Governor Wants New Penalties for Felons Caught with Guns
Observer Reports
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster listed fighting organized labor and increasing penalties for felons caught with guns as among his priorities for the year ahead in his State of the State Address Wednesday.
But part of his speech was unusually combative, as he pledged to fight a force that’s largely nonexistent in South Carolina.
Despite the state having among the fewest union members of the nation, only 2.4 percent of the labor force in 2023, McMaster voiced universal dismissal of labor unions.
“One thing we do not need is more labor unions in South Carolina,” said McMaster, who has challenged the early court victories of the International Longshoremen's Association, which required shipping carriers to use labor unions at the Port of Charleston. The next stop for McMaster’s appeal challenging this is the United State Supreme Court.
The governor promised to “fight all the way to the gates of hell… and will win this battle” against labor unions in the state. McMaster said to a standing ovation from Republicans only.
S.C. Rep. Wendell Gilliard, D-Charleston, a former labor union organizer, said the governor’s words were offensive and an insult to workers in the state.
With federal laws in place prohibiting felons from carrying guns already in place, McMaster wants a complimentary state law, which would increase penalties.
McMaster’s call for increased state gun penalties continues his request from last year, when the session ended with the governor telling legislators they must pass a so-called felon-in-possession law to reduce violent crime. It’s been a top priority for law enforcement for years.
McMaster received eight standing ovations from the entire joint chamber during his one-hour speech. He even drew laughter as he recited the words of Joni Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi” song to request $33 million additional for conservation and preservation.
Legislators need to act now so that her words don’t come true for South Carolina, he said: “You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone. They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.”
McMaster, who has already outlined his budget recommendations for the fiscal year that begins July 1, repeated his priorities, which include electric vehicle manufacture, along with axillary businesses to support these efforts,
Much of the rest of McMaster’s address echoed his budget recommendations for the financial year starting July 1.