I realize this is not a perfect piece of legislation, but it does address some issues. It is a start. However, Section 5 is a non-starter. I have sent an email to the Senate Judiciary Committee. I will post that here so anyone interested may edit it to suit their needs.
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Honored Committee Members:
I am a Concealed Weapons Permit holder. I read S.88 with interest, as there are several timely issues addressed in this legislation. However, Section 5 gives me cause for concern.
SECTION 5. Section 56-3-1230 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"(C) If a vehicle owner is a concealed weapons permit holder, the department shall affix a sticker to the vehicle owner's license plate identifying the vehicle owner as a concealed weapons permit holder. The department shall establish the specifications for the sticker and the method for obtaining information regarding a vehicle owner's status as a concealed weapons holder."
Ladies and Gentlemen, such an identifying mark would be a very unwise idea. This mark, no matter how well concealed my firearm is, makes it known to the public at large that I am, in fact, armed. What is the point of then concealing my firearm? Further, such a mark, would mark me as someone who possesses firearms of the type that criminals prefer to use in crimes, possibly targeting my home or my person, or even a person driving my vehicle who is not armed, for theft. Someone walking through a grocery store parking lot would need only collect license plate numbers with this decal to set up a list of homes to rob. This unnecessarily increases risk for every CWP holder.
I understand this would give law enforcement information they may need to know in a traffic stop, but this could be accomplished by coding that information to the vehicle registration, so it is displayed in a routine check of the registration, otherwise invisible to the public. This idea is every bit as bad as the idea of publishing names and addresses of CWP holders. I urge you to give this section of the bill utmost attention, and do what you may to remove it from the legislation.
Thank you for your consideration,
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