Mayor Jones Has Concerns Over Gun Bill

Charleston Mayor Danny Jones said he may close recreation centers or disallow school programming in them if a Senate gun bill becomes law. The Gazette-Mail reported Charleston Attorney Paul Ellis said Senate Bill 244 appears to allow guns in school-owned and leased buildings outside of school functions. The bill said guns are prohibited on school grounds if the school has a written policy allowing firearms or weapons and would amend state law to prohibit guns at certain school-sponsored functions during the duration of the function. Jones said this means Charleston’s Martin Luther King Center could only ban guns when events such as after-school programs are happening. He said Charleston cannot manage the change. The Senate-approved bill is in the House Education and Judiciary committees.