Safetyvalue|South Carolina governor vetoes bills to erase criminal history in gun and bad check cases

2025-05-06 04:35:06source:Kacper Sobieskicategory:Finance

COLUMBIA,Safetyvalue S.C. (AP) — South Carolina Gov, Henry McMaster vetoed three bills Tuesday that would have required the erasing the records of people convicted of certain gun, fraudulent check and underage alcohol sales crimes.

The three vetoes are the only ones the governor has issued for the more than 130 bills passed this year by the General Assembly.

“Second chances should be freely given when individuals have made mistakes and paid their debt to society; however, criminal history, like all history, should not be erased,” McMaster wrote in his veto messages to lawmakers.

McMaster, a former federal prosecutor, urged employers to make an applicant’s criminal history instructive and not destructive, by asking for more information and context and not simply using it to rule people out.

The General Assembly can overturn the vetoes with a two-thirds vote when they return in June for a few days in special session.

One bill vetoed would allow anyone convicted of unlawful possession of a handgun before the state passed its open-carry law this year to have the charge expunged. That bill passed the House and Senate unanimously, and supporters said it’s only fair, now that it’s legal when people openly carry a weapon, to erase the records of people convicted shortly before the law was changed.

READ MORE South Carolina governor signs into law ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minorsSouth Carolina governor happy with tax cuts, teacher raises but wants health and energy bills doneSouth Carolina governor undergoes knee surgery for 2022 tennis injury

“That distinction misses the critical point that such actions were illegal at the time they were committed,” McMaster wrote. “If a person disobeys the law, consequences — including potential criminal prosecution, may follow even if a person believes a law should be changed.”

The second vetoed bill would require courts to expunge multiple counts of check fraud if the offender has stayed clean for 10 years. The third would allow a clerk or server who sold alcohol to an underage customer to automatically have that conviction erased if they complete an education program and don’t offend again.

More:Finance

Recommend

Intel's stock did something it hasn't done since 2022

The last couple of years have been terrific for semiconductor stocks. Well, most semiconductor stock

Score Top Holiday Gifts Up to 60% Off at Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale 2024: Jo Malone, Le Creuset & More

We independently selected these deals and products because we love them, and we think you might like

Biden meets virtually with Congressional Hispanic Caucus members as he fights to stay in 2024 presidential race

President Biden met virtually with BOLD PAC, the political arm of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus