South Carolina House members watch the voting board as the House approved a bill that would allow open carry of guns on March 5, 2024, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins)
"You don't have the votes, you don't have the bill," said Republican Rep. Micah Caskey of Springdale.
Most of the compromise leaned toward the Senate, although House members insisted the committee remove allowing legislators to be able to carry a gun nearly anywhere they want any time.
Republican Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey reminded House members several times the reason the bill hasn't passed earlier is supportive senators didn't have the votes without the extra penalties, especially for people who repeatedly carry guns where they aren't allowed to do so.
"If you do the same thing three times, it’s not an accident anymore," the senator from Edgefield said. "At some point, there’s got to be a graduated level of penalties to get people’s attention."
Offering the training classes would cost about $5 million a year, House members promised to revisit how many people took advantage of the classes after a few years to see if it is worth continuing the classes.
A number of law enforcement leaders weren't happy with the proposal, worrying about their officers encountering armed people at shooting scenes having to make a split-second assessment about who is a threat and who is trying to help and a lack of required training for people to carry guns in public. Currently only concealed weapons permit holders can openly carry pistols.
To get law enforcement to at least remain neutral, the bill includes a proposal that would create a state crime for a felon to possess a weapon, with penalties similar to federal law. Gov. Henry McMaster said that provision was crucial to his support.
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"What happened to supporting our law enforcement? What happened to listening to what they say?" asked Democratic Rep. Jermaine Johnson from Columbia. "This thing you are going to do is going to have repercussions."
Part of the struggle to get the bill passed were gun-rights groups that didn't want the extra penalties. The groups have been vocal and put pressure on lawmakers, especially Republicans, who are against the bill.
"They have been successful in kowtowing us to pass this bill that the people don’t want and law enforcement doesn’t need," said Democratic Senate Minority Leader Brad Hutto of Orangeburg.
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