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American Knife & Tool Institute
SC Governor Vetoes S 968 on June 11
SC Governor Mark Sanford begins his June 11 veto message on AKTI’s bill S 968 with these words:
“The underlying bill redefines the weapons definition of a knife with a two-inch handle [sic] (should have
said “blade”). If this were the only provision of the bill, I would have no trouble signing it.”
AKTI will now attempt to convince Senate and House members to overturn the veto (vote scheduled
for June 26).
Governor Sanford devotes the bulk of his veto letter criticizing a last-minute amendment to the bill that
attempted to legalize state employees and lawmakers bringing their right-to-carry firearms onto
statehouse grounds if the guns were locked in vehicle glove compartments.
This amendment was attached to our bill in the last week of the session, without our permission, and
the AKTI lobbyist was forced to negotiate new language acceptable to both House and Senate
members before its passage.
The governor explains that his veto sends the reinforcing message that he believes the $6 million spent
on statehouse security was unnecessary. In his view, such right-to-carry exemptions (keeping the gun
in the glove compartment while "at work" at the statehouse) contributes to the perception that
statehouse security merits such expense and that lawmakers should get special treatment.
AKTI will continue to make the point that the $1.9 billion spent by hunters and fishermen/women in 2006
(according to the official U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service study released in late 2007) is clearly vital revenue
for the state. AKTI believes residents and those invited into the state who carry knives with blades
longer than two inches should not be subject to arrest for possession. Secondly, money already spent
on statehouse security will not increase if lawmaker firearms are kept in vehicles. We are certainly
hopeful that right-to-carry advocates in both houses (who passed the original amendment) will now vote
to assert their original position.
For the full text of the veto letter, go to www.scgovernor.com … and pull down the menu under “Executive
Office” on top bar. Click on Veto Messages where you will find his letter for S 968.
SC Governor Mark Sanford begins his June 11 veto message on AKTI’s bill S 968 with these words:
“The underlying bill redefines the weapons definition of a knife with a two-inch handle [sic] (should have
said “blade”). If this were the only provision of the bill, I would have no trouble signing it.”
AKTI will now attempt to convince Senate and House members to overturn the veto (vote scheduled
for June 26).
Governor Sanford devotes the bulk of his veto letter criticizing a last-minute amendment to the bill that
attempted to legalize state employees and lawmakers bringing their right-to-carry firearms onto
statehouse grounds if the guns were locked in vehicle glove compartments.
This amendment was attached to our bill in the last week of the session, without our permission, and
the AKTI lobbyist was forced to negotiate new language acceptable to both House and Senate
members before its passage.
The governor explains that his veto sends the reinforcing message that he believes the $6 million spent
on statehouse security was unnecessary. In his view, such right-to-carry exemptions (keeping the gun
in the glove compartment while "at work" at the statehouse) contributes to the perception that
statehouse security merits such expense and that lawmakers should get special treatment.
AKTI will continue to make the point that the $1.9 billion spent by hunters and fishermen/women in 2006
(according to the official U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service study released in late 2007) is clearly vital revenue
for the state. AKTI believes residents and those invited into the state who carry knives with blades
longer than two inches should not be subject to arrest for possession. Secondly, money already spent
on statehouse security will not increase if lawmaker firearms are kept in vehicles. We are certainly
hopeful that right-to-carry advocates in both houses (who passed the original amendment) will now vote
to assert their original position.
For the full text of the veto letter, go to www.scgovernor.com … and pull down the menu under “Executive
Office” on top bar. Click on Veto Messages where you will find his letter for S 968.
South Carolina - Update June 12, 2008