Bill filed to keep guns away from criminals

Rep. Seth Rose has teamed up with Democratic State Rep. Ivory Thigpen and Republican State Rep. Kirkman Finlay III to file H.4087, legislation that seeks to keep guns away from criminals. The representatives held a news conference on Monday, March 4 to explain the legislation.

The measure would bring state law in line with federal regulations and allow local law enforcement departments to seize guns from anyone convicted of a felony with more than a year-long jail sentence. Supported by law enforcement officers across the state, Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott and Columbia Police Chief Skip Hollbrook addressed the need for this law. Currently, when police find a gun on a criminal it must be returned to the individual because officers don't have the authority to enforce this federal regulation. H.4087 would change that here in South Carolina.

"I know as a former prosecutor that our local police are always on the front line for us," Rose said. "This legislation allows them to do their job, keep communities safe and get more of unneeded, unnecessary and unwanted weapons off our streets."

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