S. 347 would allow a concealed weapon permit (CWP) holder to possess a firearm inside a vehicle on school grounds, and S. 347 would also allow a CWP holder to possess a concealed weapon inside a restaurant that serves alcoholic beverages for on premises consumption as long as the CWP holder is not present in the portion of the business primarily devoted to the dispensing of alcoholic liquor, beer, or wine for consumption on the premises.
First, S. 347 would allow a SC CWP holder to drop off or pick up a child at a school or college in SC without first needing to store her concealed weapon somewhere off of school property, which would otherwise be a felony. But, the firearm would be required to remain inside the vehicle at all times, or else the CWP holder will be committing a felony.
As originally drafted, S. 347 was a well drafted bill. It proposed to amend both of the SC statutes that prohibited firearms on school grounds, not just one. A CWP holder could keep her concealed weapon concealed and avoid unnecessary handling of a firearm while dropping off or picking up her child since reference was made to Section 16-23-20(9). If the CWP holder needed to exit the vehicle and enter the school, then the CWP holder could legally disarm while remaining in the vehicle and store the weapon in the glove box or console before exiting the vehicle since reference was made to Section 16-23-20(12). Additionally, if there was a need to open the glove box or console where a concealed weapon was stored to retrieve a driver's license, registration, or proof of insurance while on school grounds, it could be done legally since reference was made to Section 16-23-20(9). Compare S. 347 to S. 593 to better understand the difference between a well drafted bill and a poorly drafted bill.
Second, S. 347 would allow a CWP holder to carry inside a restaurant that serves alcoholic beverages, but not in the bar section of the restaurant. This section of S. 347 uses the same language used in the time tested and proven law of Florida where CWP holders have been carrying in restaurants serving alcoholic beverages for well over a decade. Almost 75% of the people in the United States live where a CWP holder can legally enter into a restaurant that serves alcoholic beverages for on premises consumption. CWP holders all around the country have proven they are responsible people, and the CWP holders of SC will prove they are just as responsible.
GrassRoots GunRights strongly supports these reasonable changes to the laws of SC. It is high time the laws of SC recognize the honest, law abiding citizens of SC who have a CWP are not a threat to the safety and well being of our children or the general public.