With all its beauty, balmy weather and congeniality, South Carolina can be a peculiar place to live at times, especially when it comes to gambling in the name of charity. In fact, state law is downright unfriendly toward charities trying to raise money through casino nights and raffles.

This less than charitable attitude led a Beaufort County organization, Citizens Opposed to Domestic Abuse, to cancel its longtime casino night, which has been a major fund-raising project. Citizens Opposed to Domestic Abuse is among a host of legitimate local nonprofit organizations that must supplement their donations from individuals, the United Way and the government in order to fulfill their charitable mission. Even with fund-raisers, money always is in short supply.

Unfortunately, casino nights and raffles violate the S.C. Constitution, and state authorities have begun to crack down in recent months on such activities. South Carolinians have voted at least twice in the past 30 years to allow gambling -- bingo and the state-run S.C. Education Lottery. Yet state law still allows for the arrest of little old ladies selling raffle tickets for a quilt and charities holding casino nights.

A state lawmaker has proposed legislation to amend the state Constitution to legitimize limited, charity-operated raffles, but it also should be amended to allow casino nights for legitimate organizations. Unfortunately, Rep. John Graham Altman III, R-Charleston, thinks broadening the legislation could be its death knell.

Beaufort County has two legislators on the House Judiciary Committee, where the bill has been sent for discussion.

Rep. Catherine Ceips, R-Beaufort, a co-sponsor of Altman's bill, and Rep. Bill Herbkersman, R-Bluffton, empathize with the charities. Herbkersman rightly calls the law an impediment to common sense.

The pair may have to use more than empathy and phrase-turning to get the amendment changed, though. Altman is a formidable lawmaker.

South Carolinians, however, should be given a chance to vote on the issue. They can tell the difference between mamas and the Mafia, as Altman says. South Carolinians also know that there is enough illegal gambling going on each day in this state to keep law enforcement busy without going after little old ladies and charities. Believe it or not, games accrued on pinball machines and video card games still earn illegal payoffs in some establishments. Parlay cards also are a thriving enterprise, as are the March Madness office pools.