STATEHOUSE REPORT |  ISSUE 24.45  |  Nov. 7, 2025
  • BIG STORY: Lawmakers studying causes, solutions to youth gun violence
  • MORE NEWS: Mace flies into political turbulence at Charleston airport
  • LOWCOUNTRY, Ariail:  We’ll be sorry
  • BRACK:  What November’s results could mean in South Carolina
  • MYSTERY PHOTO: Big clock
  • FEEDBACK: Send us your thoughts
BIG STORY

Lawmakers studying causes, solutions to youth gun violence

By Jack O’Toole, Capitol bureau  |  A new South Carolina House committee tasked with curbing the state’s historically high juvenile crime rate will sprint to produce short-term legislative recommendations over the next two weeks — and then settle in for a long year of hearings, study and systemic reform proposals.

That was the two-step approach laid out by Berkeley County Republican Rep. Brandon Cox as he chaired the committee’s first meeting on Nov. 5, where he shared S.C. Law Enforcement Division (SLED) data showing arrests of more than 25,000 juveniles across the state in 2024. Of those, more than 1,600 were charged with gun crimes and 57 with murder. 

Unsplash

Nevertheless, Cox and other committee members avoided the punitive rhetoric often associated with the issue in the past, stressing that the goal was to prevent minors from entering the criminal justice system in the first place.

“We want to love these children — all our children,” Cox told committee members in his opening statement. 

Democratic Rep. Kambrell Garvin, whose Richland County district recently saw three teens injured when shots rang out at a Halloween bonfire, echoed the chairman’s remarks.

“They were simply being teenagers,” Garvin noted, “and gunshots erupted.”

Local police agencies told Statehouse Report they welcomed the legislative intervention, calling the problem of teens and guns an “epidemic” in their communities.

“We can’t do this by ourselves,” North Charleston Police Chief Ron Camacho said, noting 45 of the 209 illegal guns his department confiscated in 2025 were taken from teens. 

He added, “We need help from parents, from the school district, from wherever we can get it to educate and alert our juveniles to the dangers and consequences of dealing with guns — and how one action can change your life forever.”

Asked what kind of immediate changes he’d like to see from the committee, Camacho turned to an issue local police have raised alarms about for years — the large number of guns stolen from cars that often aren’t even locked. Over the past two years, about 450 guns have been stolen from vehicles in North Charleston alone, department officials say.

And because so many of those guns wind up in the hands of teens, Camacho said, some sort of “accountability” for adults needs to be part of the solution.

“I’m not talking about the Second Amendment,” he said. “I’m talking about people who own guns being responsible, locking up their guns at home and not keeping them in their car.”

Reached by phone on Nov. 6, committee member Rep. Spencer Wetmore, a Charleston Democrat, said she shared the chief’s concern.

More accountability needed, rep says

“We need to have that conversation,” she said. “There has to be accountability for both kids and adults. And one thing we know is what we’re doing isn’t working, so that’s one area I imagine we’ll try to address as quickly as possible.”

Other items the committee might look at immediately, she said, include so-called “status offenses” — that is, crimes like truancy that are only illegal because of the offender’s status as a minor — and gun crime sentencing.

That said, Wetmore emphasized the chairman’s wish to take public testimony before announcing any near-term actions, as well as his commitment to a more in-depth, deliberative process in 2026.

“It’s important for the public to understand that the short-term things we do are by no means the only things we’re going to do,” she said. “We’re trying to take a comprehensive look at these issues, and not just rush through a few ‘Look, we did it’ solutions.”

Looking further out, Wetmore emphasized the need for reform in the state’s juvenile justice, mental health, community outreach and educational systems.

“It’s going to be complex,” she said. “But those are the areas we’re going to have to focus on.”

ACLU of South Carolina’s Courtney Thomas, whose organization has been locked in a years-long battle with the state over conditions at its juvenile justice facilities, said she’s encouraged by the committee’s approach.

“We’re glad the House is willing to address these issues,” she said. “But it’s important for people to understand there’s no higher level of criminality of children in South Carolina than anywhere else. The difference here is the lack of statewide services.”

And it’s that lack of services, she said, that committee members need to hear about during their public input session at 10 a.m. on Nov. 13 in Blatt Building Room 110.

“There’s still some stigma about having a child in custody, but that’s exactly who our legislators need to hear from,” Thomas said. “So I hope people will be brave and tell their stories — and that our legislators will listen.”

MORE NEWS

Mace flies into political turbulence at Charleston airport

By Jack O’Toole, Capitol bureau | A leading candidate for S.C. governor faced bipartisan backlash this week as dozens of leaders from both political parties condemned her treatment of police officers at Charleston International Airport.

The controversy began Nov. 3 when the media reported Republican U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace of Charleston allegedly castigated officers with foul language and personal insults in an Oct. 30 incident.

Charleston International Airport. Credit: File by Joey Izzo

According to police reports, Mace hurled a stream of invective at officers after a mix-up left her entering the airport without a security escort. Among other demeaning remarks, Mace is reported to have called the officers “f*****g incompetent.”

As of press time, at least 50 officials — from Republicans like U.S. Sen. Tim Scott and S.C. Freedom Caucus Chair Jordan Pace to Democrats such as S.C. Sen. Deon Tedder and Rep. Leon Stavrinakis —  issued statements or signed onto a public letter standing with law enforcement and airport officials.

Mace, who along with Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette is leading the 2026 GOP field for governor in an October Winthrop Poll, announced Wednesday that she plans to sue American Airlines and the Charleston airport for defamation. Representing her in the case is Judicial Watch founder Larry Klayman, a high-profile Clinton-era legal activist who was suspended in 2022 from the practice of law for ethical violations in Washington, D.C.

Charleston Democratic Sen. Ed Sutton, who signed the letter of support for airport police, used a little unvarnished language of his own to explain the bipartisan reaction.

“We’re just tired of her s**t,” he said. “Every day is just another drama cycle of her yelling and having a public meltdown and threatening to sue somebody, and we’re tired of the reality TV show.”

He added, “You’ve got Democrats, Republicans, Freedom Caucus, Independents — I mean you couldn’t normally get us to agree the sky is blue. I don’t know a single person who’s supporting her on this.”

For her part, Mace remained defiant throughout the week, posting a video to X on Nov. 5 that she said disproved the allegations. In the brief clip, Mace can be seen walking to the gate, scanning her ticket and leaving the area without incident. Not visible are any interactions with airport security officials.

“This is a lie that damaged my very good, honest, trustworthy, hard-working reputation,” she wrote. “DEFAMATION LAWSUIT INCOMING!!”

In other recent news

S.C. ELECTIONS: Charleston elects 3 new council members in landslides. Newcomers Ben D’Allesandro, Aaron Polkey and Leslie Skardon won landslide victories Tuesday in races for Charleston City Council as three incumbent council members were returned for another term.

Shutdown becomes longest in history, as food aid and flight restrictions kick in

President Trump and administration officials indicated that fallout could intensify in the coming days, even as he has kept a distance from the crisis.

State debates ways to curb rural doctor shortage crisis. At a Statehouse meeting Wednesday, lawmakers and medical professionals talked about expansion of rules for nurse practitioners and physician assistants, among other solutions.

Wilson testifies in state Senate oversight hearing. S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson, a GOP candidate for governor, answered questions Wednesday about operations in his office.

Former state lawmaker indicted on federal charges of defrauding legal clients. Former Democratic S.C. Rep. Marvin Pendarvis of North Charleston on Wednesday was indicted on 10 charges, including wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and money laundering, in a federal case that he schemed to defraud clients.

S.C. juvenile justice shakeups add capacity to reduce overcrowding. South Carolina’s Department of Juvenile Justice has added 81 beds in five months for jailed youth who are awaiting trial in the state’s family court system. It’s currently working on adding more beds to reduce overcrowding, understaffing and the violence that comes with it.

Lawyers trying to stop S.C. inmate’s execution. Lawyers for death row inmate Stephen Bryant are trying to stop his execution later this month by arguing the judge who sentenced him to die never got to consider his brain damage, according to this story.

ROBERT ARIAIL’S LOWCOUNTRY

We’ll be sorry

Robert Ariail's oped
Credit: Robert Ariail

Award-winning cartoonist Robert Ariail has a special knack for poking a little fun in just the right way.  This week, he takes a sideways glance at the mouthy recent behavior of gubernatorial candidate and U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace. 

COMMENTARY

What November’s results could mean in South Carolina

By Andy Brack  |  With big Democratic wins this week in New York City, Virginia, New Jersey and California, let’s offer a few observations and then look at whether these off-year elections mean anything for South Carolina. 

New York:  A young, charismatic candidate, Zohran Mamdani, who sticks like Krazy to a message of making housing affordable and governing to help working people, trounced an older establishment Democrat running as an independent with the backing of President Trump.

Virginia:  Charismatic former U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger, long seen as a rising Democratic Party star, led the state’s efforts with a 15-point win for the governor’s office in a backlash election that tipped the balance of the state’s House of Delegates to Democrats.  

New Jersey:  Mikie Sherrill, a powerful and charismatic former Navy pilot, energized a Democratic base that was getting lethargic by running a brutal anti-Trump campaign that resonated. By comparison, her GOP opponent seemed to play it safe with a balancing act on Trump.

California:  A charismatic governor, Gavin Newsom, pushed through a ballot proposition in a landslide that will allow the state to redraw congressional districts to counter gerrymandering efforts by red states to fiddle with control of Congress.  Almost 9 million people voted in a measure that had 2.4 million more yes votes – 63% – than those in opposition.

Closer to home, Charleston voters sent four of six candidates to city council – three newcomers and one incumbent – who pledged more transparency after two years of the administration of freshman mayor William Cogswell, a developer who seems more comfortable with private meetings than public.  

A common link in these elections appears to be charisma – a charm that has been missing in South Carolina statewide and legislative candidates in general in recent years.  

What also has been missing – and something that Mamdani proved in New York – is that having a strong clear message that focuses on regular people will energize voters.  

What Tuesday’s elections also may reveal are cracks in 10 years of political obfuscation and noise from Trump and his sycophants.  Moderate mainstream voters from both parties who voted for Trump in 2024 may be feeling a little hoodwinked thanks to 10 months of governmental confusion that has led to the longest federal government shutdown in history, cancelled flights at airports and food shortages. They also may be perplexed by high grocery prices that Trump said he’d fix but hasn’t, in part due to a global tariff war that is making things tough all around.

What’s not helping are national Democratic leaders who still seem like they’ve got their fingers in their ears and mouths laced shut.  Sure, they’re sticking together during the shutdown to try to keep health care bills from soaring, but when it comes to elucidating a clear message that resonates, they still fail.

If Democrats in South Carolina or nationally want to continue a blue wave at the midterms and then two years later in presidential politics, they’ve got to start standing for something that’s more than “we don’t like Trump.”  They need a coordinated positive message that focuses on building economic opportunities, strengthening democratic institutions and promoting fairness and equality.  Just saying no all of the time ain’t going to cut it if they want to retake Congress and the White House.

Charisma is good, as any populist will tell you.  But substance – “It’s the economy, stupid” or “Tax the rich to make things fair” – is important, too.  

Tuesday’s elections showed what fresh candidates can do – and that should have incumbents in both parties scared.  The 2026 elections here and in Washington could be our state’s most important yet, particularly for anyone who wants real change.

Andy Brack is editor and publisher of Statehouse Report and the Charleston City Paper.  Have a comment? Send to: feedback@statehousereport.com.

MYSTERY PHOTO

Big clock

This image might seem familiar to many people at this time of the year.  Where and what is it?  Send your best guess – plus hometown and name – to: feedback@statehousereport.com.  

Last week’s mystery, “Three-story building” is the Ketchin Building, home to the Fairfield County Historical Museum in Winnsboro.

Allan Peel of San Antonio, Texas, provided a little more detail of the house, built in 1830: “(It was) converted … to the Winnsboro Female Institute, a school for girls that had remained active until it was closed during the Civil War. In 1874, Priscilla Ketchin purchased the property, and over time, local residents began referring to the structure as the “Ketchin Building,” a common practice for prominent townhouses and commercial buildings in 19th‑century South Carolina.  After remaining in the Ketchin family for several decades, the property was deeded to Fairfield County in 1968. …. In March 1976, it was officially opened as the Fairfield County Museum.”

Congratulations to others who identified it:  Frank Bouknight of Summerville; Jay Altman of Columbia; George Graf of Palmyra, Va.; and Steve Willis of Lancaster.

  • SHARE: If you have a Mystery Photo to share, please send it to us – and make sure you tell us what it is!
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  • Have a comment?  Send your letters or comments to: feedback@statehousereport.com.  Make sure to provide your contact details (name, hometown and phone number for verification.  Letters are limited to 150 words.
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