LEXINGTON, S.C. — Just one day after Gov. Henry McMaster signed the "Constitutional Carry" bill that allows legal gun owners to carry a gun in public, safety training instructors are talking about the importance of proper gun training.
"We take 30-plus years of experience and wrap it up into a few hours, so now they leave with a good foundation," Joe Shahoud said.
Shahoud owns Safe Family Defense, which offers concealed weapon permit (CWP) classes and training.
"Most of the folks that come through my class, you can tell how much of a novice they are. You really can tell if it came down to it if they really had to defend themselves, could they really do it? Could they make the shot? Chances are the answer's going to be no just because they don't have the skill set; they don't have the training. The training is crucial," he said.
Governor McMaster signed a bill Thursday that would allow the open carry of guns in South Carolina without concealed weapons permits or training.
Shahoud said there are more benefits to a CWP than just learning how to use a gun.
"What it allows you to do is travel beyond the state and be able to carry. Many states aren't constitutional carry like we are, but they recognize the permit," he said. "It also speeds up the process for buying a firearm. The background check is not required for those who have a concealed weapons permit."
The bill would also provide free gun training for any adult who wants it, but instructors who are already offering them said this won't make a difference.
"We do free training. There are several instructors that do free training; they still won't come to us," Elaine Henderson from CWP Chick said. "Your crowd of receiving training is not going to be as big as they're hoping for."
Under the new open carry law, there are punishments for people who don't take the training and are convicted of not following the laws regarding where guns are banned.
"I think you're going to see folks think, 'Well, why would I take that time? Why would I waste my time, waste my money, when I don't need it no more?' Shahoud said. "We've got to do a better job now explaining to them and emphasizing to them that this training is crucial if you want to make proper decisions."