Columbia, SC (WLTX) - After each school shooting, the debate on safety often focuses on gun laws surrounding schools.
Of course, many laws regarding guns are enacted at the federal level. So what are some of the laws governing firearms on campuses in our state?
Right now, it's against the law for a person to enter any school property with a gun unless they're law enforcement officers or personnel authorized by school officials to carry a gun. The only exception is if you have a concealed carry permit and the gun is secured in the car.
Here are a few recent bills we found about guns in schools.
2016: In 2016, a South Carolina house subcommittee rejected a bill that would have allowed teachers and staff to carry concealed weapons on campus. They would have to get concealed weapons permits first.
Representative Phillip Lowe of Florence said the goal of the bill was to protect children, specifically in schools without SRO's -- or school resource officers -- on campus. But local law enforcement officials told us that school employees carrying guns could create more problems, especially without proper and efficient training.
2017: In early 2017, another proposed bill would allow anyone with a concealed-weapons permit to bring a firearm onto college or university property. Again, it is illegal to bring a firearm onto any public or private higher-education property.
Clemson and USC officials spoke out against the bill., which got mixed reviews from students.
that bill is in limbo.