MORNING HEADLINES | A new study published in JAMA Pediatrics revealed gun violence to again be the leading cause of death among children and teens in the United States.
Meanwhile Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., and other leading Democrats launched an effort to close a gun loophole used by the man who killed nine worshippers on June 17, 2015, at Emanuel AME Church.
The study looked at pediatric firearm deaths from 2011 to 2023 in the period after a 2010 landmark Supreme Court case ruled that state and local governments must comply with the Second Amendment.
Researchers found that states with more permissive gun laws experienced a rise in pediatric deaths, whereas states with stricter laws did not. States with permissive gun laws had more than 6,000 excess deaths than they would have expected based on the earlier time period.
South Carolina is one of these states with permissive gun laws, particularly with what’s known as the “Charleston loophole,” which allows a licensed firearm dealer to continue with a sale after three days, regardless of whether a background check has been completed.
The loophole became widely known shortly after the 2015 Emanuel massacre in Charleston. The loophole allowed a 21-year-old White S.C. racist, Dylann Roof, to purchase the gun he used.
“The bottom line is clear: Dylann Roof should not have been able to legally buy that gun that day,” said then FBI Director James Comey ini 2015.
Clyburn launched his latest effort to close this loophole, proposing to give the FBI longer to complete a background check. Instead of the three-day timeline, the bill would give the FBI up to 20 business days to verify whether a customer checks out. Clyburn said that’s similar to the bill that passed the U.S. House in 2019 and 2021.
“The gun violence epidemic that has ravaged America for far too long in such horrific ways, in such deeply personal ways, in such searing ways, requires an aggressive, common-sense response,” said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y. “We just need a handful of Republicans to join us.”
In other headlines:
CP NEWS: What Charleston is like for those who covered Spoleto. Five graduate students from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications were sent to the Holy City to learn during the annual festival season. We asked these students to reflect on what they learned in their three weeks walking our streets and writing about what they experienced.
Tests show shrimp in 40 of 44 Charleston restaurants isn’t local, study shows. Testing on shrimp served at dozens of Charleston-area restaurants revealed that most falsely promoted serving locally-caught shrimp, a new report from SeaD Consulting.
Local leaders discuss education at forum remembering Emanuel tragedy. Community leaders and elected officials from across the Lowcountry met to discuss what changes still need to be made in the community to advance racial justice.
North Charleston police meet to break down crime stats, strategies. The North Charleston Police Department and community members met Tuesday evening in a forum to discuss the current crime rates and solutions in the area. Crime rate numbers are down right now compared to last year, officials said.
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