News Releases

SC Senate GOP: CWP Restaurant Bill Advances

COLUMBIA, S.C. — S.308, sponsored by Senators Sean Bennett, Katrina Shealy and others, which allows Concealed Weapons Permit (CWP) holders to legally carry firearms in restaurants, moved one step closer to final approval today. An amendment added to the bill also streamlines the CWP renewal process by providing the State…

COLUMBIA, S.C. — S.308, sponsored by Senators Sean Bennett, Katrina Shealy and others, which allows Concealed Weapons Permit (CWP) holders to legally carry firearms in restaurants, moved one step closer to final approval today. An amendment added to the bill also streamlines the CWP renewal process by providing the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) with the necessary tools to perform its duties in a more timely manner.

Senator Bennett noted, “This bill is an acknowledgement that law-abiding gun owners with state licensed training deserve to have their constitutional rights protected, not restricted. It also ensures that renewal of their permits won’t be delayed by bureaucratic backlogs.”

Senator Shealy added, “This was one of my top priorities last year, and was again to start this session. To get this victory straight out of the gate in 2014 is significant. This bill is a confirmation that in South Carolina, we value the right to legally carry a firearm, and our CWP holders should not have their rights trampled by arbitrary restrictions.”

To preserve property rights, restaurant owners are permitted under this legislation to post signage prohibiting the carrying of weapons by CWP holders.

Currently, South Carolina is one of only six states that absolutely prohibits any citizen in conformance with state law from carrying a firearm into a restaurant where alcohol is served. However, under the provisions of S.308, CWP holders would not be allowed to consume alcoholic beverages while carrying their weapon on a business’ premises.

With the adoption of new amendments, the bill now returns to the House of Representatives for an up or down vote.

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(Editor’s Note: The above communication is a news release and does not necessarily reflect the editorial position of FITSNews.com. To submit your letter, news release, email blast, media advisory or issues statement for publication, click here).

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107 comments

Smirks January 16, 2014 at 2:13 pm

http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess120_2013-2014/bills/308.htm

A good bill for sure. Rather than say “No, you can’t carry your gun in here period,” it is now “Sure, go ahead, but you can’t drink while you’re in there.” It accomplishes what this part of the law was originally trying to do, not have drunk people with guns in a bar (well, rather, punish people who do this a bit more), without going too far.

It’s slow progress, but we are at least gaining more rights.

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shifty henry January 16, 2014 at 4:05 pm

It won’t stop someone from taking a “snort” in his car before going in. OK, Corrupt, you drive and I’ll drink in the back seat – first let’s go to Smirks’ Grill & Bar, and then later we’ll head over to Henry’s Liquor Emporium. I just won’t drink while we’re INSIDE….

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shifty henry January 16, 2014 at 4:12 pm

Another item — it seems that news articles about guns fired in restaurants and bars the last few months may have said that some of the shooters left and went to their cars before going back inside. And several shootings in the Midlands had the bad guy shooting from outside through windows, walls and doors.
This proposal won’t stop every anticipated event, but it is a good start. And true friends should monitor their buddy’s behavior.

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Imjustakid January 17, 2014 at 3:11 pm

Your talking about people who break the law. If someone wants to drink or “snort” something in their car and bring a gun into a bar they will do so no matter what the law is. This law just expands where someone who is following the law can carry their weapon.

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SCBlues January 16, 2014 at 8:05 pm

Gaining more rights to do what? I cannot recall the last time I felt the need to have a gun in any restaurant. Oh – and I know – I’m supposed to have one in case someone comes in there and starts playing shoot-em-up. You folks have been watching too much television. And Senator Shealy states that this bill was one of my “top priorities” – and we do not have more pressing needs in SC???

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CorruptionInColumbia January 16, 2014 at 8:14 pm

The idea of carrying all the time is that you don’t know when you will need a gun or not need one, therefore it is best to always be armed if you truly value your life or the lives of your family. Please contact the lady in this video and tell her she has been “watching too much TV” because she fought to pass a “shall issue” CWP law in her home state of Texas. She did this after her mother and father were murdered in a cafeteria shooting spree by a lunatic. She was disarmed that day, because a stupid law, made by lawmakers in a setting where they are protected by armed guards, prevented her from being armed that day.

I have friends who love to play the numbers game and quote statistics on how likely it is a given event may or may not happen to you. Thing is, if it happens to you, your probability was 100%.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcDHoqQL9AM

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SCBlues January 17, 2014 at 11:55 am

But what ARE the numbers? For every one incident like your video there are HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS of non-incidents of folks eating in restaurants and walking out unscathed (as long as you do not include heartburn). So everyone has a gun – and that makes you feel safer? Having a gun ensures that nothing will happen to you?

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sid January 17, 2014 at 12:49 pm

The numbers simply don’t exist. The fact is, though, that the vast majority of states allow this, and there have not been any real problems. Some states even allow people to carry concealed and still drink, and yet there are no statistics showing even that this is a problem. If there were, you can be sure anti-gun folks would be pointing to them.

SCBlues January 17, 2014 at 3:07 pm

I do not classify myself as “anti-gun” – just do not understand the need to be armed every second of the day. I just do not walk through life fearful – I understand that shit happens but certain kinds of shit just does happen often enough that I feel the need to be armed every second – and nothing has ever happened to me or anyone that I am related to or anyone that I know that having a gun would have prevented it from happening. And why in the heck in this state with as many problems that we have is something like this a “top priority”? It defies logic.

CorruptionInColumbia January 17, 2014 at 4:49 pm

I hope your run of good luck continues. Personally, family, friends, and myself, have been in situations where having a gun made the difference between going home more or less in one piece and in being another statistic.

One friend, an elderly storekeeper, was attacked by two males who were armed with claw hammers. They beat the old man severely with the hammers and then began kicking him while he was on the floor. He told them to let him get his keys out of his back pocket and they could have what was in the safe if they would stop kicking him. Instead of keys, he produced a Colt .38 revolver which he fired into one of the attackers groin. The bullet traveled upward through several digestive and excretory parts and lodged in the crud’s liver. The two attackers made their way to the getaway car outside and the driver took them to a nearby house where they summoned an ambulance, telling the homeowner the shot crud was “playing with a gun and accidentally shot himself.”

The Sheriff’s Department in that jurisdiction was en-route to my friend’s store and detoured to make arrests at the new call about a gunshot. My friend was in pretty bad shape but was back at work in short order, because he had the means to stop a vicious attack on an old man.

Years ago, my father was working at a plant in GA. He spent the week in the little town and returned to SC on weekends, taking my grandmother shopping and tending to her needs as well as spending a little time with his girlfriend.

Dad was in the habit of packing and had been a reserve deputy in our home county for a number of years. One night, along I-20 and back in SC, he stopped at one of those “no facilities” rest stops that was there back then because he had an urgent need to relieve himself. It was a dark and creepy place so he stuck his .357 revolver in his waistband and walked into the tree line to take care of business. As he stood there, he observed a car pull into the rest stop and park near the entrance. The driver remained by the car, apparently acting as a lookout. The two passengers walked to Dad’s old, but well-maintained “land boat” and walked around it, looking at it. He heard one of them remark, “someone has money”.

Dad finished his business and walked out toward his car, asking, “can I help you?” One of the cruds replied, “yeah we need some money”, or words to that general effect. Dad replied that he didn’t have any to spare and one of them said something about, “well, what if we shake you down and see?”

Dad showed them his .357 and made a comment about what if he splattered them across the parking lot instead. The two cruds took off running toward the waiting car. Dad said the driver asked, “did you get anything” to which one of the two passengers said, “SHUT UP, HE’S GOT A GUN!!!!” Dad said the car burned rubber and left quite a bit of smoke in getting out of that rest stop. Had he not chosen to arm himself (illegally at that time) he would have been a statistic at best, and perhaps even a murder victim.

I have had an incident or two that I feel certain would not have turned out so well for me had I not been armed.

None of these people, to include myself, were out looking for trouble. Trouble sometimes finds you and when it does, it is best to be prepared to deal with it, unless you savor becoming a statistic.

SCBlues January 17, 2014 at 5:35 pm

We just disagree. I choose not to live in fear. My shadow does not frighten me. My “run of luck” apparently is not just mine – it belongs to the other hundreds of million of folks who have never been shot or robbed or needed a gun.

CorruptionInColumbia January 17, 2014 at 7:22 pm

Who said anything about living in “fear”? I prefer to live cautiously. I became keenly aware at an early age that bad things happen to good people, and they are frequently done by bad people. Three adults who I considered my friends were murdered in three separate incidents between the times I was 13 and 16. They were engaged in honorable occupations and were not doing anything criminal or “suspect” at the times. Even then, I followed news accounts of armed robberies and murders which were rampant in the state.

While only a joke, I have special appreciation for this story.

A cop stopped a man and asked if he had any weapons in his vehicle. The guy replied that he had a Concealed Weapons Permit and did have a .45 automatic on his right hip.

“OK”, said the cop, are there any other weapons on you or in your vehicle?

The motorist replied that he had a snub-nosed .38 in an ankle holster on his left ankle and a .380 automatic in his back pocket. He continued that he had a .357 magnum revolver in the glove box, a .22 mini revolver in his console and an AR-15 and a shotgun in the trunk.

The cop asked, “what the hell are you afraid of?!?!?!?”

“Not one damn thing”, the motorist calmly replied.

SCBlues January 17, 2014 at 7:27 pm

We just disagree – that’s all. And at least we can be thankful that this site affords us the opportunity to have a hearty and healthy debate about it – at least most of the time. Of course there is that little clique that tries to drum you off the site if they disagree with you or you challenge them or their fellow little members of the clique. We just disagree – which is fine.

CorruptionInColumbia January 17, 2014 at 4:29 pm

Yes, it makes me feel safer. If you choose NOT to carry, then by all means, do so. I don’t wish to force people to carry who do not want to. I only want to be able to carry, myself and have the means to protect myself, friends, or family, who are with me in the event of hostilities initiated by some ne’er-do-well.

No, of course being armed is no guarantee that nothing will happen to me, but it sure makes a big dent in the odds in my favor. As I noted above, if you happen to be in the unfortunate situation that Ms Gratia-Hupp was in when the lunatic murdered her mother and father while they were at lunch, then the odds of it happening to you just jumped to 100%.

SCBlues January 17, 2014 at 5:37 pm

But the fact that you mention one incident – and that there are hundreds of millions of other non-incidents – does not make me feel the need to carry a gun.

CorruptionInColumbia January 17, 2014 at 7:25 pm

Then by all means, DON’T! Just don’t deny me or others who choose to that option only because YOU don’t feel that need.

Do you also want to deny people who like cream and/or sugar in their coffee that option because you might not like those options?

SCBlues January 17, 2014 at 9:13 pm

I’m all for coffee – any way you like it.

Smirks January 17, 2014 at 1:13 am

I cannot recall the last time I felt the need to have a gun in any restaurant.

I can’t recall any time I felt the need to carry a gun with me to the corner gas station, at least until a good friend of mine was carjacked.

Who the fuck said Rambo would bust in and shoot the restaurant up, and I get to be the heroic nobody that saves the day? The more likely scenario is someone sitting in the parking lot and attacking you when you get to your car. Or, some drunk thug whipping out a knife on you, when you happen to be sober yourself. That isn’t made up movie crap, that’s real life.

There’s a good reason to charge someone who is intoxicated or consuming intoxicants for using a gun, possibly even carrying a gun if you assume they will lose their inhibition once intoxicated and do something stupid. That you can argue. However, if I go in with no intention on drinking, why restrict my right? Why punish me, even if the restaurant owner has no issue with me carrying?

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SCBlues January 17, 2014 at 11:51 am

Nobody the fuck said anything about Rambo that I can see. We can agree to disagree. I am not afraid to eat in restaurants to the point that I feel I need a gun – but that may change now that everyone is gonna be armed in SC. Quite frankly I’m as afraid of some of the legal CPW holders in this state as I am of the drunk thugs and carjackers.

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Deo Vindice SC January 16, 2014 at 9:06 pm

I can’t wait, sounds good to me, those obnoxious people will pay, texting in a theater, or restaraunt, dead meat !

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CorruptionInColumbia January 16, 2014 at 2:19 pm

I definitely appreciate the efforts of those such as my Senator, Katrina Shealy, in moving this bill forward. I am concerned about verbiage in the above post which speaks of, “An amendment added to the bill also streamlines the CWP renewal process by providing the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) with the necessary tools to perform its duties in a more timely manner.”

Exactly WHAT does THIS mean??????

Last year, pseudo “pro-2A” Representative Mike Pitts from Laurens and Greenwood counties tried to jack up the rates on a CWP by 50%, while only increasing the length of time that a CWP is valid between renewals by 25%, ostensibly to help SLED meet their obligations, something they have failed miserably at. This is unacceptable.

Even worse, Pitts wanted to drastically increase penalties for being caught with a weapon in a Gun Free Zone from a maximum of weeks or months in jail to YEARS, as well as jacking up the fines from hundreds of dollars to THOUSANDS of dollars. Sorry, Mikey Pitts is NOT GUN FRIENDLY. His secretary had the gall to try and piss down my back and tell me it was raining by saying that Pitts was trying to help us by converting the penalties from “criminal” to “civil”. How stupid did she think I was?????

I hope Ms Shealy is monitoring this closely so they don’t put razor blades in the apple.

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Frank Pytel January 16, 2014 at 4:04 pm

Open carry solves all those pesky little problems brother. #2A yep yep

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CorruptionInColumbia January 16, 2014 at 2:42 pm

“To preserve property rights, restaurant owners are permitted under this legislation to post signage prohibiting the carrying of weapons by CWP holders.”

While I realize that this garbage verbiage is the only way this bill had a chance of passage, this is totally unnecessary verbiage and a bogus concept. EXISTING LAWS with regard to trespassing after notice are more than sufficient to ensure “property rights”. If you are carrying concealed, no one should need know you are carrying at all. IF by some chance, a store manager, owner, or other person in charge of the premises should become aware of your armed status and get in a snit of sufficient magnitude that they feel they have to do something, they have the right to tell you to leave their property. Failure to do so allows them to call police and seek a warrant against you for Trespassing. That is ALL that is needed. Adherence to stupid “Rob Me” signs is not necessary to protect “property rights”.

People wearing some colognes and perfumes probably present a greater danger to others who might be severely allergic to those substances than my or your concealed handguns do. There is no law to “protect property owners’ rights” in the event you are caught with perfume on your person (in a container or worn) in places which have signs asking you to keep out for the safety of their employees if you have perfume or cologne on. There is no need of an adherence to “Rob Me” signs law in CWP laws.

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Pander Bears Anonymous January 16, 2014 at 3:19 pm

Let me see.Katrina has pandered on the two of the Big Three that get Republican juices flowing taxes and guns.Watch for some Abortion stuff next.

Go for the Trifecta Baby!

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SCBlueWoman January 16, 2014 at 3:41 pm

I can’t wait to enjoy my martini while some small pricked person is sitting there with a gun. Unless the place displays the no guns sign, I will not patronize. Freaking stupid.

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shifty henry January 16, 2014 at 4:24 pm

Uh-Oh..!! Ms. Blue, several of us have appreciated your participation on Fitsnews, and have even tagged you as a “sweetie” for your intelligent and sensible comments. But are we corrupting you? Here you are with a “getting tough” comment. Please don’t let our rough banter influence you negatively….

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SCBlueWoman January 16, 2014 at 4:35 pm

Since my first cousin was gunned down by a “law abiding” citizen and murdered in cold blood, I’ve had a different slant on “the right to bear arms.” And before you jump off saying that I’m anti-gun, I own a shotgun and 2 handguns. My partner collects guns. I just think you need to be a tad sensible about the whole damned thing.

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Jay Ellington January 16, 2014 at 8:30 pm

How does a law abiding citizen commit murder? The moment that person decides to go rogue, they’re not a law abiding citizen. I’m not making light of your experience, but please don’t allow your anecdote to dictate what’s good for me and mine.

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shifty henry January 16, 2014 at 8:53 pm

I didn’t mean to sound insulting or derogatory, I was just commenting on your strong wording, “small pricked person and a stupid bar owner ” which seemed contrary to your previous postings.

I’ve noticed that occasionally a new person arrives and posts using cautious language, that is until he sees what gets in, and joins in the “slugfest”….

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Jay Ellington January 16, 2014 at 9:01 pm

The writing style and dialogue coming out of SCBlue does seem to fluctuate. Weird.

Squishy123 January 16, 2014 at 9:01 pm

“partner”, your scissoring partner?

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sid January 17, 2014 at 12:44 pm

What prevents you or your partner from getting drunk in your home and shooting each other?

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Violins January 17, 2014 at 3:19 pm

I’m sure your cousin got what was coming to him.

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Jay Ellington January 16, 2014 at 5:00 pm

Somewhere there is a small pricked person and a stupid bar owner that is prematurely thanking you.

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CorruptionInColumbia January 16, 2014 at 5:42 pm

Prolly hates small-pricked persons because of a cavernous vajayjay that they can’t satisfy.

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Mary January 16, 2014 at 5:36 pm

Hear! Hear! and we need to get as many people as possible to agree to the same. If bar owners want to expose us to some possibly drunkard with a gun, the bar owner should be fully responsible for any resulting injury. Just as gun owners should be fully responsible for any injury if they let their gun get out of their control.

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CorruptionInColumbia January 16, 2014 at 5:39 pm

How about the restaurant owners be responsible for any injuries or deaths to patrons or their families who are forced by their decision to post a “Rob Me” sign, to disarm and are robbed or assaulted while walking to, sitting inside of, or walking away from, their extablishment?

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Jay Ellington January 16, 2014 at 8:24 pm

Oh you mean bullshit establishments like Buffalo Wild Wing, that has it improperly posted currently, yet allows drunk off the rails off duty Richland County Sheriff department clowns in to harass other patrons. Would it be ok with you two retards if the drunk person went to their car to retrieve their pistol. Had there been a CWP holder allowed to carry in the Pizza Joint on Forest the other night when a couple of Barry’s kids strong arm robbed the place, WITH PATRONS inside, the world would have been rid of two more worthless individuals.

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Mary January 16, 2014 at 8:31 pm

So no one was killed and your racist position is since it was black kids we would all be better off if there had been a couple of dead kids on the floor along with anyone who may have gotten caught in the crossfire.
Well guess what, I think you are worthless individual and we would all be better off without you.

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Jay Ellington January 16, 2014 at 8:33 pm

The world would be a better place without anyone who brandishes a weapon in order to intimidate defenseless citizens of the world. Typical of a morons like yourself to wish me dead for an opinion, classic.

Mary January 17, 2014 at 10:07 am

No, you idiot, I don’t think you are worthless because of your opinion. I think you are worthless because you are a racist prick who fantasizes he would be a hero because he gunned down two black kids over a bag of money. So tell me in your fantasy do you sneak up behind these guys and shoot them in the back, or do you yell so they are facing you when you pull the trigger?. Do you stand over their dead bodies afterword’s smiling?. How about pictures for the grandkids?
Hmm, I wonder if you would feel the same if this were two white kids from Hammond, who got caught up in a dare and used a fake gun?

I made a judgment call, just like you. You think the world would be better place if someone killed the two black kids who robbed the pizza joint, and I think the world would be a better place without one more racist prick. Heck maybe we are both right.

Most likely if there had been a pistol packing yahoo at the pizza joint there would be a lot more dead people now.

Jay Ellington January 17, 2014 at 11:09 am

Your “what if” scenarios are about as pathetically idiotic and knee jerk as they come. Toy gun on a dare? Are you really that stupid? Also, you’re the one that keeps pressing the race issue, not me.

Mary January 17, 2014 at 1:55 pm

“Barry’s sons” I rest my case.

Jay Ellington January 17, 2014 at 2:15 pm

Good, judging from the drudgery you’ve peppered this forum with, you need some rest.

Deo Vindice SC January 16, 2014 at 9:17 pm

Kill all blacks, Elect Nikki, pack a piece everywhere, Dare the Keel enforcement to interviene, and win, win ! OOPS, Nikki and KEEL. O well we’re covered, Right out of the Bush murder playbook. Everybody in the republican party should be under investigation for treason against the American People.

euwe max January 18, 2014 at 3:43 pm

Where is uncle Joe when we need him?

Squishy123 January 16, 2014 at 9:00 pm

Who the fuck goes to BWW? You might as well eat at Hooters, it’s the same shitty food only served in little paper trays.

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Jay Ellington January 16, 2014 at 9:02 pm

Exactly. My point, these are the types of establishments that you have to watch out for. Anywhere that the mouth breathing masses flock to, stay away.

MashPotato January 17, 2014 at 5:26 pm

A sign doesn’t stop anyone from pulling a trigger.

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Bob January 16, 2014 at 4:10 pm

What’s the punishment for drinking while carrying?

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shifty henry January 16, 2014 at 4:26 pm

Only the price of another drink if you trip and spill your beer while carrying it…..

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Shooting each other January 16, 2014 at 4:20 pm

Assholes.

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Manray January 16, 2014 at 4:52 pm

Guns and alcohol — quite a cocktail! Is there no depth to which SC pols won’t stoop to pander to rednecks?

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Deo Vindice SC January 16, 2014 at 9:07 pm

This is a SC right.

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The Colonel January 17, 2014 at 3:14 am

The right to self defense is as old as rights themselves – it isn’t a SC right, it’s a “natural right”, you were born with it.

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west_rhino January 17, 2014 at 12:11 pm

I believe the phrase is “inalienable right”

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The Colonel January 17, 2014 at 12:47 pm

Natural Rights are those not contingent upon the laws, customs, or beliefs of any particular culture or government, and therefore universal and inalienable (or unalienable)

Different way of saying the same thing. I distinguish “natural rights” from “un” or “inalienable” in that they have no basis in a paticular moral code or system of ethics. Our system requires a belief in a religious based moral code of ethics which is why Jefferson used unalienable – “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”

Kel January 17, 2014 at 1:40 pm

Don’t think we were endowed with a firearm when we were born, though.

The Colonel January 17, 2014 at 1:55 pm

Dude – really, that’s the best you got? We weren’t born with clothes or a house either.

Kel January 17, 2014 at 3:03 pm

Just following your poor logic

euwe max January 18, 2014 at 3:42 pm

or health care

Kel January 20, 2014 at 7:02 pm

No points made…

The Colonel January 21, 2014 at 4:25 am

Actually, you were endowed with the right to possess a firearm by virtue of being born in the US.

Kel January 21, 2014 at 2:31 pm

By the founding fathers, not our creator. Only if Jesus had a firearm, Pontius Pilate would not have had a chance. There’s more history to the 2nd Amendment than what’s bounced around the delusion bubble.

Manray January 17, 2014 at 4:25 pm

I have read the Constitution dozens of times. In fact, I keep a copy in the top desk drawer. I don’t recall an “inalienable right” to carry firearms in bars.

CorruptionInColumbia January 17, 2014 at 7:40 pm

I believe it is somewhere in the phrase, “…the right of the people to keep and bear arms SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED”.

The Colonel January 21, 2014 at 4:33 am

There are no unalienable rights in the Constitution, that phrase is found in the Declaration of Independence. What the Constitution has to say on this issue is this: “…. secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity…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….The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people…The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

euwe max January 18, 2014 at 3:42 pm

God knew the serial number on our pistols before we were born.

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Deo Vindice SC January 16, 2014 at 9:25 pm

what are pols ?

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Smirks January 17, 2014 at 12:54 am

The law extends the right to conceal carry into a restaurant if you do not drink. That protection clearly evaporates the moment you drink on premise.

The CWP essentially is government accepting that there’s no reason you shouldn’t be allowed to carry a gun with you. This modification to the law essentially continues in that spirit, that until you DO present a reason you shouldn’t have a gun on you, i.e. getting hammered, there’s no reason to stop or punish you.

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Manray January 17, 2014 at 11:45 am

Get idea, in theory. So the state will remove your right to carry a concealed weapon in a bar AFTER you’ve been hammered and shot someone with it? It will do the dead guy a lot of good.

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Peter O. January 20, 2014 at 2:11 pm

Well, the state takes away your driver’s license once you drive drunk & kill somebody. Does the victim no good in those cases either.

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euwe max January 18, 2014 at 3:41 pm

It may be an attempt to thin the herd.

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Godslayer January 16, 2014 at 5:01 pm

Guns in bars? What could possibly go wrong?

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Squishy123 January 16, 2014 at 8:57 pm

Nothing unless you happen to go to them on Two Notch Rd.

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west_rhino January 17, 2014 at 12:10 pm

Not that on Two Notch Road anyone gives a flip if you have a CWP, unless you’re the intended victim

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euwe max January 18, 2014 at 3:40 pm

Why would they care then?

Concealed or not, the one who shoots first (preferably from behind, in dense cover) “wins.”

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p February 13, 2014 at 12:55 am

Please do not give too much weight to the hysteria that the force fed, piped in media plays upon this news.. the signing of this bill only extends the current CWP Laws which STILL require an application and training for law abiding citizens of SC to carry a concealed firearm.
Carrying a concealed firearm is still illegal unless permitted and only criminals do not bother to comply with the law. It is and always has been illegal for any CWP holder to carry a concealed weapon while drinking or intoxicated.
One of the great things about the so called “free market” is that if a restaurant owner does not want their patrons to carry a concealed weapon in their restaurant they can still post the SC statute conforming “No Concealed Weapons” sign at all of their entrances.
However, they will likely repel the any patronage of said law abiding CWP carriers.
If you question it, you should look at the numbers. I believe the last numbers I saw said 250,000 SC residents have a CWP. As a business owner myself, you do the cost benefit analysis.

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Todd January 16, 2014 at 7:20 pm

I have been a CWP holder for 6 yrs but this bill is fucking retarded!

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CorruptionInColumbia January 16, 2014 at 8:02 pm

Why is it retarded? Why do you have a CWP, rather than just leave your gun at home in the sock drawer or your glove box if you are unable to see and understand that you could be the victim of a robbery or assault any time and any place, to include while entering or leaving a restaurant which just happens to serve alcohol?

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Mary January 16, 2014 at 8:06 pm

That’s easy. Because if you have a concealed weapon, no one is going to know not to serve you alcohol. People who want to drink and carry their gun are simply going to do so.
Can we just stop pretending that most of the people who want to carry guns into bars aren’t looking for trouble. If you’re worried about your safety in a restaurant or bar, just stay out.

Which is what I suggest people do in regard to restaurants and bars that allow people to bring in guns. Because the truth is you are far more likely to be shot in a bar that allows guns than you are in a bar that doesn’t.

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CorruptionInColumbia January 16, 2014 at 8:25 pm

“That’s easy. Because if you have a concealed weapon, no one is going to know not to serve you alcohol. People who want to drink and carry their gun are simply going to do so.”

So, people who want to come in a rob the place would not simply do so, too? The weight is on the CWP holder to do the right thing and not carry while consuming. If they get caught, they pay the price. There are states where consumption and carry are allowed.
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“Can we just stop pretending that most of the people who want to carry guns into bars aren’t looking for trouble. If you’re worried about your safety in a restaurant or bar, just stay out.”

Who’s pretending???? CWP holders who have gone through the legal channels and wish to LEGALLY be able to carry their weapons with them wherever they go are not looking for trouble. The criminals we frequently read about who engage in shootings at Richland County thug bars are probably looking for trouble. I’ll also make a small wager that none of them have CWP’s and very few if any couldn’t qualify for a CWP because of prior criminal history, too. With regard to “just staying out”, why don’t you follow your own advice?

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“Which is what I suggest people do in regard to restaurants and bars that allow people to bring in guns. Because the truth is you are far more likely to be shot in a bar that allows guns than you are in a bar that doesn’t.”

Which of the thug bars in Richland County, which are frequently the scene of shootings “allow” guns inside? Under current law, the only ones who could legally carry in those environs are police officers and retired or out of state police officers with HR-218/LEOSA credentials. Please explain to me how this law, which hasn’t been passed yet, much less signed off on by the Governor, is responsible for the numerous bar shootings in Richland County?

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Manray January 17, 2014 at 11:41 am

“The weight is on the CWP holder to do the right thing and not carry while consuming. If they get caught, they pay the price.” Yeah, they may pay the price…after somebody else is dead.

euwe max January 18, 2014 at 3:38 pm

That’s the basis for libertarian principles – let the crime happen, and if you’re still alive, sue them… if you can afford it.

But nothing *will* happen, because it all *just works*

SCBlues January 17, 2014 at 5:47 pm

So you can speak for all CWP holders and know that none of them are “looking for trouble”? That is amazing. How do you know what every CWP holder is looking for or thinking or whatever?

CorruptionInColumbia January 17, 2014 at 7:44 pm

Ok, so you got me on a semantics technicality. Of course I don’t know what EVERY CWP holder is thinking. I would dare say the vast majority do not want to carry in bars so they can start trouble. They carry so they can defend themselves and possibly others if things get really bad, really fast. Those things CAN AND DO happen in all types of environments. I was reading a very good post on another site (which unfortunately requires Fecebook to post, now) by a guy whose CPA was in a local restaurant that was recently robbed by armed thugs.

According to him, one of the thugs pointed the gun at the CPA’s head and pulled the trigger. By the grace of God (or whatever benevolent good you might wish to credit it to), the gun misfired. Sorry, but I don’t wish to trust my safety and my fate solely to armed thugs with no safety training and NO reverence for someone else’s life or to fate or good luck, alone.

I would imagine the majority of motorists have cars and drivers’ licenses similarly, so they can get from point A to point B with a minimum of hassle and delay, NOT so they can get tanked and drive down the roads until they cause a fatal wreck.

SCBlues January 17, 2014 at 9:17 pm

Not sure whether I agree or disagree with what you said at this point – the arguments have all gotten a bit too convoluted for me. As I said before – we just agree to disagree. You carry your gun and I won’t carry one. There. All solved.

CorruptionInColumbia January 17, 2014 at 9:31 pm

Sounds good!

euwe max January 18, 2014 at 3:37 pm

Ok, so you got me on a semantics technicality. Of course I don’t know what EVERY CWP holder is thinking.

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I do. Does that mean I can get a CWP, or not?

Jay Ellington January 16, 2014 at 8:45 pm

“Because the truth is you are far more likely to be shot in a bar that allows guns than you are in a bar that doesn’t.”

Link to a study that proves this or it didn’t happen.

Arizona, Georgia, Virginia, and Ohio all have laws specifically allowing
guns in bars. Twenty states, including New York and New Jersey, do not
address the question at all, conceivably allowing people to carry guns
into bars by default. Interesting to hear that potentially allowed in half of the country, yet you never hear about crazy drunk people shooting up the place. Interesting. Alternatively, you CAN be simply hanging out by the fountain in 5 Points and be paralyzed by a bullet from a 20 year old thug’s illegally purchased handgun. That’s not inside of a bar, but adjacent to a few in case you’re not familiar with the area.

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Manray January 17, 2014 at 11:39 am

And every bar will be like the Long Branch in Dodge City. We’ll just have to look for Miss Kitty and Marshal Dillon.

Jay Ellington January 17, 2014 at 11:46 am

Right, because we are living in a fictional world where Marshal Dillon actually existed? Inanity abounds, thanks Manray.

CorruptionInColumbia January 17, 2014 at 3:27 pm

Ya know, you guys trot out that tired old crap EVERY SINGLE TIME that an attempt is made to create a “shall issue” CWP law or to rightfully liberalize the laws that are already in place, such as in this instance and you know what, IT JUST DOESN”T HAPPEN the way you make it out. “Blood will flow in the streets”. “It will be the wild West.”

Can I say there will never be an isolated incident here or there?NO, because in ANY realm of human endeavor, there will be the occasional, albeit rare, act of stupidity which may happen. That does not justify denying freedoms or rights to thousands of good citizens who have done and will do NOTHING WRONG.

Do we deny you the right to operate a motor vehicle because a comparative few idiots drive drunk and recklessly and kill and injure other people? No.

Do we disarm the police because a comparative very few have committed armed robberies or other acts of violence against citizens, such as the jerk of a deputy (now thankfully fired) who abused the female soldier in a local restaurant a few months ago? No.

Neither do we deny the average good citizen the means to protect him or her self from violent criminal attack because of the possible very rare case that one of them may misuse that means of self protection, especially when the great majority have not and will not do anything wrong.

euwe max January 18, 2014 at 3:34 pm

Why can’t we just issue guns to all the citizens, allow open carry, and see what happens?

If nothing happens, we go for heroin, prostitution, gambling, speeding and blue laws.

If nothing happens, then we eliminate taxes.

If nothing happens, then we get rid of churches.

If nothing happens, then we get rid of education.

Then I can say “I told you so!”

euwe max January 18, 2014 at 3:33 pm

link to a study
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oh, please! It would be a biased study with bent facts. We know that before it’s even conducted!

Jay Ellington January 17, 2014 at 11:12 am

I’m still waiting on links to statistics that back up your tinsel thin theories.

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euwe max January 18, 2014 at 3:32 pm

I’d be happy to see just *one* story about a guy who shoots someone in a theater for throwing popcorn at him.

Walter-White January 17, 2014 at 8:28 am

Yep just yesterday morning I was sitting at the Waffle House thinking, this bitch better hurry with that fucking coffee or I’m about to go all postal up in this motherfucker.

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RogueElephant January 17, 2014 at 9:27 am

Another victory for our great senator. GO GIRL.

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Peter O. January 17, 2014 at 11:05 am

What’s being lost in all the back-and-forth is that SC is one of very few states that doesn’t already allow this.

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Manray January 17, 2014 at 11:35 am

That’s a hearty endorsement! “Well, they do it in Alabama!”

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sid January 17, 2014 at 12:41 pm

Pick another state, if Alabama is not to your liking. The vast majority of states allow this, and there have been no problems.

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Peter O. January 20, 2014 at 2:09 pm

They also do it in Maine, New Mexico, Washington, Ohio, and dozens of other states.

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Shooty McShooterson January 17, 2014 at 11:29 am

It’s about time. I don’t know how we’re supposed to shoot people at the next table who annoy us with their texting or whiny babies or whatever if we can’t carry our beloved guns into the restaurant with us.

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Nutgun January 17, 2014 at 11:48 am

Great! I guess I can’t yell ‘FIRE!’ In restaurants now too.

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west_rhino January 17, 2014 at 12:08 pm

and I ask myself, “What Would Jake Knotts Do” …move to table and when that fails vote against it.

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euwe max January 18, 2014 at 3:31 pm

I’d be afraid the constant pressure of a gun muzzle against my ass would turn me gay.

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