The number of new concealed weapons permits being issued has skyrocketed for South Carolina this year, following an upwards national trend and nearly doubling last year’s annual record, according to The State.
Thus far, SLED as issued more than 28,000 permits this year, and the figures show that along with the rise in permits, more people, particularly women, are purchasing handguns.
It’s easy to argue that guns kill people, and that an increase in gun ownership jeopardizes public safety — but that is just the problem, it’s too easy.
There are two different gun owners: those who go through the law and those who do not. It may seem simple enough, but too often people overlook this crucial distinction, and these statistics are not about the illegal purchasing of stolen handguns with no paper trail to hold anyone accountable.
We are glad to see South Carolinians going through the proper purchasing procedures, rules designed to keep guns out of the hands of those who use weapons for criminal and dangerous means.
In this state, citizens must be 21 years old, pass a background check and drug check and attend an 8-hour safety course — just a few of the rules before anyone can lay their hands on a concealed weapons permit, which they must carry at all times.
The people who disregard the law in purchasing weapons are the ones to worry about when it comes to crime and public safety — not John Smith down the street who keeps his gun locked in his nightstand to protect his family.
Possession of a firearm does not make someone dangerous — it’s improper use and knowledge of safety that causes problems. These statistics show that more and more South Carolinians are taking the proper initiatives to be informed and alert owners.
And for anyone ready to parallel increased weapons permits to safety in South Carolina — violent crime rates have dropped 13.5 percent in the last 10 years, according to The State.
The Daily Gamecock > Viewpoints
In our opinion: Rise in permits means more informed owners
People who disregard the law in purchasing weapons are the ones to worry about with crime.
Published: Monday, November 2, 2009
Updated: Sunday, November 1, 2009
7 comments
The Republicans and the Democrats --- excuse me, the Republicrats --- are both EXACTLY the same. They are merely two sides of the same coin. The Republicans wish to lead us into a hell of ongoing, continuous warfare, and the Democrats wish to lead us into an equally abysmal state of total, all-consuming welfare. No matter how you frame it, whether continuous warfare or welfare (or more likely, a hodgepodge of both), our rights are trampled. You should have been equally incensed as you are now when Bush and his cronies sent our country into a nosedive. Republicans and Democrats are the same. So-called "conservatives" and "liberals" are absolute fictions. Neither side has any clue what conservative or liberal actually mean.
Basically: the grand ol' U.S. of A. is screwed.
Who would of thunk it, although it makes a lot of sense.