*** GrassRoots Action Alert ***

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.)

*** 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.)

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

*** GrassRoots Action Alert ***

H. 3212 NEEDS YOUR IMMEDIATE HELP!

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