Governor should veto proposed gun bill for its lack of concern for safe communities | Opinion
Bill makes bad law
S.C. House Bill 3594 is a dangerous bill that deregulates guns, and allows for more guns in more places.
This raises the certainty of gun violence in our communities.
What good does this type of deregulation do, other than score the Republican Party political points with its extremist pro-gun base voter?
Gov. McMaster should veto the bill and encourage the legislature to craft bills that make our communities safer and more prosperous.
Lee Hugar, Columbia
Change tobacco rules
As a health professional and cancer advocate, I was disheartened to see new data showing 2.8 million kids are current users of tobacco products.
We know tobacco causes cancer and is the top cause of preventable death in the U.S.
In South Carolina, 31.7% of cancer deaths are attributable to smoking.
Most kids who use tobacco use flavored products.
Menthol and flavors mask the harshness of tobacco and make it easier for people to start.
Big Tobacco continues to use flavors to attract kids and then turn them into lifelong users of deadly products.
The White House has a major opportunity to put a stop to Big Tobacco’s deadly strategy by finalizing new rules to prevent tobacco companies from selling menthol cigarettes or flavored cigars.
This would be a major public health victory for the White House and could help reduce smoking for kids and adults.
Our lawmakers need to hear that this is an issue that people in their community care about.
I hope you will join me in reaching out to Rep. Joe Wilson to urge him to voice support for the rules.
If we all speak up, we can help reduce pain and suffering from tobacco use.
Taquina Billups-Davis, PhD, Blythewood
Delayed trials hurt democracy
Newspaper reports frequently focus on the importance of “a speedy trial.”
The Sixth Ammendment requires speedy trials for indicted individuals.
The Speedy Trial Act 1974 states that all trials, federal and district, shall commence in 100 days subject to excludable delays. Failure to meet qualified criteria causes dismissal.
The intent is clear: a speedy trial is imperative.
South Carolina’s case backlog is 81,000+ individuals.
Federal indictments lounge; state level indictees languish. They, their families, including children, suffer.
As a country, it appears we are doing a far better job of indicting than adjudicating.
The value and integrity of justice is maligned and diminished when adjudication of justice trails so far behind indictment.
Kudos to those in our state legislature trying to revise the nomination of judges.
Shame on South Carolina and the federal court system as they fiddle while democracy burns.
Cary K. Smith, Fort Mill
Extend recess
Shooters are little boys who are locked up in school at 5 years of age.
They are not allowed to play and run as they need to do.
They are not allowed to nap.
Their brains do not repair themselves as they should.
This makes them angry. They stay angry for seven or eight years.
The anger turns to resentment. They hate school. They hate being cooped up inside and told to sit all day except for 10 minutes of recess time.
Recess is 20 minutes – 10 minutes for the restroom and 10 minutes to play.
The little boy becomes mentally ill.
The school is to blame.
In South Carolina, I hold Senators Luke Rankin and Greg Hembree responsible.
I have told Luke for 20 years and I have told Greg for 12 years.
They sit on the Senate Education Committee and they are responsible.
The solution:
1. Give children an hour of outdoor play a day.
2. Shorten the day by one hour.
3. Give 5-year-olds the option of a nap.
4. Give teachers control of the curricula. Allow them to use the skills they are trained to use.
Thus you save lives, billions of dollars, and it does not cost you a dime.
Pat Milley, Conway
This story was originally published February 25, 2024 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Governor should veto proposed gun bill for its lack of concern for safe communities | Opinion."