speaks for me!" (Cut and paste "GrassRoots GunRights speaks for me!" in both the subject line and the body of the text.)

Thank you for doing your part as a gun rights activist!

Bill Rentiers
Executive Officer
GrassRoots GunRights of SC
ExecOfficer@SCFirearms.org
803-233-9295

Abbeville County
Rep. Paul Agnew, District 11
Rep. Michael W. "Mike" Gambrell, District 7
Rep. Michael A. Pitts, District 14
AgnewP@schouse.org
GambrellM@schouse.org
PittsM@schouse.org
(803) 734-2993
(803) 734-2947
(803) 734-2830
Aiken County
Rep. William "Bill" Clyburn, District 82
Rep. Robert S. "Skipper" Perry, Jr., District 81
Rep. Donald C. Smith, District 83
Rep. J. Roland Smith, District 84
Rep. Kit Spires, District 96
Rep. James E. "Jim" Stewart, District 86
WC@schouse.org
RSP@schouse.org
DCS@schouse.org
JS@schouse.org
SpiresK@schouse.org
jim@stewartbuilders.com
(803) 734-3033
(803) 734-3032
(803) 734-3031
(803) 734-3114
(803) 734-3010
(803) 734-3034
Allendale County
Rep. Lonnie Hosey, District 91
LH1@schouse.org
(803) 734-2829
Anderson County
Rep. Paul Agnew, District 11
Rep. Don Carson Bowen, District 8
Rep. Daniel T. Cooper, District 10
Rep. Michael W. "Mike" Gambrell, District 7
Rep. Michael D. Thompson, District 9
Rep. W. Brian White, District 6
AgnewP@schouse.org
BowenD@schouse.org
HWM@schouse.or
GambrellM@schouse.org
MT@schouse.org
WBW@schouse.org
(803) 734-2993
(803) 734-3038
(803) 734-3144
(803) 734-2947
(803) 734-3014
(803) 734-3113
Bamberg County
Rep. Bakari T. Sellers, District 90
SellersB@schouse.org
(803) 734-3003
Barnwell County
Rep. Lonnie Hosey, District 91
Rep. Bakari T. Sellers, District 90
LH1@schouse.org
SellersB@schouse.org
(803) 734-2829
(803) 734-3003
Beaufort County
Rep. Curtis Brantley, District 122
Rep. Richard Chalk, District 123
Rep. Shannon S. Erickson, District 124
Rep. William G. "Bill" Herbkersman, District 118
Rep. Kenneth F. Hodges, District 121
BrantleyC@schouse.org
ChalkR@schouse.org
shannonerickson@schouse.org
HerbkersmanB@schouse.org
HodgesK@schouse.org
(803) 734-2965
(803) 734-3067
(803) 734-3261
(803) 734-3063
(803) 734-3062
Berkeley County
Rep. Thomas M. "Tom" Dantzler, District 117
Rep. Joseph H. Jefferson, Jr., District 102
Rep. Harry B. "Chip" Limehouse III, District 110
Rep. James H. Merrill, District 99
Rep. C. David Umphlett, Jr., District 100
TMD@schouse.org
JeffersonJ@schouse.org
HBL@schouse.org
JM1@schouse.org
UmphlettD@schouse.org
(803) 734-2949
(803) 734-2936
(803) 734-2977
(803) 734-3138
(803) 734-2946
Calhoun County
Rep. Harry L. Ott, Jr., District 93
HLO@schouse.org
(803) 734-2998
Charleston County
Rep. Floyd Breeland, District 111
Rep. Robert L. Brown, District 116
Rep. Thomas M. "Tom" Dantzler, District 117
Rep. Ben A. Hagood, Jr., District 112
Rep. Robert W. Harrell, Jr., Speaker, District 114
Rep. Heyward G. Hutson, District 94
Rep. Harry B. "Chip" Limehouse III, District 110
Rep. David J. Mack III, District 109
Rep. James H. Merrill, District 99
Rep. Vida O. Miller, District 108
Rep. Wallace B. Scarborough, District 115
Rep. Leonidas E. "Leon" Stavrinakis, District 119
Rep. J. Seth Whipper, District 113
Rep. Annette D. Young, District 98
FB@schouse.org
RLB@schouse.org
TMD@schouse.org
HagoodB@schouse.org
HSP@schouse.org
heywardhutson@schouse.org
HBL@schouse.org
DJM@schouse.org
JM1@schouse.org
VOM@schouse.org
WBS@schouse.org
StavL@schouse.org
JSW@schouse.org
ADY@schouse.org
(803) 734-2987
(803) 734-3170
(803) 734-2949
(803) 734-2950
(803) 734-3125
(803) 734-3239
(803) 734-2977
(803) 734-3192
(803) 734-3138
(803) 734-2957
(803) 734-2948
(803) 734-3039
(803) 734-3191
(803) 734-2953
Cherokee County
Rep. Lanny F. Littlejohn, District 33
Rep. Dennis Carroll Moss, District 29
Rep. Olin R. Phillips, District 30
LFL@schouse.org
MossD@schouse.org
ORP@schouse.org
(803) 734-3141
(803) 734-3073
(803) 734-2958
Chester County
Rep. Creighton B. Coleman, District 41
Rep. F. Gregory "Greg" Delleney, Jr., District 43
Rep. Dennis Carroll Moss, District 29
cbc@schouse.org
fgd@schouse.org
MossD@schouse.org
(803) 734-3140
(803) 734-3074
(803) 734-3073
Chesterfield County
Rep. Douglas Jennings, Jr., District 54
Rep. James H. "Jay" Lucas, District 65
Rep. Denny Woodall Neilson, District 56
Rep. Ted Martin Vick, District 53
DJ@schouse.org
JL@schouse.org
DWN@schouse.org
VickT@schouse.org
(803) 734-3065
(803) 734-2961
(803) 734-3097
(803) 734-2999
Clarendon County
Rep. Cathy B. Harvin, District 64
Rep. G. Murrell Smith, Jr., District 67
HarvinC@schouse.org
GMS@schouse.org
(803) 734-3135
(803) 734-3042
Colleton County
Rep. William K. Bowers, District 120
Rep. Robert L. Brown, District 116
Rep. Kenneth F. Hodges, District 121
WKB@schouse.org
RLB@schouse.org
HodgesK@schouse.org
(803) 734-2959
(803) 734-3170
(803) 734-3062
Darlington County
Rep. James H. "Jay" Lucas, District 65
Rep. Denny Woodall Neilson, District 56
Rep. Robert Quintin Williams, District 62
JL@schouse.org
DWN@schouse.org
WilliamsR@schouse.org
(803) 734-2961
(803) 734-3097
(803) 734-3142
Dillon County
Rep. Jackie E. Hayes, District 55
JH@schouse.org
(803) 734-3099
Dorchester County
Rep. Robert W. Harrell, Jr., Speaker, District 114
Rep. Heyward G. Hutson, District 94
Re. Patsy Knight, District 97
Rep. Annette D. Young, District 98
HSP@schouse.org
heywardhutson@schouse.org
KnightP@schouse.org
ADY@schouse.org
(803) 734-3125
(803) 734-3239
(803) 734-2960
(803) 734-2953
Edgefield County
Rep. William "Bill" Clyburn, District 82
Rep. Donald C. Smith, District 83
WC@schouse.org
DCS@schouse.org
(803) 734-3033
(803) 734-3031
Fairfield County
Rep. Creighton B. Coleman, District 41
cbc@schouse.org
(803) 734-3140
Florence County
Rep. Terry Alexander, District 59
Rep. Lester P. Branham. Jr., District 61
Rep. Kristopher R. "Kris" Crawford, District 63
Rep. Phillip Dean Lowe, District 60
Rep.Robert Quintin Williams, District 62
AlexanderT@schouse.org
BranhamL@schouse.org
CrawfordK@schouse.org
LoweP@schouse.org
WilliamsR@schouse.org
(803) 734-3004
(803) 734-3002
(803) 734-2992
(803) 734-2975
(803) 734-3142
Georgetown County
Rep. Carl Anderson, District 103
Rep. Vida O. Miller, District 108
AndersonC@schouse.org
VOM@schouse.org
(803) 734-2933
(803) 734-2957
Greenville County
Rep. Karl B. Allen, District 25
Rep. Bruce W. Bannister, District 24
Rep. Eric Michael Bedingfield, District 28
Rep. Harry F. Cato, District 17
Rep. Glenn L. Hamilton, District 20
Rep. Gloria Arias Haskins, District 22
Rep. Robert W. "Bob" Leach, Sr., District 21
Rep. Dwight A. Loftis, District 19
Rep. Rex F. Rice, District 26
Rep. Phillip W. Shoopman, District 18
Rep. Fletcher N. Smith, Jr., District 23
Rep. Garry R. Smith, District 27
Rep.J. Adam Taylor, District 16
KBA@schouse.org
BannisterB@schouse.org
BedingfieldE@schouse.org
HLC@schouse.org
GLH@schouse.org
GAH@schouse.org
RWL@schouse.org
DAL@schouse.org
RFR@schouse.org
ShoopmanP@schouse.org
FNS@schouse.org
SmithG@schouse.org
at@schouse.org
(803) 734-3006
(803) 734-3009
(803) 734-2962
(803) 734-3015
(803) 734-3075
(803) 734-2978
(803) 734-3107
(803) 734-3101
(803) 734-3035
(803) 734-3072
(803) 734-3059
803) 734-3045
(803) 734-2990
Greenwood County
Rep. J. Anne Parks, District 12
Rep. Lewis E. "Gene" Pinson, District 13
Rep. Michael A. Pitts, District 14
JAP@schouse.org
PinsonG@schouse.org
PittsM@schouse.org
(803) 734-3069
(803) 734-2821
(803) 734-2830
Hampton County
Rep. William K. Bowers, District 120
Rep. Curtis Brantley, District 122
BrantleyC@schouse.org
WKB@schouse.org
(803) 734-2965
(803) 734-2959
Horry County
Rep. Liston D. Barfield, District 58
Rep. Alan D. Clemmons, District 107
Rep. Tracy R. Edge, District 104
Rep. Nelson Hardwick, District 106
Rep. Jackie E. Hayes, District 55
Rep. Thad T. Viers, District 68
Rep. William D. Witherspoon, District 105
LDB@schouse.org
ClemmonsA@schouse.org
TE@schouse.org
HardwickN@schouse.org
JH@schouse.org
ViersT@schouse.org
WDW@schouse.org
(803) 734-2968
(803) 734-2994
(803) 734-3013
(803) 734-2967
(803) 734-3099
(803) 734-3064
(803) 734-3022
Jasper County
Rep. Curtis Brantley, District 122
BrantleyC@schouse.org
(803) 734-2965
Kershaw County
Rep. William F. "Bill" Cotty, District 79
Rep. Laurie Slade Funderburk, District 52
Rep. James H. "Jay" Lucas, District 65
WFC@schouse.org
FunderburkL@schouse.org
JL@schouse.org
(803) 734-4851
(803) 734-3044
(803) 734-2961
Lancaster County
Rep. James H. "Jay" Lucas, District 65
Rep. J. Michael "Mick" Mulvaney, District 45
Rep. James M. "Jimmy" Neal, District 44
JL@schouse.org
MulvaneyM@schouse.org
jmn@schouse.org
(803) 734-2961
(803) 734-2937
(803) 734-2976
Laurens County
Rep. Jeffrey D. "Jeff" Duncan, District 15
Rep. J. Adam Taylor, District 16
Rep. Michael A. Pitts, District 14
DuncanJ@schouse.org
at@schouse.org
PittsM@schouse.org
(803) 734-2974
(803) 734-2830
(803) 734-2990
Lee County
Rep. Grady A. Brown, District 50
GB@schouse.org
(803) 734-2934
Lexington County
Rep. Nathan Ballentine, District 71
Rep. Kenneth A. "Kenny" Bingham, District 89
Rep. Marion B. Frye, District 39
Rep. Nikki Randhawa Haley, District 87
Rep. Chip Huggins, District 85
Rep. Walton J. McLeod, District 40
Rep. Harry L. Ott, Jr., District 93
Rep. Edward H. "Ted" Pitts, Jr., District 69
Rep. Lawrence Kit Spires, District 96
Rep. McLain R. "Mac" Toole, District 88
BallentineN@schouse.org
KAB@schouse.org
MBF@schouse.org
HaleyN@schouse.org
ch@schouse.org
WJM@schouse.org
HLO@schouse.org
PittsT@schouse.org
SpiresK@schouse.org
TooleM@schouse.org
(803) 734-2969
(803) 734-2988
(803) 734-3275
(803) 734-2970
(803) 734-2971
(803) 734-3276
(803) 734-2998
(803) 734-2972
(803) 734-3010
(803) 734-2973
Marion County
Rep. Terry Alexander, District 59
Rep. James A. "Jim" Battle, Jr., District 57
AlexanderT@schouse.org
jab@schouse.org
(803) 734-3004
(803) 734-3001
Marlboro County
Rep. Douglas Jennings, Jr., District 54
DJ@schouse.org
(803) 734-3065
McCormick County
Rep. J. Anne Parks, District 12
JAP@schouse.org
(803) 734-3069
Newberry County
Rep. Jeffrey D. "Jeff" Duncan, District 15
Rep. Walton J. McLeod, District 40
DuncanJ@schouse.org
WJM@schouse.org
(803) 734-2974
(803) 734-3276
Oconee County
Rep. Don Carson Bowen, District 8
Rep. William E. "Bill" Sandifer III, District 2
Rep. William R. "Bill" Whitmire, District 1
BowenD@schouse.org
WES@schouse.org
WhitmireW@schouse.org
(803) 734-3038
(803) 734-3109
(803) 734-3068
Orangeburg County
Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, District 66
Rep. Jerry N. Govan, Jr., District 95
Rep. Harry L. Ott, Jr., District 93
Rep. Bakari T. Sellers, District 90
gch@schouse.org
JNG@schouse.org
HLO@schouse.org
SellersB@schouse.org
(803) 734-2809
(803) 734-3012
(803) 734-2998
(803) 734-3003
Pickens County
Rep. David R. Hiott, District 4
Rep. Phillip D. "Phil" Owens, District 5
Rep. Rex F. Rice, District 26
Rep. William E. "Bill" Sandifer III, District 2
Rep. B. R. Skelton, District 3
HiottD@schouse.org
owensp@schouse.org
RFR@schouse.org
WES@schouse.org
SkeltonBR@schouse.org
(803) 734-3323
(803) 734-3237
(803) 734-3035
(803) 734-3109
(803) 734-3036
Richland County
Rep. Dr. Jimmy C. Bales, District 80
Rep. Nathan Ballentine, District 71
Rep. Joan Brady , District 78
Rep. William F. "Bill" Cotty, District 79
Rep. James H. Harrison, District 75
Rep. Christopher Richard Hart, District 73
Rep. Leon Howard, District 76
Rep. Joseph H. Neal, District 70
Rep. J. Todd Rutherford, District 74
Rep. John L. Scott, Jr., District 77
Rep. James E. Smith, Jr., District 72
RepSmith@JamesSmith.org
JCB@schouse.org
BallentineN@schouse.org
BradyJ@schouse.org
WFC@schouse.org
HJU@schouse.org
HartC@schouse.org
LH@schouse.org
JN@schouse.org
JTR@schouse.org
JLS@schouse.org
(803) 734-3058
(803) 734-2969
(803) 734-3027
(803) 734-4851
(803) 734-3120
(803) 734-3061
(803) 734-3046
(803) 734-2804
(803) 734-9441
(803) 734-2963
(803) 734-2997
Saluda County
Rep. Marion B. Frye, District 39
MBF@schouse.org
(803) 734-3275
Spartanburg County
Rep. Michael A. Anthony, District 42
Rep. G. Ralph Davenport, Jr., District 37
Rep. R. Keith Kelly, District 35
Rep. Lanny F. Littlejohn, District 33
Rep. Joseph G. Mahaffey, District 36
Rep. Harold Mitchell, Jr., District 31
Rep. W. Douglas "Doug" Smith, District 32
Rep. Scott F. Talley, District 34
Rep. Robert E. "Bob" Walker, District 38
AnthonyM@schouse.org
GRD@schouse.org
KellyK@schouse.org
LFL@schouse.org
MahaffeyJ@schouse.org
MITCHELLH@schouse.org
SPT@schouse.org
SFT@schouse.org
REW@schouse.org
(803) 734-3060
(803) 734-3098
(803) 734-3008
(803) 734-3141
(803) 734-3028
(803) 734-6638
(803) 734-2701
(803) 734-3005
(803) 734-3053
Sumter County
Rep. Grady A. Brown, District 50
Rep. Phillip Dean Lowe, District 60
Rep. Joseph H. Neal, District 70
Rep. G. Murrell Smith. Jr., District 67
Rep. J. David Weeks, District 51
GB@schouse.org
LoweP@schouse.org
JN@schouse.org
GMS@schouse.org
JDW@schouse.org
(803) 734-2934
(803) 734-2975
(803) 734-2804
(803) 734-3042
(803) 734-3102
Union County
Rep. Michael A. Anthony, District 42
AnthonyM@schouse.org
(803) 734-3060
Williamsburg County
Rep. Carl Anderson, District 103
Rep. Cathy B. Harvin, District 64
Rep. Kenneth Kennedy, District 101
AndersonC@schouse.org
HarvinC@schouse.org
KK@schouse.org
(803) 734-2933
(803) 734-3135
(803) 734-2986
York County
Rep. F. Gregory "Greg" Delleney, Jr., District 43
Rep. Carl Lee Gullick, District 48
Rep. Herb Kirsh, District 47
Rep. Bessie Moody-Lawrence, District 49
Rep. Dennis Carroll Moss, District 29
Rep. J. Michael "Mick" Mulvaney, District 45
Rep. J. Gary Simrill, District 46
fgd@schouse.org
GullickC@schouse.org
NO EMAIL
bam@schouse.org
MossD@schouse.org
MulvaneyM@schouse.org
JGS@schouse.org
(803) 734-3074
(803) 734-3011
(803) 734-3071
(803) 734-3029
(803) 734-3073
(803) 734-2937
(803) 734-3040

*** GrassRoots Action Alert ***

H. 3212 NEEDS YOUR IMMEDIATE HELP!

17 March 2008

Your IMMEDIATE action is needed to save H. 3212 in the Senate! If you do not act first thing Tuesday morning, it will be too late!

Sen. Jake Knotts amended H. 3212 on Thursday. As amended it will be WORSE than current law. NRA is supporting this bill for unknown reasons since the bill will not increase the number of states with which SC can have reciprocity. So, the politicians must hear the message "GrassRoots GunRights speaks for me!"

GrassRoots apologizes for the last minute notice, but things are moving fast and research was needed to be sure our suspicions were correct about the H. 3212. We will have a full explanation up on our web site by tomorrow morning.

Below is the text of the letter we are sending to each Senator.

The Honorable Glenn F. McConnell
South Carolina Senate
P.O. Box 142
Columbia, SC 29202

RE: H. 3212

Dear Senator McConnell:

The Knotts/Anderson amendment to H. 3212 - the concealed weapon permit (CWP) reciprocity bill - is so bad that South Carolina would not qualify for reciprocity with itself! So, how could that possibly lead to reciprocity with more states as claimed by its supporters?

There are serious problems with the Knotts/Anderson amendment. An analysis of H. 3212 shows H. 3212 should REDUCE the number of states with which SC has reciprocity, NOT increase the number. Also, H. 3212 is the first step in changing SC law to require re-qualification for CWP renewals. A full explanation of all that is wrong with the Knotts/Anderson amendment can be found on the GrassRoots GunRights web site at www.SCFirearms.org. In the interests of saving time and space, only the worst aspects of H. 3212 are being presented in this letter.

Existing SC CWP law makes a legal distinction between a fingerprint review and a background check. Section 23-31-215(B) states:
Upon submission of the items required by subsection (A) of this section, SLED must conduct or facilitate a local, state, and federal fingerprint review of the applicant. SLED must also conduct a background check of the applicant through notification to and input from the sheriff of the county where the applicant resides or if the applicant is a qualified nonresident, where the applicant owns real property in this State. … If the fingerprint review and background check are favorable, SLED must issue the permit. [emphasis added]

As shown immediately above, existing SC CWP law requires "a local, state, and federal fingerprint review," but explicitly requires only a local background check and by inference requires a state background check by SLED. SC CWP law fails to mention a federal background check as a requirement for obtaining a SC CWP.

The Knotts/Anderson amendment would change existing SC CWP law to allow CWP reciprocity ONLY if "the reciprocal state requires an applicant to successfully pass a state and federal criminal background check." The Knotts/Anderson amendment sets a higher standard for CWP reciprocity than existing SC law does by explicitly requiring people from other states "to successfully pass a … federal criminal background check." SC CWP holders are not explicitly required to pass a federal criminal background check, only a federal fingerprint review.

The only result that can come from this change is to REDUCE the number of states with which SC can have reciprocity. It is quite possible SC would LOSE reciprocity with states with which SC currently has reciprocity due to the new standards imposed by the Knotts/Anderson amendment. If other states follow SC and also do not require a federal background check prior to issuing a CWP, then SC could lose reciprocity with those states with which SC currently has reciprocity. Ironically, SC would not qualify for reciprocity with itself under the new standards imposed by the Knotts/Anderson amendment!

It is claimed the Knotts/Anderson amendment would allow for reciprocity with states that require less than the eight (8) hour training course currently required by SC law in Section 23-31-210(5)(a). But, the words of the Knotts/Anderson amendment do not support such a claim or interpretation.

SC law does not provide for a different definition of "proof of training" for use by CWP holders in other states than it does for SC CWP holders. The Knotts/Anderson amendment does not change the law as to how many hours a "firearm training and safety" course must be - which is statutorily defined as eight (8) hours minimum for all. Thus, the Knotts/Anderson amendment could not possibly increase the number of states eligible for CWP reciprocity with SC, and any statement to the contrary is not supported by the facts.

Existing SC law explicitly provides for reciprocity with "those states which have permit issuance standards equal to or greater than the standards" set by SC law. The Knotts/Anderson amendment changes the SC CWP reciprocity law to allow reciprocity if "the reciprocal state requires an applicant to successfully pass a state and federal criminal background check and a course in firearm training and safety." There is no longer a mention of SC CWP standards when dealing with reciprocity.

The Knotts/Anderson amendment is not designed to increase the number of states with which SC can have CWP reciprocity. The ulterior motive behind the Knotts/Anderson amendment is to lay the foundation for requiring CWP re-qualification every four years.

The unspoken reason for deleting reference to SC standards with regards to CWP reciprocity found in the Knotts/Anderson amendment is that such a change provides the opportunity to require CWP re-qualification every four years. It is no secret that Sen. Knotts has wanted to impose CWP re-qualification for years. But, doing so would have destroyed every existing CWP reciprocity agreement since no other state imposes such a requirement. The mandated re-qualification would be a great monetary opportunity/reward for NRA certified instructors, which would easily explain NRA support. But, re-qualification is not in the best interests of the people of SC generally or SC CWP holders in particular. It is not a change supported by GrassRoots GunRights and its members.

The fear mongers claim they are only protecting the people of SC by insisting on CWP "training" prior to allowing people to carry a firearm pursuant to the CWP law. But, there is no evidence to support the claim that CWP "training" saves any lives. Yet, there is reliable evidence proving mandated CWP "training" actually costs lives when good people are deterred from obtaining a CWP due to the extra costs in time and money. Unfortunately, the facts do not matter to those with a political agenda or a financial interest.

GrassRoots GunRights urges you to repeal the Knotts/Anderson amendment and pass H. 3212 exactly as it came from the Senate Judiciary Committee. Otherwise, kill H. 3212 because the Knotts/Anderson amendment makes the SC CWP law worse than it is now.

Sincerely,

Robert D. Butler, J.D.
Vice President
GrassRoots GunRights

*** ACTION STEPS: ***

  1. Call EACH Senator from your county first thing in the morning because the bill will be voted on Tuesday.
  2. Email EACH Senator from your county and send the message "GrassRoots GunRights speaks for me!" (Cut and paste "GrassRoots GunRights speaks for me!" in both the subject line and the body of the text.)
  3. Be sure to say "GrassRoots GunRights speaks for me on CWP reciprocity."

Thank you for doing your part as a gun rights activist!

Bill Rentiers
Executive Officer
GrassRoots GunRights of SC
ExecOfficer@SCFirearms.org
803-233-9295

Abbeville County
Sen. John W. Drummond, District 10
Sen. William H. O'Dell, District 4
PTE@scsenate.org
WHO@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6455
(803) 212-6040
Aiken County
Sen. W. Greg Ryberg, District 24
Sen. A. Shane Massey, District 25
Sen. Nikki G. Setzler, District 26
SLC@scsenate.org
shanemassey@scsenate.org
NGS@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6320
(803) 212-6000
(803) 212-6140
Allendale County
Sen. C. Bradley Hutto, District 40
CBH@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6140
Anderson County
Sen. Kevin L. Bryant, District 3
Sen. William H. O'Dell, District 4
BRYANTK@scsenate.org
WHO@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6024
(803) 212-6040
Bamberg County
Sen. C. Bradley Hutto, District 40
Sen. John W. Matthews, Jr., District 39
CBH@scsenate.org
JWM@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6140
(803) 212-6056
Barnwell County
Sen. C. Bradley Hutto , District 40
CBH@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6140
Beaufort County
Sen. Catherine C. Ceips, District 46
Sen. Clementa C. Pinckney, District 45
CEIPS@scsenate.org
CCP@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6032
(803) 212-6056
Berkeley County
Sen. Paul G. Campbell, Jr., District 44
Sen. George E. "Chip" Campsen III, District 43
Sen. Lawrence K. "Larry" Grooms, District 37
PaulCampbell@scsenate.org
CAMPSEN@scsenate.org
STR@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6016
(803) 212-6016
(803) 212-6400
Calhoun County
Sen. John C. Land III, District 36
JCL@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6180
Charleston County
Sen. George E. "Chip" Campsen III, District 43
Sen. Ray Cleary, District 34
Sen. Robert Ford, District 42
Sen. Lawrence K. "Larry" Grooms, District 37
Sen. Glenn F. McConnell, District 41
Sen. Clementa C. Pinckney, District 45
Sen. Randy Scott, District 38

CAMPSEN@scsenate.org
CLEARYR@scsenate.org
RIF@scsenate.org
STR@scsenate.org
SJU@scsenate.org
CCP@scsenate.org
SCOTTR@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6016
(803) 212-6100
(803) 212-6124
(803) 212-6400
(803) 212-6610
(803) 212-6056
(803) 212-6024
Cherokee County
Sen. Harvey S. Peeler, Jr., District 14
MED@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6430
Chester County
Sen. Linda H. Short, District 17
LHS@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6148
Chesterfield County
Sen. Gerald Malloy, District 29
Sen. Vincent A. Sheheen, District 27
MALLOYG@scsenate.org
VS@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6148
(803) 212-6124
Clarendon County
Sen. John C. Land III, District 36
JCL@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6180
Colleton County
Sen. Lawrence K. "Larry" Grooms, District 37
Sen. John W. Matthews, Jr., District 39
Sen. Clementa C. Pinckney, District 45
STR@scsenate.org
JWM@scsenate.org
CCP@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6400
(803) 212-6056
(803) 212-6056
Darlington County
Sen. Hugh K. Leatherman, Sr., District 31
Sen. Gerald Malloy, District 29
SFI@scsenate.org
MALLOYG@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6640
(803) 212-6148
Dillon County
Sen. Dick Elliott, District 28
Sen. Kent M. Williams, District 30
DE@scsenate.org
WILLIAMSK@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6116
(803) 212-6008
Dorchester County
Sen. Lawrence K. "Larry" Grooms, District 37
Sen. John W. Matthews, Jr., District 39
Sen. Randy Scott, District 38
STR@scsenate.org
JWM@scsenate.org
SCOTTR@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6400
(803) 212-6056
(803) 212-6024
Edgefield County
Sen. A. Shane Massey, District 25
shanemassey@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6000
Fairfield County
Sen. Linda H. Short, District 17
LHS@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6148
Florence County
Sen. John C. Land III, District 36
Sen. Hugh K. Leatherman, Sr., District 31
Sen. J. Yancey McGill, District 32
Sen. Kent M. Williams, District 30
JCL@scsenate.org
SFI@scsenate.org
JYM@scsenate.org
WILLIAMSK@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6180
(803) 212-6640
(803) 212-6132
(803) 212-6008
Georgetown County
Sen. Ray Cleary, District 34
Sen. J. Yancey McGill, District 32
CLEARYR@scsenate.org
JYM@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6100
(803) 212-6132
Greenville County
Sen. Ralph Anderson, District 7
Sen. Michael L. Fair, District 6
Sen. James H. "Jim" Ritchie, Jr., District 13
Sen. David L. Thomas, District 8
Sen. Lewis R. Vaughn, District 5
Sen. Daniel B. "Danny" Verdin III, District 9
RA@scsenate.org
FAIRM@scsenate.org
JHR@scsenate.org
SBI@scsenate.org
LRV@scsenate.org
SAG@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6108
(803) 212-6420
(803) 212-6032
(803) 212-6240
(803) 212-6100
(803) 212-6230
Greenwood County
Sen. John W. Drummond, District 10
Sen. William H. O'Dell, District 4
PTE@scsenate.org
WHO@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6455
(803) 212-6040
Hampton County
Sen. John W. Matthews, Jr., District 39
Sen. Clementa C. Pinckney, District 45
JWM@scsenate.org
CCP@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6056
(803) 212-6056
Horry County
Sen. Ray Cleary, District 34
Sen. Dick Elliott, District 28
Sen. J. Yancey McGill, District 32
Sen. Luke A. Rankin, District 33
CLEARYR@scsenate.org
DE@scsenate.org
JYM@scsenate.org
LR@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6100
(803) 212-6116
(803) 212-6132
(803) 212-6132
Jasper County
Sen. Clementa C. Pinckney, District 45
CCP@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6056
Kershaw County
Sen. Joel Lourie, District 22
Sen. Vincent A. Sheheen, District 27
JBL@scsenate.org
VS@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6116
(803) 212-6124
Lancaster County
Sen. Chauncey K. Gregory, District 16
Sen. Vincent A. Sheheen, District 27
SFG@scsenate.org
VS@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6330
(803) 212-6124
Laurens County
Sen. John W. Drummond, District 10
Sen. Daniel B. "Danny" Verdin III, District 9
PTE@scsenate.org
SAG@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6455
(803) 212-6230
Lee County
Sen. Phil P. Leventis, District 35
Sen. Gerald Malloy, District 29
PL@scsenate.org
MALLOYG@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6000
(803) 212-6148
Lexington County
Sen. John E. Courson, District 20
Sen. Ronnie W. Cromer, District 18
Sen. John M. "Jake" Knotts, Jr., District 23
Sen. Nikki G. Setzler, District 26
EDU@scsenate.org
CROMERR@scsenate.org
SIV@scsenate.org
NGS@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6250
(803) 212-6040
(803) 212-6350
(803) 212-6140
Marion County
Sen. Dick Elliott, District 28
Sen. Kent M. Williams, District 30
DE@scsenate.org
WILLIAMSK@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6116
(803) 212-6008
Marlboro County
Sen. Dick Elliott, District 28
Sen. Gerald Malloy, District 29
Sen. Kent M. Williams, District 30
DE@scsenate.org
MALLOYG@scsenate.org
WILLIAMSK@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6116
(803) 212-6148
(803) 212-6008
McCormick County
Sen. A. Shane Massey, District 25
shanemassey@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6000
Newberry County
Sen. Ronnie W. Cromer, District 18
CROMERR@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6040
Oconee County
Sen. Thomas C. Alexander, District 1
SGE@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6220
Orangeburg County
Sen. C. Bradley Hutto, District 40
Sen. John W. Matthews, Jr., District 39
CBH@scsenate.org
JWM@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6140
(803) 212-6056
Pickens County
Sen. Thomas C. Alexander, District 1
Sen. Larry A. Martin, District 2
SGE@scsenate.org
SRU@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6220
(803) 212-6340
Richland County
Sen. John E. Courson, District 20
Sen. Darrell Jackson, District 21
Sen. Joel Lourie, District 22
Sen. Kay Patterson, District 19
EDU@scsenate.org
DJ1@scsenate.org
JBL@scsenate.org
KAY@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6250
(803) 212-6048
(803) 212-6116
(803) 212-6048
Saluda County
Sen. Ronnie W. Cromer, District 18
Sen. A. Shane Massey, District 25
Sen. Nikki G. Setzler, District 26
CROMERR@scsenate.org
shanemassey@scsenate.org
NGS@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6040
(803) 212-6000
(803) 212-6140
Spartanburg County
Sen. John D. Hawkins, District 12
Sen. Harvey S. Peeler, Jr., District 14
Sen. Glenn G. Reese, District 11
Sen. James H. "Jim" Ritchie, Jr., District 13
DH@scsenate.org
MED@scsenate.org
GR@scsenate.org
JHR@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6008
(803) 212-6430
(803) 212-6108
(803) 212-6032
Sumter County
Sen. John C. Land III, District 36
Sen. Phil P. Leventis, District 35
JCL@scsenate.org
PL@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6180
(803) 212-6000
Union County
Sen. Harvey S. Peeler, Jr., District 14
Sen. James H. "Jim" Ritchie, Jr., District 13
Sen. Linda H. Short (Mrs. Paul), District 17
MED@scsenate.org
JHR@scsenate.org
LHS@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6430
(803) 212-6032
(803) 212-6148
Williamsburg County
Sen. J. Yancey McGill, District 32
JYM@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6132
York County
Sen. Chauncey K. Gregory, District 16
Sen. Robert W. Hayes, Jr., District 15
Sen. Harvey S. Peeler, Jr., District 14
Sen. Linda H. Short, District 17
SFG@scsenate.org
set@scsenate.org
MED@scsenate.org
LHS@scsenate.org
(803) 212-6330
(803) 212-6410
(803) 212-6430
(803) 212-6148

H. 3212 NEEDS YOUR IMMEDIATE HELP!

 12 March 2008

If you want to be able to lawfully carry a concealed weapon in 30+ states, contact each Senator from your county NOW and let them know you want H, 3212 to pass without amendments! This bill could be debated in the Senate as early as tomorrow morning at 11:00am, or it might get delayed until next week. Either way, you need to start calling and emailing the senators from your county ASAP!

H. 3212 is the CWP Recognition bill sponsored by Rep. Mike Pitts. In June 2007, H. 3212 was put on the Contested Calendar when Sen. Ralph Anderson placed a Minority Report on the bill as it passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

On Wednesday, March 6, 2008, GrassRoots leaders met with Sen. Larry Martin, Chairman of the Senate Rules Committee to seek his help in getting H. 3212 onto the Special Order calendar. Sen. Martin promised GrassRoots leaders he would help.

Today, thanks to Sen. Martin's efforts, H. 3212 was put onto the Special Order calendar. This means H. 3212 could come up for debate as early as tomorrow morning.

Contact every State Senator who represents your county NOW and tell them you want H. 3212 to pass the Senate immediately, without ANY amendments!

If you do not make these calls - and make them NOW - H. 3212 could die or be amended to make it totally worthless.

Action Steps:

1) *** CALL 803-212-6200 and ask to speak with your Senators. *** Tell them to support H.3212 with no amendments. Be sure to tell them "GrassRoots GunRights speaks for me!"
2) *** EMAIL all Senators representing your county. For your convenience, we have provided a list of Senators sorted by county below. ***
3)  Forward this email to your friends immediately and ask them to do the same!

Once you have completed the three "Action Steps" above, sit back and congratulate yourself. You have done your part to fight for the gun rights of all South Carolinians! Please accept my personal thanks for your activism, and a job well done!

Bill Rentiers
Executive Officer
GrassRoots GunRights of SC
ExecOfficer@SCFirearms.org
803-233-9295

PS - Don't let these politicians think you have forgotten about H. 3212. Please call and email the senators representing your county every day until you hear that H. 3212 has passed. GrassRoots GunRights will let you know as soon as any action is taken on H. 3212. The time to act is now!

Abbeville County
Sen. John W. Drummond, District 10
Sen. William H. O'Dell, District 4
PTE@scsenate.org
WHO@scsenate.org
Aiken County
Sen. W. Greg Ryberg, District 24
Sen. A. Shane Massey, District 25
Sen. Nikki G. Setzler, District 26
SLC@scsenate.org
shanemassey@scsenate.org
NGS@scsenate.org
Allendale County
Sen. C. Bradley Hutto, District 40
CBH@scsenate.org
Anderson County
Sen. Kevin L. Bryant, District 3
Sen. William H. O'Dell, District 4
BRYANTK@scsenate.org
WHO@scsenate.org
Bamberg County
Sen. C. Bradley Hutto, District 40
Sen. John W. Matthews, Jr., District 39
CBH@scsenate.org
JWM@scsenate.org
Barnwell County
Sen. C. Bradley Hutto, District 40
CBH@scsenate.org
Beaufort County
Sen. Catherine C. Ceips, District 46
Sen. Clementa C. Pinckney, District 45
CEIPS@scsenate.org
CCP@scsenate.org
Berkeley County
Sen. Paul G. Campbell, Jr., District 44
Sen. George E. "Chip" Campsen III, District 43
Sen. Lawrence K. "Larry" Grooms, District 37
PaulCampbell@scsenate.org
CAMPSEN@scsenate.org
STR@scsenate.org
Calhoun County
Sen. John C. Land III, District 36
JCL@scsenate.org
Charleston County
Sen. George E. "Chip" Campsen III, District 43
Sen. Ray Cleary, District 34
Sen. Robert Ford, District 42
Sen. Lawrence K. "Larry" Grooms, District 37
Sen. Glenn F. McConnell, District 41
Sen. Clementa C. Pinckney, District 45
Sen. Randy Scott, District 38

CAMPSEN@scsenate.org
CLEARYR@scsenate.org
RIF@scsenate.org
STR@scsenate.org
SJU@scsenate.org
CCP@scsenate.org
SCOTTR@scsenate.org
Cherokee County
Sen. Harvey S. Peeler, Jr., District 14
MED@scsenate.org
Chester County
Sen. Linda H. Short, District 17
LHS@scsenate.org
Chesterfield County
Sen. Gerald Malloy, District 29
Sen. Vincent A. Sheheen, District 27
MALLOYG@scsenate.org
VS@scsenate.org
Clarendon County
Sen. John C. Land III, District 36
JCL@scsenate.org
Colleton County
Sen. Lawrence K. "Larry" Grooms, District 37
Sen. John W. Matthews, Jr., District 39
Sen. Clementa C. Pinckney, District 45
STR@scsenate.org
JWM@scsenate.org
CCP@scsenate.org
Darlington County
Sen. Hugh K. Leatherman, Sr., District 31
Sen. Gerald Malloy, District 29
SFI@scsenate.org
MALLOYG@scsenate.org
Dillon County
Sen. Dick Elliott, District 28
Sen. Kent M. Williams, District 30
DE@scsenate.org
WILLIAMSK@scsenate.org
Dorchester County
Sen. Lawrence K. "Larry" Grooms, District 37
Sen. John W. Matthews, Jr., District 39
Sen. Randy Scott, District 38
STR@scsenate.org
JWM@scsenate.org
SCOTTR@scsenate.org
Edgefield County
Sen. A. Shane Massey, District 25
shanemassey@scsenate.org
Fairfield County
Sen. Linda H. Short, District 17
LHS@scsenate.org
Florence County
Sen. John C. Land III, District 36
Sen. Hugh K. Leatherman, Sr., District 31
Sen. J. Yancey McGill, District 32
Sen. Kent M. Williams, District 30
JCL@scsenate.org
SFI@scsenate.org
JYM@scsenate.org
WILLIAMSK@scsenate.org
Georgetown County
Sen. Ray Cleary, District 34
Sen. J. Yancey McGill, District 32
CLEARYR@scsenate.org
JYM@scsenate.org
Greenville County
Sen. Ralph Anderson, District 7
Sen. Michael L. Fair, District 6
Sen. James H. "Jim" Ritchie, Jr., District 13
Sen. David L. Thomas, District 8
Sen. Lewis R. Vaughn, District 5
Sen. Daniel B. "Danny" Verdin III, District 9
RA@scsenate.org
FAIRM@scsenate.org
JHR@scsenate.org
SBI@scsenate.org
LRV@scsenate.org
SAG@scsenate.org
Greenwood County
Sen. John W. Drummond, District 10
Sen. William H. O'Dell, District 4
PTE@scsenate.org
WHO@scsenate.org
Hampton County
Sen. John W. Matthews, Jr., District 39
Sen. Clementa C. Pinckney, District 45
JWM@scsenate.org
CCP@scsenate.org
Horry County
Sen. Ray Cleary, District 34
Sen. Dick Elliott, District 28
Sen. J. Yancey McGill, District 32
Sen. Luke A. Rankin, District 33
CLEARYR@scsenate.org
DE@scsenate.org
JYM@scsenate.org
LR@scsenate.org
Jasper County
Sen. Clementa C. Pinckney, District 45
CCP@scsenate.org
Kershaw County
Sen. Joel Lourie, District 22
Sen. Vincent A. Sheheen, District 27
JBL@scsenate.org
VS@scsenate.org
Lancaster County
Sen. Chauncey K. Gregory, District 16
Sen. Vincent A. Sheheen, District 27
SFG@scsenate.org
VS@scsenate.org
Laurens County
Sen. John W. Drummond, District 10
Sen. Daniel B. "Danny" Verdin III, District 9
PTE@scsenate.org
SAG@scsenate.org
Lee County
Sen. Phil P. Leventis, District 35
Sen. Gerald Malloy, District 29
PL@scsenate.org
MALLOYG@scsenate.org
Lexington County
Sen. John E. Courson, District 20
Sen. Ronnie W. Cromer, District 18
Sen. John M. "Jake" Knotts, Jr., District 23
Sen. Nikki G. Setzler, District 26
EDU@scsenate.org
CROMERR@scsenate.org
SIV@scsenate.org
NGS@scsenate.org
Marion County
Sen. Dick Elliott, District 28
Sen. Kent M. Williams, District 30
DE@scsenate.org
WILLIAMSK@scsenate.org
Marlboro County
Sen. Dick Elliott, District 28
Sen. Gerald Malloy, District 29
Sen. Kent M. Williams, District 30
DE@scsenate.org
MALLOYG@scsenate.org
WILLIAMSK@scsenate.org
McCormick County
Sen. A. Shane Massey, District 25
shanemassey@scsenate.org
Newberry County
Sen. Ronnie W. Cromer, District 18
CROMERR@scsenate.org
Oconee County
Sen. Thomas C. Alexander, District 1
SGE@scsenate.org
Orangeburg County
Sen. C. Bradley Hutto, District 40
Sen. John W. Matthews, Jr., District 39
CBH@scsenate.org
JWM@scsenate.org
Pickens County
Sen. Thomas C. Alexander, District 1
Sen. Larry A. Martin, District 2
SGE@scsenate.org
SRU@scsenate.org
Richland County
Sen. John E. Courson, District 20
Sen. Darrell Jackson, District 21
Sen. Joel Lourie, District 22
Sen. Kay Patterson, District 19
EDU@scsenate.org
DJ1@scsenate.org
JBL@scsenate.org
KAY@scsenate.org
Saluda County
Sen. Ronnie W. Cromer, District 18
Sen. A. Shane Massey, District 25
Sen. Nikki G. Setzler, District 26
Sen. Marion B. Frye, District 39
CROMERR@scsenate.org
shanemassey@scsenate.org
NGS@scsenate.org
MBF@schouse.org
Spartanburg County
Sen. John D. Hawkins, District 12
Sen. Harvey S. Peeler, Jr., District 14
Sen. Glenn G. Reese, District 11
Sen. James H. "Jim" Ritchie, Jr., District 13
DH@scsenate.org
MED@scsenate.org
GR@scsenate.org
JHR@scsenate.org
Sumter County
Sen. John C. Land III, District 36
Sen. Phil P. Leventis, District 35
JCL@scsenate.org
PL@scsenate.org
Union County
Sen. Harvey S. Peeler, Jr., District 14
Sen. James H. "Jim" Ritchie, Jr., District 13
Sen. Linda H. Short (Mrs. Paul), District 17
MED@scsenate.org
JHR@scsenate.org
LHS@scsenate.org
Williamsburg County
Sen. J. Yancey McGill, District 32
JYM@scsenate.org
York County
Sen. Chauncey K. Gregory, District 16
Sen. Robert W. Hayes, Jr., District 15
Sen. Harvey S. Peeler, Jr., District 14
Sen. Linda H. Short, District 17
SFG@scsenate.org
set@scsenate.org
MED@scsenate.org
LHS@scsenate.org

22 February 2008

GrassRoots GunRights of SC has been busy working to protect your gun rights.

GrassRoots leaders had a series of meetings recently with state legislators to ask them to sponsor a Gun-Free Zones Liability Act. Also discussed was GrassRoots' strong support for H. 3212, and some amendments needed to H. 3876 and H. 4631.

GrassRoots leaders also spoke before the House Judiciary General Laws Subcommittee yesterday regarding H. 4243. This bill would grant special firearms carry privileges to our state legislators who possess a concealed weapon permit, allowing them to carry anywhere in the state. GrassRoots thinks it is wrong to give special privileges to our lawmakers while denying them to citizens. GrassRoots proposed amendments to extend these rights to all CWP holders.

The GrassRoots website has been updated with details. Read all about it here.

GrassRoots GunRights Amicus Brief Completed!

 15 February 2008

The GrassRoots GunRights amicus curiae ['friend of the court'] brief is finished and has been filed with the Supreme Court!

Last November GrassRoots asked for donations to make this happen. GrassRoots told you if $2,500 could be raised, GrassRoots could sign on with the GOA amicus brief. But if $5,000 could be raised, GrassRoots could sponsor its own amicus brief. Thanks to generous donations from gun rights supporters like you, GrassRoots was able to reach the $5,000 amount - enough to commission our own amicus brief.

Because of their generosity, GrassRoots GunRights members could make a serious impact in the outcome of this case. How the court decides in this case will have very serious and far-reaching implications on the future of your Second Amendment rights!

Local South Carolina attorney J. Todd Kincannon contacted GrassRoots GunRights about preparing an amicus brief. Mr. Kincannon made the argument that the 2nd Amendment included a privacy right to keep and bear arms. Since the Supreme Court Justices have already accepted the privacy right idea for other rights found in the Bill of Rights, this legal argument could be the one that ultimately decides this case.

It is said that the Justices currently are split 4 vs 4 with one in the middle (Justice Kennedy). Mr. Kincannon, local attorney, believes he has come up with a legal argument that will be persuasive to Justice Kennedy. Then, Justice Kennedy will - hopefully - join the four who are thought to support Heller already to give us a 5 justice majority.

You can read the GrassRoots sponsored amicus brief at:
http://www.scotusblog.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/07-290_ amicus_grassrootssc.pdf

or you can click here.

You can also find the brief on the GrassRoots website at www.SCFirearms.org.

GrassRoots GunRights leadership would like to say "Thank You!" to every patriot who donated to this effort.

GrassRoots GunRights Activists Hold Counter-Protest

30 January 2008

The GrassRoots GunRights website has recently been updated with some interesting video. At noon on Wednesday, January 30th, a group of anti-gun protesters demonstrated in front of the state capitol, seeking a long list of new and highly restrictive gun prohibitions. The event was covered by TV and print media. Several GrassRoots GunRights members were on hand to make certain the pro-gun position was heard.

Armed with tee-shirts emblazoned with the words "GUNS SAVE LIVES" and carrying signs with various pro-gun slogans, several GrassRoots GunRights activists showed up at this anti-gun rally to stand up for our gun rights. You can view the video at SCFirearms.org

Help the DC-Heller Second Amendment case!

 19 December 2007

A very important DC gun rights case will soon be heard by the Supreme Court. How the court decides in this case will have very serious and far-reaching implications on the future of your Second Amendment rights! GrassRoots GunRights members have an opportunity to affect the outcome of this case.

GrassRoots GunRights has been in contact with Mr. Alan Gura, the attorney for Mr. Heller, the plaintiff in this landmark Second Amendment case. Mr. Gura says he has been working with Larry Pratt and Gun Owners of America for a long time, and that GOA has been very helpful.

GOA will be presenting an amicus curae ("friend of the court") brief detailing the history of the 2nd Amendment. It would be nice if the pro gun forces could just tell the Supremes to read a couple of good books on the subject, but such a request would be ignored. Thus, the history of the 2nd Amendment must be presented to the court in a brief. For a $2,500 donation, GrassRoots GunRights can be listed on the GOA amicus brief as one of the parties presenting the brief on the history of the 2nd Amendment. Larry Pratt tells GrassRoots the financial demands upon GOA have outpaced their financial inflow, and any contributions would be greatly appreciated.

Also, a local South Carolina attorney has contacted GrassRoots GunRights about preparing an amicus brief. This local attorney has an idea how to get the Justices to decide the case in a pro gun rights way. He has already talked with Mr. Gura, and it is an appealing legal argument. In fact, it may just be the legal argument that ultimately decides the case because five justices are needed to create a majority decision.

It is said that the Justices currently are split 4 vs 4 with one in the middle (Justice Kennedy). The local attorney believes he has come up with a legal argument that will be persuasive to Justice Kennedy. Then, Justice Kennedy will - hopefully - join the four who are inclined to support Heller already to give us a 5 justice majority.

Unfortunately, the printing and filing costs alone will come to almost $5,000. Then, the attorney works for a private law firm and he can not afford to simply donate the time needed to do this work. He is trying to get his employers to allow him to do some work on company time, but he will not be able to do it all for free. So, having this amicus brief with the GrassRoots GunRights name on it will cost a lot more than the GOA amicus.

The bottom line is this - if GrassRoots members can collect enough money to support the GOA amicus brief, we will. But, if GrassRoots members can raise enough money to fund the local attorney's amicus - that would be even better. GrassRoots leaders think the local attorney's idea will be very useful in swinging the decision in favor of gun rights.

Please consider making a donation to this important effort. Your support could help swing the Supreme Court decision in favor of gun rights!

You can mail donations to:

GrassRoots GunRights of SC
PO BOX 2446
Lexington, SC 29071

(Please note in the memo field of your check that your donation is for an amicus brief.)

Click HERE to donate online NOW!

You can also visit the GrassRoots GunRights of SC website and use your credit card online to donate to this worthy cause.

13 September 2007

We are forwarding this very important message received from the folks at Gun Owners of America.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Please make calls, and send emails and faxes. Do not send actual paper letters through the regular mail. Due to postal quarantines, hardcopy mail will not arrive on your legislator's desk in time.

****************************

Veterans Disarmament Bill Could Come Before The Senate At Any Time -- GOA provides Senators with several pro-gun amendments

Gun Owners of America E-Mail Alert
8001 Forbes Place, Suite 102, Springfield, VA 22151
Phone: 703-321-8585 / FAX: 703-321-8408
http://www.gunowners.org

"Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston!" -- Patrick Henry, in his "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" speech of March 23, 1775

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

The Senate could bring up the Veterans Disarmament Bill at any time, as a result of its passage in the Judiciary Committee a few weeks ago. The bill -- introduced by F-rated Rep. Carolyn McCarthy and Sen. Patrick Leahy -- is ready to come to the floor.

Gun Owners of America delivered draft amendments to every Senate office yesterday, providing important changes that must be made to the bill. Among others, the most important amendment would make it clear that veterans suffering from PTSD are NOT prohibited persons, and thus, are not to be denied the ability to purchase a firearm simply because of emotional problems resulting from their service to this country.

The Military Order of the Purple Heart is opposed to the McCarthy-Leahy bill, having stated on June 18 of this year, that "For the first time the legislation, if enacted, would statutorily impose a lifetime gun ban on battle-scarred veterans."

Military veterans are justifiably concerned that this bill will legitimize the very thing that President Clinton did over seven years ago, when his administration added 83,000 names of veterans -- suffering from maladies such as PTSD -- into the NICS background check system.

Proponents of the bill argue that this bill gives veterans a mechanism for getting their names off of the prohibited person list. That's like giving a mugger access to your home, but then stating you can hire a lawyer and pay THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS of dollars to eventually (maybe) get your stolen items back.

If the proponents are right -- that this bill will actually help gun owners -- then surely they won't object to friendly amendments that are designed to make it unmistakably clear that military veterans or grownups who suffered with ADHD as children will never be denied the ability to purchase a firearm, simply because they once had a "determination" from an anti-gun shrink that said there was the MINISCULE possibility that they could pose a danger to themselves or others.

You can be sure that if the McCarthy-Leahy bill passes, it will just be a first step. Consider some of the bigoted statements made by celebrities and politicians which not only show their contempt for gun owners but their pompous thinking which leads them to believe that we are all crazy for wanting to own a gun:

* "I don't know that he's mentally qualified to own that gun." -- Democrat Presidential candidate Joe Biden, insulting a YouTube viewer during a debate after the man referred to his semi-auto as his "baby" (July 25, 2007).

* "Isn't it possible that we all have that bit of insanity in us? That's why I'm for gun control.... I don't really believe that a human being who feels [things] should have the option [that is, access to a gun] at their fingertips." -- Actress Jodie Foster, quoted in a Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence press release (August 20, 2007).

And then there're the studies which will be, no doubt, used by liberal anti-gunners to strip away the gun rights from more and more law-abiding citizens, using the pretext that a shrink's diagnosis proves these people shouldn't own guns:

* "A quarter of the Afghanistan and Iraq war veterans treated with US government-funded health care have been diagnosed with a mental disorder, according to a study published Monday." -- AFP news (March 12, 2007)

* "The number of American children and adolescents treated for bipolar disorder increased 40-fold from 1994 to 2003, researchers report today in the most comprehensive study of the controversial diagnosis. Experts say the number has almost certainly risen further since 2003." -- New York Times (September 4, 2007)

Even before the studies started rolling in, gun haters were already working the legal loopholes as best they could. When the Veterans Administration got caught adding veterans' names into the NICS system during the Clinton presidency, they defended their actions by saying it was "required by law" -- a statement which was just flat out false.

But it's notable to hear what a spokesman for the VA said in an interview with WoldNetDaily (June 27, 2000). He said the most common way of finding a veteran "incompetent" is when he or she receives a formal rating of incompetency from a VA panel of medical representatives or from "a duly authorized VA medical center, government agency, or even a PRIVATE PHYSICIAN." (Emphasis added.)

That's what HR 2640 is all about. McCarthy and Leahy (and others like Sen. Chuck Schumer) are forging the legal chains that will be used to keep hundreds of thousands -- if not millions -- of decent, law-abiding Americans from owning guns... not because of what a court rules, but because of what ONE INDIVIDUAL says.

Over two hundred years ago, Patrick Henry warned about the "chains" that were being forged to enslave them. If he were here today, would he not warn us again?

Thankfully, there are many of you who are sounding the alarm. State groups from all over the nation are pumping out alerts to supplement what GOA is doing at the national level. Just yesterday, the New Hampshire Firearms Coalition (NHFC) called its members to action, stating that HR 2640 is a Trojan Horse, which sounds justified on the outside with promises of keeping "mental defectives" from having firearms. But when one takes a closer look at the details of the bill, the group said, it reveals "a huge expansion in those who will become a prohibited person; an expansion that could potentially include most Americans."

In addition to pointing out how many shrinks could prohibit average Americans from owning guns, NHFC points out that many pediatricians could make similar anti-gun "determinations" (using the language of the bill) to disarm their patients -- since after all, these docs believe that "any household with firearms is 'dangerous,' even if they are properly stored."

Good point.

ACTION:

1. Stay informed. GOA has a mammoth section on our website which both gives the specifics of the Veterans Disarmament Act and answers the claims made by supporters of the bill. Please go to http://www.gunowners.org/netb.htm to get more information, including the proposed GOA amendments that were delivered to each Senator on Tuesday.

2. Alert others. Forward this alert to pro-gun friends and family and ask them to take action as well.

3. Take action. Please contact your Senators, even if you have already done so. You can use the pre-written message below and send it as an e-mail by visiting the GOA Legislative Action Center at http://www.gunowners.org/activism.htm (where phone and fax numbers are also available).

----- Pre-written text for your email / fax -----

Dear Senator:

I oppose the Veterans Disarmament Act, which is being pushed by Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (HR 2640) and Sen. Patrick Leahy. This bill will expand the 1993 Brady Law and disarm hundreds of thousands of combat veterans, among others.

I understand that Gun Owners of America distributed several amendments yesterday to every senatorial office to address the mistaken arguments that supporters of the bill have. I also understand that proponents of this bill are claiming it will actually help gun owners.

They argue that this bill gives veterans a mechanism for getting their names off of the prohibited person list. That's like giving a mugger access to your home, but then stating you can hire a lawyer and pay thousands upon thousands of dollars to eventually (maybe) get your stolen items back.

Well, if the proponents are right -- that this bill will actually help gun owners -- then surely they won't object to friendly amendments that are designed to make it unmistakably clear that military veterans or grownups who suffered with ADHD as children will never be denied the ability to purchase a firearm, simply because they once had a "determination" from an anti-gun shrink that said there was the MINISCULE possibility that they could pose a danger to themselves or others. That is what the GOA amendments are designed to do.

I still believe that the Brady Law has done more to register gun owners and deny guns from of law-abiding Americans than to keep guns out of criminals' hands. But adopting these amendments will at least prevent an anti-gun administration from doing what the Clintons did in 2000 when the Veterans Administration added the names of some 83,000 veterans into the NICS system.

Sincerely,

[PUT YOUR NAME HERE]
[PUT YOUR CITY HERE]

28 May 2007

H.3964 will kill SC CWP reciprocity agreements with ALL other states!

Please Contact Your State House Representative Today!

If you are outraged over these changes and want H. 3964 passed without killing all our existing and future reciprocity agreements, then please call your State Representative and urge him or her to delete the anti-gun provisions of H. 3964 and pass without the "mental health" amendment (Section 1.)

Tell your representative "GrassRoots GunRights speaks for me!" Then they will know they should listen to us because we represent you.

A vote is expected on the House floor tomorrow, Tuesday, May 29th, 2007, so it is extremely important that you act now!

ACTION STEPS:
 1) Email the SC House of Representatives. Copy & paste the text provided in the box below into the body of your email. Copy the list of email addresses below and paste them into the "TO:" section of your email.

2) Call your SC House Representative. Use the switchboard number: (803) 734-2402. Tell them "GrassRoots GunRights speaks for me!" and that you want H.3964 passed without these anti-gun provisions being included. (If you don't know who they are, you can find their name and email address by going to: http://www.scstatehouse.net/cgi-bin/zipcodesearch.exe and entering your 9 digit zip+4 into the box provided. This will give you their email address also.)

3) Fax your SC House Representative. The House fax number is (803) 734-2925. Use the text provided in the box above.

TO: (Use these emails with Microsoft Outlook email because it requires semicolons between email addresses)
AgnewP@schouse.org; AlexanderT@schouse.org; KBA@schouse.org; AndersonC@schouse.org; AnthonyM@schouse.org; JCB@schouse.org; BallentineN@schouse.org; BannisterB@schouse.org; LDB@schouse.org; jab@schouse.org; BedingfieldE@schouse.org; KAB@schouse.org; BowenD@schouse.org; WKB@schouse.org; BradyJ@schouse.org; BranhamL@schouse.org; BrantleyC@schouse.org; FB@schouse.org; GB@schouse.org; RLB@schouse.org; HLC@schouse.org; CeipsC@schouse.org; ChalkR@schouse.org; CAC@schouse.org; ClemmonsA@schouse.org; WC@schouse.org; gch@schouse.org; cbc@schouse.org; HWM@schouse.org; WFC@schouse.org; CrawfordK@schouse.org; TMD@schouse.org; GRD@schouse.org; fgd@schouse.org; DuncanJ@schouse.org; TE@schouse.org; MBF@schouse.org; FunderburkL@schouse.org; GambrellM@schouse.org; JNG@schouse.org; GullickC@schouse.org; HagoodB@schouse.org; HaleyN@schouse.org; GLH@schouse.org; HardwickN@schouse.org; HSP@schouse.org; HJU@schouse.org; HartC@schouse.org; HarvinC@schouse.org; GAH@schouse.org; JH@schouse.org; HerbkersmanB@schouse.org; HinsonS@schouse.org; HiottD@schouse.org; HodgesK@schouse.org; LH1@schouse.org; LH@schouse.org; ch@schouse.org; JeffersonJ@schouse.org; DJ@schouse.org; KellyK@schouse.org; KK@schouse.org; KnightP@schouse.org; RWL@schouse.org; HBL@schouse.org; LFL@schouse.org; DAL@schouse.org; LoweP@schouse.org; JL@schouse.org; DJM@schouse.org; MahaffeyJ@schouse.org; WJM@schouse.org; JM1@schouse.org; VOM@schouse.org; MITCHELLH@schouse.org; bam@schouse.org; MossD@schouse.org; MulvaneyM@schouse.org; jmn@schouse.org; JN@schouse.org; DWN@schouse.org; HLO@schouse.org; owensp@schouse.org; JAP@schouse.org; RSP@schouse.org; ORP@schouse.org; PinsonG@schouse.org; PittsT@schouse.org; PittsM@schouse.org; RFR@schouse.org; JTR@schouse.org; WES@schouse.org; WBS@schouse.org; JLS@schouse.org; SellersB@schouse.org; ShoopmanP@schouse.org; JGS@schouse.org; SkeltonBR@schouse.org; DCS@schouse.org; FNS@schouse.org; GMS@schouse.org; SmithG@schouse.org; JS@schouse.org; RepSmith@JamesSmith.org; SPT@schouse.org; SpiresK@schouse.org; StavL@schouse.org; StewartJ@schouse.org; SFT@schouse.org; at@schouse.org; MT@schouse.org; TooleM@schouse.org; UmphlettD@schouse.org; VickT@schouse.org; ViersT@schouse.org; REW@schouse.org; JDW@schouse.org; JSW@schouse.org; WBW@schouse.org; WhitmireW@schouse.org; WilliamsR@schouse.org; WDW@schouse.org; ADY@schouse.org; CountEmails@scfirearms.org

TO: (Use these emails with other email programs because most require commas between email addresses)
AgnewP@schouse.org, AlexanderT@schouse.org, KBA@schouse.org, AndersonC@schouse.org, AnthonyM@schouse.org, JCB@schouse.org, BallentineN@schouse.org, BannisterB@schouse.org, LDB@schouse.org, jab@schouse.org, BedingfieldE@schouse.org, KAB@schouse.org, BowenD@schouse.org, WKB@schouse.org, BradyJ@schouse.org, BranhamL@schouse.org, BrantleyC@schouse.org, FB@schouse.org, GB@schouse.org, RLB@schouse.org, HLC@schouse.org, CeipsC@schouse.org, ChalkR@schouse.org, CAC@schouse.org, ClemmonsA@schouse.org, WC@schouse.org, gch@schouse.org, cbc@schouse.org, HWM@schouse.org, WFC@schouse.org, CrawfordK@schouse.org, TMD@schouse.org, GRD@schouse.org, fgd@schouse.org, DuncanJ@schouse.org, TE@schouse.org, MBF@schouse.org, FunderburkL@schouse.org, GambrellM@schouse.org, JNG@schouse.org, GullickC@schouse.org, HagoodB@schouse.org, HaleyN@schouse.org, GLH@schouse.org, HardwickN@schouse.org, HSP@schouse.org, HJU@schouse.org, HartC@schouse.org, HarvinC@schouse.org, GAH@schouse.org, JH@schouse.org, HerbkersmanB@schouse.org, HinsonS@schouse.org, HiottD@schouse.org, HodgesK@schouse.org, LH1@schouse.org, LH@schouse.org, ch@schouse.org, JeffersonJ@schouse.org, DJ@schouse.org, KellyK@schouse.org, KK@schouse.org, KnightP@schouse.org, RWL@schouse.org, HBL@schouse.org, LFL@schouse.org, DAL@schouse.org, LoweP@schouse.org, JL@schouse.org, DJM@schouse.org, MahaffeyJ@schouse.org, WJM@schouse.org, JM1@schouse.org, VOM@schouse.org, MITCHELLH@schouse.org, bam@schouse.org, MossD@schouse.org, MulvaneyM@schouse.org, jmn@schouse.org, JN@schouse.org, DWN@schouse.org, HLO@schouse.org, owensp@schouse.org, JAP@schouse.org, RSP@schouse.org, ORP@schouse.org, PinsonG@schouse.org, PittsT@schouse.org, PittsM@schouse.org, RFR@schouse.org, JTR@schouse.org, WES@schouse.org, WBS@schouse.org, JLS@schouse.org, SellersB@schouse.org, ShoopmanP@schouse.org, JGS@schouse.org, SkeltonBR@schouse.org, DCS@schouse.org, FNS@schouse.org, GMS@schouse.org, SmithG@schouse.org, JS@schouse.org, RepSmith@JamesSmith.org, SPT@schouse.org, SpiresK@schouse.org, StavL@schouse.org, StewartJ@schouse.org, SFT@schouse.org, at@schouse.org, MT@schouse.org, TooleM@schouse.org, UmphlettD@schouse.org, VickT@schouse.org, ViersT@schouse.org, REW@schouse.org, JDW@schouse.org, JSW@schouse.org, WBW@schouse.org, WhitmireW@schouse.org, WilliamsR@schouse.org, WDW@schouse.org, ADY@schouse.org, CountEmails@scfirearms.org

TEXT BODY:
Dear Representative:

GrassRoots GunRights speaks for me!

H. 3964 MUST NOT PASS AS AMENDED BY THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE! The newly proposed Section 23-31-245 will negate every concealed weapon permit (CWP) reciprocity agreement that South Carolina has entered into with every other state! This amendment is totally unacceptable to the 50,000 CWP holders in South Carolina! The Judiciary Committee's proposed Section 23-31-245 must be deleted from H. 3964!

The newly proposed Section 23-31-245 would become part of the South Carolina CWP law. As such, SLED must take this section of law into consideration when determining whether another state has "permit issuance standards equal to or greater than the standards contained in" the South Carolina CWP law. Since other states do not require what Section 23-31-245 would require of South Carolina CWP holders, ALL reciprocity agreements with South Carolina would be voided. This is totally unacceptable to the 50,000 CWP holders in South Carolina.

If the newly proposed Section 23-31-245 is amended to change it so as to not be part of the CWP law, then it would no longer be germane to the rest of H. 3964. Thus, the newly proposed Section 23-31-245 can not be amended within H. 3964 either without voiding all SC CWP reciprocity agreements or becoming non germane to the rest of the bill. Therefore, Section 23-31-245 should simply be deleted from H. 3964.

The newly proposed Section 23-31-245 destroys the privacy of medical records. Destroying the privacy of medical records is a controversial issue that will bring together a diverse coalition to oppose such a draconian measure. Resolution of this controversial issue will take quite some time to accomplish, assuming it can be resolved at all.

South Carolina CWP holders should not be forced to remain in the cross fire that is sure to occur once the issue of the destruction of the privacy of medical records is discovered. South Carolina CWP holders and public safety should not be held hostage to this issue while the fight drags on. The destruction of medical records privacy needs to be addressed outside of the CWP law.

I urge you to delete the newly proposed Section 23-31-245 from H. 3964, and then, pass the rest of H. 3964 exactly as it came from the Judiciary Committee. The public safety benefits H. 3964 brings to the people of South Carolina demand the proposed Section 23-31-245 be deleted and the rest of H. 3964 get passed as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

INSERT YOUR NAME
INSERT YOUR ADDRESS


Now sit back and take a moment to think about what you've just done. You've just fought to preserve our gun rights. It may not have taken you very long to do, but it is no small thing.

I want to thank you personally for taking the time to be a TRUE gun rights activist! By doing this, you are taking an active part in saving our gun rights in South Carolina!

Bill Rentiers
Executive Officer
GrassRoots GunRights of SC

20 May 2007 H.3964 Needs our help!

H. 3964 is on the agenda of the full House Judiciary Committee for Tuesday afternoon. This bill would change SC law to permit CWP holders to carry on school and college campuses, so that parents would be able to pick up and drop off their kids at school without becoming felons. GrassRoots leadership and the GrassRoots Gorillas will be there to watch how each legislator votes concerning your gun rights!

GrassRoots leadership will be writing a letter to fax to each member of the Judiciary Committee on Tuesday morning.

We want you to email EVERY member of the Judiciary Committee.

The message we want sent to each Judiciary Committee member is simply this:

TO:
HJU@schouse.org, KBA@schouse.org, fgd@schouse.org, DJ@schouse.org, JLS@schouse.org, SFT@schouse.org, JSW@schouse.org, WJM@schouse.org, Cbc@schouse.org, FNS@schouse.org, GAH@schouse.org, JTR@schouse.org, GMS@schouse.org, JDW@schouse.org, ClemmonsA@schouse.org, SmithG@schouse.org, BannisterB@schouse.org, HagoodB@schouse.org, KellyK@schouse.org, ViersT@schouse.org, HerbkersmanB@schouse.org, CeipsC@schouse.org, CrawfordK@schouse.org, StewartJ@schouse.org, RepSmith@JamesSmith.org

SUBJECT:
GrassRoots GunRights speaks for me!

BODY:
Dear Member of the House Judiciary Committee:

GrassRoots GunRights speaks for me!

Please read the letter from GrassRoots GunRights which explains why H. 3964 should be passed.

Sincerely,
PUT YOUR NAME HERE
PUT YOUR ADDRESS HERE

Don't forget to copy the list of email addresses above into the "TO:" field of your email, copy the "GrassRoots GunRights speaks for me!" into the "SUBJECT:" field of your email, and copy the rest into the body of your email message before you send it. (Be sure to put your own name & address too!)

This short message will force the politicians to look for our letter.

GrassRoots GunRights has gotten national attention for supporting H. 3964. Dr. Robert D. Butler, VP of GrassRoots GunRights, has appeared as a featured guest on both CNN's Paula Zahn Show and CNN Headline News with Erica Hill. Part of his testimony before the House subcommittee was also aired by WIS-TV Channel 10 News, Columbia, SC's local NBC affiliate.

These video clips are posted on our web site [www.scfirearms.org] so you can go there and watch these interviews.

The committee will meet at 2:30pm in room 516 of the Blatt buiding. If you can make the meeting also, that would be great! Please try your best to attend. If we can pack the room, we will send a strong message to our legislators that we mean business!

See you there!

Bill Rentiers
Executive Officer,
GrassRoots GunRights of SC

4 May 2007
 H.3212 Needs our help again!

Last week, many GrassRoots GunRights members called, emailed and faxed the members of the Senate subcommittee that were meeting to vote on H.3212 - the CWP Recognition bill that will make your South Carolina CWP good in 30+ states. Well, your efforts worked! The subcommittee voted unanimously to send H.3212 back up to the full Senate Judiciary committee with a favorable recommendation (without amendments).

But our work is not done. In fact, the truly hard part is just beginning. This bill will meet its strongest opposition at the next two points: The full Senate Judiciary Committee and the full Senate.

The full Senate Judiciary committee will meet to consider H.3212 on Tuesday May 8th at 3:00pm in room 308 of the Gressette Building. Please try your best to attend. Back in 2005 the Senate Republican leadership killed this bill by adding a "poison pill" amendment to it that would've made it worse than existing law if it passed. We have to stay vigilant if we want this CWP Recognition bill to pass, or they'll find a way to kill it again. If we can pack the room, we will send a strong message to our Senators that we mean business!

If we can stop them from killing the bill in the Senate Judiciary Committee and in the full Senate, this bill will go to the Governor for his signature.

Please act now! Let your voice be heard loud and clear!

Call, email and fax the Senators from your county and tell them:

Dear Senator:

GrassRoots GunRights speaks for me!

I want H.3212 passed exactly as it came from the House & Senate subcommittee!

I also want you to send me your written confirmation of exactly how you will be voting on this bill.

Sincerely,
PUT YOUR NAME HERE
PUT YOUR ADDRESS HERE

Here's how you do it:

First: Fax them. Do it right now. They will have a big stack of faxes waiting for them when they arrive at the office Tuesday morning. This is the Senate fax number: 803-212-6299. Make sure you fax EACH of the Senators from your county. Use the text provided in the box above.

Second: Email each of them. Do it right now. Fill up their inbox with our emails. Follow these instructions carefully:

- Block and Copy all the text in the box above.
- Click here . A browser will open with links to every county in the state.
- Click on the county where you live. You will see a list of your Senator's names listed under "South Carolina Senate Delegation."
- One at a time, you must click on EACH name you find in this list. Doing this will take you to that Senator's webpage. Their email address will be found right below their office telephone numbers. Just click on that email address and your email program will open up automatically, addressed to that Senator. Paste the text from the box above into each email and send it. Be sure to add a Subject line to your email, such as "Please Pass H.3212!"

Third: Call each of them. Do this First thing TUESDAY morning (they don't come in on Mondays). You may have to leave a message. Make sure he knows that GrassRoots GunRights speaks for you, and that you want him to vote for this bill. If you don't get to speak with him personally, make sure to tell him you want to know how he intends to vote in the full Judiciary committee and in the full Senate. This is the capitol switchboard number for the Senate: 803-212-6200 Use the capitol switchboard number so that we clog up the phone lines and really let them hear us! Just call this number and ask for your Senators by name, one by one, until you've spoken with each one in your county. You can use the text provided in the box above for talking points.

Once you have done all this, sit back and relax for a moment. Be proud of yourself. You've just fought for your gun rights.

Ok, that's enough.

Now make arrangments to be at the Senate Judiciary committee meeting at 3:00pm Tuesday in room 308 of the Gressette building. Let's pack the room send them a message that they better not mess with our gun rights!

See you there!

Bill Rentiers
Executive Officer,
GrassRoots GunRights of SC

30 April 2007
 GRASSROOTS GUNRIGHTS ACTION ALERT!

Please contact the SC Senators on this subcommittee and tell them to support H. 3212!

H. 3212 is the CWP Reciprocity bill. It passed the House last month. If it passes the Senate and is signed by the Governor, SC will honor all carry permits of every other state. If this happens, many more states will automatically honor our concealed carry permits.

The subcommittee members are listed below. Please call, fax and email them to let them know that "GrassRoots GunRights speaks for me!" and that we want them to pass H. 3212 without amendment.

Senator John D. Hawkins, (chair)
Office: (803) 212-6008
E-Mail: DH@scsenate.org
Fax: 803-212-6299

Vincent A. Sheheen
Office: (803) 212-6124
E-Mail: VS@scsenate.org
Fax: 803-212-6299

Senator Joel Lourie
Office: (803) 212-6116
E-Mail Address: JBL@scsenate.org
Fax: 803-212-6299

Senator Lewis R. Vaughn
Office: (803) 212-6100
E-Mail Address: LRV@scsenate.org
Fax: 803-212-6299

NOTE: GrassRoots leaders will be at the statehouse attending this Senate subcommittee meeting on Wednesday May 2nd at 10:00am in room 209 of the Gressette building. If any of you are able to attend this meeting, your participation would be greatly appreciated. Let's pack the room and let them know we mean business! However, we understand that many people work or live too far from Columbia and will be unable to attend, so please make those calls and send those emails and faxes TODAY!

Don't let this opportunity slip by - Protect your gun rights - Make the call today!

8 March 2007
 ACT NOW - HELP US END THE NATIONAL PARK GUN BAN!

**URGENT** **URGENT** **URGENT**

Two years ago a pro-gun organization called the Virginia Citizen's Defense League (VCDL) initiated a “Petition for Rule Making” to the National Park Service (NPS) asking NPS to allow law- abiding citizens to carry a handgun for self-defense in a National Park if the state in which the park is located allows such carry.

GrassRoots GunRights of SC was one of the first organizations to sign on in support of the VCDL petition.

Recently, after two years of waiting for a reply, the NPS finally sent a letter of response to the petition. You can read the response letter at NPS Denial of VCDL PRM (used with permission of VCDL)

GrassRoots GunRights of SC has learned from VCDL that the Department of the Interior (DOI) is livid over the NPS rejection letter.

Apparently the National Park Service DID NOT CLEAR that rejection letter with their parent - the Department of the Interior!

The Department of Interior had been telling VCDL and key Congressional members that DOI would seriously consider this petition.

The ensuing NPS rejection letter made DOI look like fools and liars. DOI doesn't like that at all, and who would blame them?

The word from VCDL is that the Department of the Interior is investigating how to OVERTURN that rejection letter and soon!!!

We have an incredible opportunity to save TWO years of work and pull off a victory for all gun owners! But we must make our voices heard LOUD AND CLEAR.

It is imperative that all of you to do the following FOUR things NOW no matter where you live, as this is a NATIONAL effort:

********

1. CALL the DOI Legislative Affairs office and leave a message for the Secretary of the Interior, Dirk Kempthorne.

Say something like this:

"I encourage Secretary Kempthorne to implement the Petition for Rule Making that the National Park Service has rejected out-of-hand. Law-abiding citizens should be allowed to protect themselves and their families while visiting a National Park."

PLEASE MAKE THAT CALL - WE WANT DOI'S TELEPHONE LINE LIT UP BIG TIME!

Mr. Kempthorne's telephone number in Washington, DC is: 202-208-7351

********

2. Call your U.S. Senators and Congressman.

Representative Henry E. Brown, Jr. (R-SC 1st)
Phone: (843) 747-4175
Fax: (843) 747-4711

Representative Joe Wilson (R-SC 2nd)
Phone: (202) 225-2452
Fax: (202) 225-2455

Representative J. Gresham Barrett (R-SC 3rd)
Phone: (202) 225-5301
Fax: (202) 225-3216

Representative Bob Inglis (R-SC 4th)
Phone: (202) 225-6030
Fax: (202) 226-1177

Representative John M. Spratt, Jr. (D-SC 5th)
Phone: (202) 225-5501
Fax: (202) 225-0464

Representative James Clyburn (D-SC 6th)
Phone: (202) 225-3315
Fax: (202) 225-2313

Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC)
Phone: (202) 224-6121
Fax: (202) 228-5143

Senator Lindsey O. Graham (R-SC)
Phone: (202) 224-5972
Fax: (202) 224-3808

Say something like this:

"Please have [Senator or Congressman's name] contact the Department of the Interior's Secretary, Dirk Kempthorne, and ask him to overturn the National Park Service's rejection of the Petition for Rule Making. Law-abiding citizens should be allowed to carry a handgun to defend themselves while visiting a National Park if the state in which the park is located allows such carry!"

PLEASE MAKE THAT CALL - WE WANT CONGRESS' TELEPHONE LINES TO LIGHT UP AS BRIGHTLY AS DOI'S!

********

3. After calling your Senators and Congressman, follow up with an email.

Here is a sample email you can use:

Please ask the Department of the Interior's Secretary, Dirk Kempthorne, to overturn the National Park Service's arbitrary rejection of the Petition for Rule Making and to implement that petition!

The Petition for Rule Making, representing over ONE MILLION gun owners, would allow law-abiding citizens to carry a handgun for self-defense in a National Park as long as the state in which that National Park is located allows such carry.

The National Park Service's rejection letter was not only senseless, but condescending towards America's gun owners.

My family members and I are given but one life each. I ask that you make sure that I can defend those lives while visiting a National Park!

Please let me know what you are going to do.

********

4. After calling and leaving a message for DOI, follow up with an email to Secretary Kempthorne:

Email address: exsec@ios.doi.gov
Suggested email subject: Pleasse approve the Petition for Rule Making!
Suggested email text:

Dear Secretary Kempthorne,

I ask that you approve and implement the Petition for Rule Making that would allow a law-abiding citizen to carry a handgun for self-defense in a National Park as long the state in which the park is located allows such carry.

The National Park Service sent a rejection letter listing four very poor reasons for the rejection. None of the reasons listed legitimately justifies denying a person the right to defend the only life they have been given.

The Petition, representing over ONE MILLION gun owners, was basically rejected out-of-hand.

Please let me know what the Department of the Interior is going to do regarding this matter.

Sincerely,
[YOUR NAME]
[YOUR ADDRESS]

********

Please spread this alert far and wide! We need gun owners from all over the country to make this happen!

18 Jan 2007
 GRASSROOTS GUNRIGHTS ACTION ALERT!

WASHINGTON ATTEMPTING TO STOP GRASSROOTS LOBBYING.

First Amendment Under Attack Again!
Urge your Senators to VOTE YES on the Bennett Amendment!

Congress is about to enact new ethics and lobbying rules. As you might expect, they are using this opportunity to silence organizations like GrassRoots GunRights of SC.

Expect this to be a bi-partisan effort. There is always bipartisanship when it comes to protecting incumbents. There was bipartisan support for the McCain-Feingold law - a law to stop grassroots organizations from using the mass media to tell people about an incumbent's voting record close to an election. Incumbents want to silence grassroots organizations completely so they can hide the truth about the incumbent's voting record from the people. This would prevent GrassRoots from telling its members about the voting records of politicians during the election season. All this just goes to show that all of our constitutional rights are under attack. First, the Second Amendment. Now, the First Amendment.

Section 220 in the Legislative Transparency and Accountability Act (S.1) being voted on next week in the U.S. Senate would target groups like GrassRoots GunRights SC, who represent gun owners in South Carolina. Our style of grassroots lobbying (i.e., e-mails, newsletters, website, and direct mail) has been treated differently than the kind of high dollar inside lobbying (i.e., TV, newspapers, and radio) that the McCain-Feingold law attacked. Now, the incumbents want to make sure that what they do to you during legislative season can not be reported to you during election season. The incumbents do not want you to know the truth!

The dangerous provisions in the bill would subject groups like GrassRoots SC to a mountain of government regulation. When we spend money encouraging you and other citizens to contact their elected officials on a particular issue, this provision would require extensive government reporting, including notifying Congress 45 days before such action would take place.

Given the pace that attacks on our rights take place, this is clearly an attempt to stop us from contacting and informing you about dangerous legislation that is in the works.

Sen. Robert Bennett (R-UT), along with Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), has offered an amendment to strike the grassroots lobbying provisions included in S.1. You need to contact Senators Lindsey Graham and Jim DeMint as soon as possible and urge them to support the Bennett/ McConnell amendment. Every gun rights organization (including the NRA and GOA) is asking you to contact your Senators about this immediately.

The Senate will vote on the Bennett amendment soon. Please call Senators Graham and DeMint today and tell them to VOTE YES on the Bennett amendment!

Please act now!

Urge Your Senators to VOTE YES on the Bennett Amendment!

Lindsay Graham:
Columbia Office: 803-933-0122
Charleston Office: 843-849-3887
Greenville Office: 864-250-1417
Florence Office: 843-669-1505
DC Office: 202- 224-5972
Fax- 202-224 3808
Click here for E-mail form: contact

Jim DeMint
Columbia Office: 803-771-6112
Charleston Office: 843-727-4525
Greenville Office: 864-233-5366
DC Phone 202-224-6121
Fax 202-228-5143
Click here for E-Mail form: contact

Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121

   

 

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