SC Democrats call for special session on gun, hate crime bills after Ohio, Texas shootings
COLUMBIA —Two S.C. House Democrats called on Republican State House leaders Monday to demand immediate action after two deadly mass shootings rocked the country over the weekend.
In a joint letter to Gov. Henry McMaster, state Reps. Wendy Brawley, of Richland, and Wendell Gilliard, of Charleston, asked that GOP leaders call state lawmakers back to the capitol for a special session to take up gun and hate crime legislation.
At least one Republican legislator has said he would be willing to return to Columbia if a special session is called.
But the two Republican leaders of the state Senate and House who have the authority to call a special session, are unlikely to call lawmakers back to Columbia, and Gov. McMaster does not have the authority to do it. Lawmakers return to work in January to take up bills introduced this year and any new legislation introduced.
The shootings in El Paso, Texas, then Dayton, Ohio, which combined had a death toll of 31 as of late Monday, could spark a renewed effort to push gun-control measures in South Carolina.
Read more: https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/2019/08/06/mass-shootings-sc-dems-want-special-session-gun-hate-crime-bills/1932585001/