Greg Duckworth | Curbing Anti-Semitism, Promoting Life, Constitutional Carry, and Budget Preparations
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13 Mar Curbing Anti-Semitism, Promoting Life, Constitutional Carry, and Budget Preparations

My oh my, how the time does fly! On Wednesday of this past week, we marked the midway period for the legislative session, and what a whirlwind of activity it has been.

With this year’s shortened legislative session, the crossover date for legislation has been adjusted and will now take place in about a month – on April 10th to be precise. What this simply means is that my House colleagues and I must pass any legislation over to the Senate by that date in order for the bill to have any chance of passing this year. We made good progress (on that front) this past week.

Last year, our nation saw a drastic increase in anti-Semitic behavior among college students at institutions of higher learning. The nonprofit AMCHA Initiative, which tracks incidents of anti-Semitism on college campuses, reported 618 incidents of anti-Semitism for 2016 alone; a rise of over 30% in a one-year period. This week, we took bipartisan action to give our state-owned institutions of higher learning the tools they need to combat bigotry and hate while protecting freedom of speech. This legislation sends a strong message that South Carolina opposes bigotry wherever it rears its ugly head.

Two key bills also cleared the initial subcommittee process in the House Judiciary Committee…

First, the South Carolina Unborn Child Protection from Dismemberment Abortion Act cleared a key initial subcommittee with a unanimous vote. It now heads to full committee where Democrats are expected to viciously challenge the bill through all manner of legislative maneuvers. I will never waver in my support for the unborn and I look forward to voting in support of this important legislation.

The second bill of importance also clearing a key House Judiciary subcommittee this week was the Constitutional Carry bill. The measure put forth by retired law enforcement officer and pro-Second Amendment icon, Rep. Mike Pitts (R-Laurens), would eliminate the need to get a concealed weapons permit to carry a firearm in our state. However, this bill would also protect the existing CWP reciprocity agreements already in place with many other states. The measure now heads to full committee where, if approved, it will go to the House floor for a full vote.

Finally, beginning on Monday, my House colleagues and I will take up the state budget on the floor. Thank you for the privilege of serving you in Columbia. If I can ever be of assistance to you, or if you have ideas on issues you want me to share with the rest of the General Assembly, please don’t hesitate to contact me.