Staff reports
Lowcountry Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America is hosting a candidate forum ahead of the Nov. 5 general election. The public is invited to come out and hear how the various candidates plan to combat gun violence if they are elected.
The event will take place from 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Oct. 19 in the large meeting room at the Bluffton Branch Library, located at 120 Palmetto Way. Registration will begin at 9:30 a.m.
Participating candidates include: Melinda Henrickson, who is running for State House District 124 against incumbent Shannon Erickson; Charity Owens, who is running for State House District 118; Lisette Cifaldi, who is running for State House District 123; Kate Creech, who is running for State House District 120; Gwyneth Saunders, who is running for State Senate District 46 against incumbent Tom Davos; and Michael B. Moore, who is running against incumbent Nancy Mace for the U.S. House of Representatives in South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District.
More than 20 community nonprofit organizations and numerous other community groups have been invited to the event.
“One of our main goals as an organization is to inform the public about gun issues and legislation,” Lowcountry Moms Demand Action leader Richard Hammes said. “After hearing from the candidates at this event, my hope is everyone will vote for these and other gun-sense candidates.”
Hammes believes South Carolina could bring down its tragic statistics with a few common-sense gun laws. He would like to see requirements for safe gun storage, gun safety and usage training, universal background checks with no time limits, and a ban on guns of war and high-capacity clips.
Despite the fact that the majority of American citizens favor common-sense gun reform, been no change in Washington or here in South Carolina.
“Money speaks,” Hammes said. “These [incumbent] candidates are supported by not just the NRA, but gun manufacturers, who have really deep pockets. In certain states, like South Carolina, with sizable rural populations, there is also part of the population that is very concerned people will take their guns away, which isn’t going t happen. Therefore, they don’t want any restrictions. It’s frustrating to not get much change.”
Hammes said all he’s trying to do is inform the public, get them information and data about what’s happening.
“It’s going to take a while, but I have hope,” he said.
On average, gun violence kills 1,056 people a year in South Carolina. The Palmetto State is ranked 11th in the nation for gun deaths per capita, much higher than New York at 47th and Illinois at 24th. Even more heartbreaking is the fact that 113 children and teens are killed by guns in South Carolina every year. Twenty-eight percent of those deaths are suicides, and 65 percent are homicides.
If these numbers concern you and you’d like to see them change, Hammes wants you to come hear the candidates.
The candidate forum is free and open to the public. RSVP to lowcountrymomsdemand@gmail.com.
