Post and Courier – by Maya T. Prabhu
COLUMBIA — Charleston Police Chief Greg Mullen wants to stop the General Assembly from enacting a law that would allow gun owners to carry their guns concealed or openly without having to get a permit, and he’s enlisted area residents to help him get the job done.
The department on Monday shared its official opposition for open carry of guns on social media and asked residents to call state senators and urge them to vote against it. An open-carry bill was approved by the S.C. House earlier this month.
2017 Legislative Update #chsnews pic.twitter.com/rJhrGf4wZ1
— Charleston P.D. (@CharlestonPD) April 24, 2017
Mullen says the law would make it more difficult for law enforcement employees to do their jobs since they wouldn’t be able to question people only for openly carrying their weapons.
“People are going to be calling us and wanting us to intervene, and we’re going to have to tell them because of the law, we’re not able to do that,” he said.
Historically, law enforcement has been against allowing gun owners to carry their weapons openly and without a permit. A version of open or permit-less carry has been introduced several times in recent years, and Mullen said the department always is vocal in its opposition.
“I don’t think it’s a good piece of legislation for our community,” he said. “I’m going to make sure our legislators know, through the residents, what our concerns are.”
A spokeswoman with the Columbia Police Department declined to comment on the proposed legislation.
Rep. Mike Pitts, a Laurens Republican and retired police officer who sponsored the gun bill, said it doesn’t surprise him that officers in supervisory roles of law enforcement are against his bill.
“I understand exactly why, especially police supervision at the command structure, wants and likes gun control, and it’s the exact reason that the Founding Fathers put the Second Amendment in the Constitution into the Bill of Rights,” he said. “It’s easy to control people who are not armed. It’s difficult to control people who are armed and will resist.”
If passed, the law would allow anyone who is legally allowed to buy a gun to do so without getting a state permit and carry it openly or concealed. It would still ban guns from places such as schools and airports, as well as other places banned by state and federal laws. The concealed-weapons permit process would remain in place to allow for reciprocity with other states.
Mullen said no longer requiring the concealed-weapons permit process makes it hard for police officers do to their jobs.
“At least we know when were dealing with a concealed-weapons carrier, they’ve gone through a background check and gone through training,” he said. “And it creates another opportunity for small situations, verbal altercations or minor disagreements, to lead to serious injuries or even death.”
Pitts said Mullen’s argument does not stand up to scrutiny.
“I approached everyone as if they had a firearm and that’s the way police officers are trained,” he said.
A Senate version of the bill got an initial hearing last week, but senators delayed a vote. The House version has crossed the hall to the Senate and has been assigned to the Judiciary Committee. It has yet to be scheduled for a hearing.
Gov. Henry McMaster has said he would sign a proposal granting permit-less and open carry of guns if it reaches his desk.
Tough shite you ya fuggin puss’. constitutional carry is the way to go. Get r done sc, do not go the way of joo York or commifornia.
Greg Mullen has no authority to do so
time for his removal.. in his words..” Get the Job done”
every gun owner in this state needs to call the rep. and tell them, Mullen needs to go, and this law needs to be recognized
Trump said so , I heard it .. he said no more attacks on our 2nd Right
so, get r done