House General Laws panel delays debate on bill to dismiss pending unlawful-possession charges

The House General Laws Committee on April 3 heard extended testimony on Senate Bill 136, a measure to require dismissal of pending charges for unlawful possession of a firearm or handgun when the possession occurred before the state constitutional carry law. Committee members heard from law enforcement representatives who opposed a broad dismissal and from the bill sponsor who said the measure corrects an unintended gap.

Senator Tedder, the bill sponsor, explained the billwould extend the expungement/dismissal remedy created when the legislature enacted constitutional carry so that people with pending charges — not only those already convicted before the law changed — would be eligible. "We passed the constitutional carry, to protect second amendment rights in South Carolina... we allow them that, that, expungement," Tedder said, urging the committee the fix is one of fairness for people whose cases…