Charleston Currents

FEEDBACK: No more talk on guns. We need action now.

Kristen French, North Charleston: “The total number of children and teens killed or injured by gun violence nationwide since January 1 is at least 402. In South Carolina, during the same period, 47 people have died and 102 have suffered injuries from gun violence. (More: Gun Violence Archive.)

“I call on the S.C. Legislature to make South Carolina safer from gun violence. Evidence shows that laws strengthening background checks and permit-to-purchase are associated with decreased firearm homicide rates. (See this study).

“The Senate Judiciary Committee should vote NO on bill S. 449, which would gut the concealed carry permit system in our state and allow anyone to open carry without a background check or safety training. In Arizona and Missouri, gun violence has increased dramatically after implementing similar permit-less carry laws.”

by Andy Brack · 02/19/2018 · Comments are Disabled · Feedback

FEEDBACK: Three letters on guns and violence

Katharine DuV. Beard, Camden, S.C.: “Thank you for this paragraph in your article on gun control, ‘But don’t be fooled that banning bump stocks, which isn’t being completely pooh-poohed by the NRA, is real gun control. It’s a temporary concession to quell debate on bigger issues of real gun control. It’s part of the political game in Washington that assumes if you throw a little red meat to the voters, they won’t look at doing something more substantive and with more scope.’”

Other letters from Ben Moise of Charleston and George Wilson of Stone Mountain, Ga.

by Charleston Currents · 10/16/2017 · Comments are Disabled · Feedback

FEEDBACK: On how things were and “barbaric” gun solution

P.C. Coker, Charleston: “I hate to propose a barbaric response to this [gun] issue, but nothing will galvanize the public to demand more stringent controls on assault weapons and comprehensive background checks than for the media to start showing the dead in living color.” Also, a comment by Charleston’s Bryan Harrison.

by Charleston Currents · 10/09/2017 · Comments are Disabled · Feedback

FEEDBACK: Thoughts on Emanuel Nine and customer service

Judy Hines: “As we approach the anniversary of the deaths of the Emanuel Nine two years ago, we should pause to take stock of where we are in terms of the public health menace of gun violence.”

Glenda Nemes: “Yes, I agree there is a poor customer service epidemic. But Customer Service is multifaceted. “

by Charleston Currents · 06/19/2017 · Comments are Disabled · Feedback

"Mother" Emanuel AME Church, Charleston, S.C.

BRACK: Charleston shooting causes sadness, shock, anger, frustration

CHARLESTON, S.C., June 18, 2015 — As I headed to bed Wednesday night, a white gunman shot and killed nine people in an historic black church in the center of town just four blocks from where I used to live. Unaware of the evil, sleep came quickly.

But in the wee hours, the ping of a text from an Australian colleague woke me. I didn’t want to read it and tried to go back to sleep. But after tossing and turning, I read the text, only to learn the heart-wrenching news about what was going on a few miles away. I was dazed. Several instant reactions percolated and struggled to the surface:

by Andy Brack · 06/18/2015 · Comments are Disabled · Andy Brack, Views