New open carry law for 18-year-olds stirs plenty of debate across the Palmetto State | Opinion
More children sure to die
Governor McMaster has now signed a constitutional carry bill into law allowing anyone 18 and older to carry a gun, open or concealed without a permit without a license without gun safety training – anywhere they want in our state (with few exceptions such as daycare facilities).
We don’t allow our citizens to drive without a license, fish without a license or cut our hair without a license; yet, we are about to allow anyone to buy a gun without any restrictions.
South Carolina has great needs:
We need greater access to health care.
We need to prioritize our education system.
We need to defend our environment against climate change.
And, yet, the S.C. Legislature and Rep. Jeff Bradley, R-District 123, (who was publicly thanked by the NRA) have prioritized easing gun restrictions so anyone 18+ can walk into a store or gun show to buy a gun.
They ignored the fact that police chiefs and sheriffs in the state opposed this bill.
We all know what will happen with this new law: gun deaths will increase especially among our most vulnerable population – children.
Firearm fatalities are already the leading cause of death among our children.
With this new law, we can expect more children to die.
Chris deVries, HHI
New law honors Second Amendment
I read with interest that South Carolina was loosening gun laws.
After reading the article and the negative responses of the politicians and law enforcement toward “loosening” gun laws, I realized that just the opposite has happened.
Our new gun laws fit much more tightly with the United States Constitution and especially the Second Amendment.
The Founders realized that it is the right of each adult to carry firearms for protection of crime from individuals and government tyranny.
It is also refreshing to see that South Carolina is now recognizing 18-year-olds as adults.
For years, 18-year-olds have been trusted to carry a weapon in combat, but not free to do
such in their own home state of South Carolina.
We should all feel much safer with the ability to freely protect ourselves.
Congratulations are in order to our lawmakers and to Governor McMaster.
Lesley Edwards, Columbia
Honor Navalny here
Many suspect the death of freedom fighter Aleksei Navalny in an arctic prison yard in Russia was ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Navalny dedicated his life to fighting authoritarianism and corruption, two things that threaten many nations of the world, including the United States.
It would be fitting for towns and cities in the United States to honor Navalny by naming a place or square or street in his name.
This would serve to remind Americans of the Russian threat under Putin and the need to protect our own country from authoritarianism and corruption.
Democracy needs to be promoted and protected throughout the world in these perilous times.
Wayne Northcutt, PhD, Mt. Pleasant
Support our allies
Congress needs to act, not talk.
The Greatest Generation bought 70+ years of relative peace to Europe and Asia.
Don’t sacrifice their sacrifice.
Enact funds for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, now, not months from now.
History will repeat itself if we don’t support those who need our support.
Jeffrey Baldwin, Columbia