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Concealed weapons permits double In 6 years, S.C. sees 134 percent increase in holders
A
review of the number of
mits have more than doubled in
people obtaining con-
six years. With close to 300,000
cealed weapons permits
residents in the state carrying
in South Carolina shows per-
CONCEALED WEAPONS PERMITS IN S.C. BY THE NUMBERS In the last six years, South Carolina has seen a 134 percent increase in the number of residents with an active concealed weapons permit, rising from 127,657 in 2010 to 298,653 permits as of Oct. 21. The increase in no way can be attributed to population growth alone because from 2010 to 2015 (latest available data), the state’s population rose by 5.9 percent, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. In the tri-county area, active permit holders have risen by 131 percent from 4,262 in 2010 to 9,081 as of Oct. 21. Population trends for the three counties from 2010 to 2015 have been flat, according to the Census Bureau.
concealed weapons, some busi-
ness owners welcome employees and patrons to carry weapons while others prohibit them. In today’s edition, The Sumter Item examines the changing demographics of people carrying con-
cealed weapons, the legalities and limitations of carrying weapons and how the law enforcement community feels about the growing number. We also discuss the issue with a local judge who was instrumental in passing current legislation.
More business owners welcome CWP holders BY BRUCE MILLS bruce@theitem.com Given the increased number of gun owners — both with permits and without — are more business owners al-
lowing their employees to carry concealed weapons if they have a permit? Dr. G.E. Rabon, owner of Restorative Arts Dental in Sumter and himself a state constable licensed to carry a
weapon, has a simple answer for his perspective: “I believe the best way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun,” Rabon said. He thinks more business
owners — especially small businesses with 10 to 15 employees — are allowing their employees to carry concealed weapons if they are permit
SEE BUSINESSES, PAGE A2
TOTAL INCREASE FROM PREVIOUS YEAR
2010 127,657
2011 148,316 +20,659
2012 186,901 +38,585
2013 229,689 +42,788
2014 251,589 +21,900
2015 276,084 +24,495
2016 298,653 +22,569* * Totals as of Oct. 21
BREAKDOWN OF CURRENT ACTIVE PERMITS By Gender Male: 206,242 Female: 92,411
By Race White: 267,941 Black: 27,508 Asian: 1,607 Indian: 336 Other: 1,261
TRI-COUNTY PERMIT TRENDS Total Increase from 2010 to 2016 Sumter County 2010 3,033 (2,229 males, 804 females) 2016 6,415 (4,444 males, 1,971 females)* +3,382
Clarendon County 2010 845 (627 males, 218 females) 2016 1,884 (1,238 males, 646 females)* +1,039
Lee County 2010 384 (266 males, 118 females) 2016 782 (518 males, 264 females)* +398 * Totals as of Oct. 21
VISIT US ONLINE AT
the
.com
KEITH GEDAMKE / THE SUMTER ITEM
The number of concealed weapons permits in South Carolina rose 134 percent between 2010 and this year, to 298,653 permits as of Oct. 21.
THE HISTORY
THE LAWS
THE REQUIREMENTS
Young reflects on how S.C.’s act was born
Limits and use of deadly force
Most people can get CWP
BY KONSTANTIN VENGEROWSKY konstantin@theitem.com
BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com
BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com
Former South Carolina Rep. Jeff Young, R-Sumter, who now serves as a South Carolina Third Circuit judge in Sumter, introduced the concealed weapons permit act about 20 years ago. The act, known as the Law Abiding Citizens Self-Defense Act of 1996, gave many South
A concealed weapons permit is just what it says it is. It does not grant permit holders a blank check to go anywhere with their weapons. There are specific requirements that Concealed Weapons Permit holders must abide by. It’s up to the permit holder to know and abide by those laws. The South Carolina Code of Laws stipulates a number of places the permit
According to South Carolina law, any resident or property owner in the state who is at least 21 and can see well enough to hit the broad side of a barn can become qualified to receive a concealed weapons permit — as long as he or she is not otherwise prohibited from possessing a weapon. To receive a permit, a person must sign and submit a completed
SEE HISTORY, PAGE A8
SEE LAWS, PAGE A6
SEE REQUIREMENTS, PAGE A6
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DEATHS, A15 James E. Williams Jasper “Joe” Crim Calesia Spann James “Alvy” Welch Isaac Rhabb Jr. Betty R. Pritchard
WEATHER, A16
INSIDE
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