I just received the following from the Katrina Shealy campaign. I wanted to share it with you and encourage you to donate! We need a true 2nd amendment supporter to replace Senator Knotts. His subcommittee is where all good gun bills go to die!
Read this message from the Katrina Shealy campaign:
Recently a bill was submitted in the South Carolina Senate (S1255) to remedy a problem with the current Concealed Weapons Permit (CWP) Statute. Currently, the law pertaining to Concealed Carry in SC does not permit a CWP holder to carry into any establishment that serves alcohol. This eliminates a CWP holder’s ability to carry into most restaurants or to carry while out if he/she possibly might be planning on stopping into a restaurant that serves alcohol. A citizen’s ability to exercise their 2nd Amendment liberty and utilize a CWP is severely limited by the language in the current law.
Senate Bill 1255 is very reasonable and makes accommodations for safety and private property concerns. CWP holders by nature are law abiding citizens that have undergone training and a background check to receive a SLED issued CWP. Criminals are carrying weapons all over the state in violation of our laws. Conversely, thousands of citizens are lawfully carrying concealed weapons every day in our state without incident.
S1255 was introduced and received its First Reading on 2/23/2012 and then was referred to a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on 2/28 chaired by Senator Jake Knotts. Senator Knotts has been contacted by many CWP holders and he has said he will not permit this bill to come up for a vote. One 2nd amendment activist received the following email message from Senator Knotts:
“You need to also take into consideration Drug dealers and people who have been arrested awaiting trial in counties with a huge backlog with cwp permits will be allowed to also carry in those restaurants or bars. THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT THE PEOPLE THE CWP BILL WAS INTENDED FOR. IT WAS PASSED FOR LAW ABIDING CITIZENS FOR SELF DEFENSE. I KNOW I WAS THE CO-AUTHER OF THE BILL. BESIDES THAT THE NICE RESTURANT YOU CHOOSE TO CARRY CWP IN HAS THE SAME ALCOHOL ON PREMISE LICENSE THAT A TOPLESS JOINT HAS, OR A JUG JOINT HANG OUT HAS. AS A LAW ABIDING CITIZEN LIKE YOURSELF SHOULD FULLY UNDERSTAND MY POSITION, THANKS” (No emphasis added)
During a phone conversation with a CWP holder who was advocating for the Bill, Senator Knotts was adamant about the idea that criminals would use the law to carry weapons….he claimed his law enforcement background gave him the expertise to know this. Really? One would think his former law enforcement experience have helped him to understand that criminals break laws and CWP holders obey laws.
Senator Knott’s rationale is almost incomprehensible and defies logic. His argument is that the Bill will permit “Drug dealers and people who have been arrested awaiting trial” to carry weapons in bars! Does Senator Knotts think that these criminals are waiting on “permission” to carry weapons? His ignorance only serves to restrict and penalize law abiding citizens…for obeying the law! CWP holders have proven over and over again to be the people that follow the laws. Forty-two states currently permit their CWP holders to do what we are asking our legislature to do for us.
Senator Knott’s is no friend of liberty or the 2nd Amendment. He has no clue about our nation’s concept of ordered liberty under the Federal Constitution. Our United States Constitution singles out an enumerated right for citizens to arm and defend themselves and their property. His own words make it very clear that he is not concerned with the rights of South Carolinians to have a workable CWP statute that actually empowers the citizenry to defend themselves while they are out with their families.
Conversely, his opponent in the upcoming Republican Primary, Katrina Shealy, believes that state laws ought to defer and default liberty to the law abiding citizen. She believes the current wording of the CWP law places an undue burden on law-abiding CWP holders and she supports Senate Bill 1255. Mrs. Shealy is a CWP holder and a strong advocate for defending our 2nd amendment rights.
Katrina Shealy a proven leader and a conservative reformer who needs our help in defeating Senator Knotts. Knotts needs to know that his 2nd amendment positions are unacceptable! This is why I am asking you to send Katrina Shealy a small contribution. If 2nd amendment activists, all over South Carolina, send her a modest donation (of more if you have the means), this will send a clear message to Knotts and help replace him with one of our own: Katrina Shealy. She needs your help today!
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