S.C. Lawmakers Pass Bill To Recognize Georgia Gun Permits
Rose Mabus showed up at the Gun Appreciation rally in Danville, Pa. with a handgun on her hip.
Paul Weaver / www.flickr.com/Paul Weaver (cropped)
A new South Carolina law awaiting Gov. Nikki Haley’s signature would help Georgia gun owners travel over the state border more easily.
South Carolina has a stricter process than Georgia for getting a concealed weapons permit. It requires gun training. Because Georgia doesn’t, the state’s carry permits haven’t been valid in South Carolina.
That’s been a real pain for some gun owners in Augusta. Gun store and range owner Buddy Lichty lives there, but crosses the border all the time. Often he goes for cheaper gas.
“And you realize, ‘Oh, I’ve got a gun on me. I forgot about it. Well I’m only going to be there for a few minutes.’ Well that’s all it takes …” to get arrested, Lichty said.
Lichty said he’s glad that’s about to change. But he said he sympathizes with South Carolinians concerned the law will also mean more armed Georgians, some with no training, carrying concealed weapons in their state.
“You know, if I was in Nikki Haley’s shoes I’d probably veto it, because Georgia doesn’t require any training,” he said.
Haley is not expected to veto the bill.
Lichty said he doesn’t let shooters without experience out on his ranges alone. But he says he’s met many Georgians with concealed carry permits who he says know next to nothing about guns.
He recalled one example with horror: a woman out with a group of friends. “She shot, hit the target and was so excited that she turned around, finger on the trigger of a hot gun, and swept everybody on the range to say ‘Look what I just did!’” Lichty said.
“That right there scares the life out of me. In my mind, you have no business carrying a loaded gun on you if you don’t know how to use it,” he said.
The South Carolina law is the only measure of several high profile bills aimed at strengthening access to firearms to make it through the state’s latest session. Opponents blocked legislation aimed at allowing South Carolina to accept permits issued anywhere in the U.S.
The Georgia reciprocity bill was allowed to pass with the promise of future hearings over toughening background checks.
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