x-sender: governor.haley@sc.lmhostediq.com x-receiver: governor.haley@sc.lmhostediq.com Received: from mail pickup service by sc.lmhostediq.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Fri, 11 Mar 2016 22:02:59 -0500 thread-index: AdF8C68u55+3kLh5QjGA+cU1jEw3ug== Thread-Topic: Requirement for detailed inventory of guns for DSS Foster Care License From: To: Subject: Requirement for detailed inventory of guns for DSS Foster Care License Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2016 22:02:59 -0500 Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Mailer: Microsoft CDO for Windows 2000 Content-Class: urn:content-classes:message Importance: normal Priority: normal X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.1.7601.17609 X-OriginalArrivalTime: 12 Mar 2016 03:02:59.0834 (UTC) FILETIME=[AF5235A0:01D17C0B] CUSTOM Mr. John C Hopper 606 S Sweetwater Hills Dr Moore SC 29369 jhopper@bobcatops.com 864-809-4548 864-809-4548 GUNS Requirement for detailed inventory of guns for DSS Foster Care License 68.189.167.101 My wife and I are passionate about two issues. The first is orphan/foster care. To that end we have fostered infants in our home for over 4 years and have been a safe port in the storm for over 12 children. It is our honor and privilege to serve in that way. We are also active advocates for Foster Care in the state. We have hosted numerous events in our home to expose interested families to foster care, participated, and spoken at Foster Care ministries. The second is Second Amendment rights. I am an avid firearms collector, NRA and SC CWP instructor, and Volunteer SC Hunters Education Instructor and have years of experience with firearms. We train regularly as well as shoot for competition and fun. We also get professionally training on an annual basis when possible. These two have never been at odds with each other. The closest issue we have had being when we first became licensed as foster parents and were asked to disclose our firearms. I agreed to the recognition that we owned firearms and understood and continue to follow the law regarding storage and security. This has been sufficient up until now. SC Code only addresses the storage requirement and lists no reporting requirement. As we begin our relicensing this year, we were supplied with DSS Form 1517 (OCT 15) which informs that we must allow the DSS worker to see where firearms/ammunition are stored, affirm that we do or do not possess firearms, and for the first time requires we list the "Name/Type of Firearm and Ammunition" and the "Storage Location". The first two items are not a significant issue. The detailed listing and inventory of specific firearms we own or possess goes beyond what information DSS needs to keep the children safe and I feel violates my rights. This requirement seems both excessive and potentially dangerous to those that understand history, as well as information of no practical use or benefit to DSS or the State. Since this is a DSS regulation and not SC Code/Law, it would also seem to be a reflection of the Governor's policy and direction. Given her support of firearms rights it seems out of touch with her position. My hope is this is nothing more than an overzealous administrator that doesn't understand the importance and significance of our Second Amendment rights. I am also concerned this DSS regulation may be in conflict with the State pre-emption laws. If not in violation of attempting to regulate "the transfer, ownership, possession, carrying, or transportation of firearms, ammunition, components of firearms, or any combination of these things" it is getting pretty close. I acknowledge the primary need of keeping these children safe but foster parent acknowledgement of the safe storage requirements should be enough and is all that can really be done anyway. A detailed list and inventory of possessed firearms does nothing to make the foster child safer and is of no value to DSS as it relates to their mission. Is there a way to have this DSS policy reviewed and amended to make it more reasonable? If not, South Carolina will likely lose many good foster homes, including ours. Unfortunately, our license renewal is due now, and we will not provide the information as requested on moral grounds. Having seen the positive impact our family has made on these new little lives as we provide a bridge for them causes my heart to break at the thought of an inherently misguided policy resulting in our inability to continue this effort and important social work. I look forward to your response and eagerly await quick resolution. Sincerely, John Hopper