Gun safety advocates rally for stronger laws in South Carolina
COLUMBIA, S.C. - Gun safety advocates rallied at the South Carolina State House on Thursday afternoon to push for stronger gun violence prevention laws.
The rally took place at noon on the State House steps on Gervais Street.
“We ought to be able to live safely in our communities,” said gun violence survivor Melody McFadden. “The people that we elect ought to be able to make that a priority to them.”
Volunteers with the South Carolina Chapter of Students Demand Action and Moms Demand Action ed by S.C. Rep. Hamilton Grant (D-Richland), Sen. Deon Tedder (D-Charleston) and Sen. Tameika Isaac Devine (D-Richland).
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“That’s the blood stain. Now, when they collected all the items, they scrubbed as much as they could to get all of that stuff out, but that one still remains,” said Grant.
The same advocates ed Mother Emanuel Church earlier this year to hold a press conference in Charleston. June will mark 10 years since the mass shooting at Mother Emanuel A.M.E. Church, where nine Black parishioners were killed by a white supremacist.
Daniel Lee Simmons read from the bible study at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston the night nine people were tragically killed by a shooter.
Rally attendees are specifically looking to close the Charleston Loophole, which allows gun purchases to proceed by default after three business days even if a background check on the buyer has not been completed by that time.
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Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit gun control organization, said the shooter in the Mother Emanuel shooting was able to obtain a gun because of the Loophole.
“The same loophole that allowed a white supremacist with the felony to purchase a gun and slaughter so many beautiful people. Trauma from this event still hurts my family,” said Grant. “For 10 years we’ve heard from ing president elected officials from the state on how much they are praying for us how much they ire our strength and courage to forgive someone who wasn’t sorry. And while I have no doubt that all those kind words and prayers were sincere, I’m often conflicted when they are not backed with action.”
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Grant said a bill has also been proposed in the house that would expand criminal background checks and close the Charleston loophole.
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