MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – South Carolina’s senate is currently considering a bill that would allow people to carry their guns concealed – without a permit. The bill has already passed the house and will be discussed in the senate.
“The permit that we have now requires someone to come in, take an 8-hour safety and legal course, then shoot 50 rounds at varying distances to prove they are proficient with a handgun,” said Robert Battista, Owner of 707 Gun Shop in Myrtle Beach.
House bill 3930, if passed, would make it legal for any gun owner to carry a concealed weapon without the class.
“All we ask is that you take the class and submit to a background check and get a permit,” Battista explains. “That’s all we are asking. I don’t think it’s asking too much or limiting your rights.”
Rep. Mike Pitts, who is a sponsor of the bill, says carrying a weapon is a right of the American people.
“This is not a privilege like your driver’s license, granted by the bureaucracy of the state,” justifies Pitts. “It is a right guaranteed to you by the constitution of the United States.”
One gun owner explains the importance of what is learned during the concealed permit class.
“It is a very important class and each state has individual laws so you have to know those laws and you have to know them to protect yourself and others,” said Jordana Esses. “When thinking of taking the class and owning a gun it’s not a decision to be taken lightly, because if you have a gun, you have to be able to use it if need be.”
News13 will continue to follow the progress of the bill until a final decision is made.
