A law making it legal for people to openly carry licensed handguns in South Carolina is dangerous and could have "unintended consequences and potential impact to our state's image and reputation," says Skip Holbrook, police chief of Columbia, the Palmetto State's capital city.
"There is no denying that easily accessible firearms add fuel to already emotionally charged situations, which too often results in tragedy," Holbrook writes in The State newspaper.
"The right to bear arms is fundamental to our democracy, but the sale, purchase, ownership and carrying of guns comes with great responsibility and use of common sense and I firmly believe an open-carry law will significantly complicate police interactions with citizens, resulting in many unintended consequences."
Holbrook said while police would encounter many "innocent, law-abiding people" armed in compliance with the law, "some will be violent criminals, perhaps even gang members, who don’t yet have a felony on their record that prohibits them from possessing weapons."
The State House passed the open carry law last month and it is now under consideration in the Senate.
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