Jim Fair
"You minimize the risk and do the best you can. In principle, don’t pass a law you know people can’t enforce."
Greer Police Chief Dan Reynolds.
Douglas Campbell asked: “I wonder what our Police Chief thinks of gun control?”
Chief Reynolds:
I certainly don’t disagree that we need some type of gun control.
This is an extremely emotional issue after the Newtown incident. Some people are pushing their agenda on gun control. We need to slow down and think about the issue with mental health and others that influence these incidents.
We have no influence on legislation being made in Washington over gun control. I think, and would agree, background checks would help. Some people feel they are infringing on personal freedoms – our Second Amendment. I believe if we can enforce the laws we have and give the resources to it, we can have some effect.
One area we feel a problem is “straw buy” (purchasing a gun for a third party). That's a significant problem and more so in South Carolina. Because of the laws in the Northeast, it happens more frequently in South Carolina.
I don’t want to sound like I’m wishy-washy.
I don’t think there is a silver bullet. You minimize the risk and do the best you can. In principle, don’t pass a law you know people can’t enforce.
This is a very complex problem. We need to move slowly and then move forward.
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