In the wake of the March For Our Lives movement, students are now hosting town halls with their representatives to question the politicians’ stance on gun control and voice their own opinions. Coordinated by Will Donellon and other Magnet students, a town hall with South Carolina’s District 1 (parts of Charleston, Berkeley, Beaufort, and Dorchester Counties) representative Mark Sanford will be held at Burke High School auditorium at 1:00 PM on this Saturday the 14th. The event is particularly targeted at high school students who want to continue the debate about gun control past the walkouts and marches provoked by the Parkland Shooting. Regardless of the current motivations, student participation has been a continual theme in American politics. Since the 1960s and 70s, protests on college campuses about the Vietnam War and environmental concerns have proven students to be both aware and active in their government. This upcoming town hall falls in line with the general activation of students and promotes continued political participation.

Whether you wish to better understand Sanford’s position or notify him of your policy desires as constituent, attending the town hall serves as an opportunity to become more familiar with the congressman especially with the upcoming election. If you will be 18 by November 8th, you will be able to vote in the general election for the congressional seat in SC’s first district as will as the primaries in June 12th, even if your birthday is in July through November. Sanford would likely be running against the winner of the Democratic primary, either Joe Cunningham or Toby Smith, depending on the results of both contested primaries.

The Town Hall will be held at Burke High School at 1:00 PM on Saturday the 14th and will last until about 3:00PM, parking is available on site. Below is a summary of Sanford’s voting record on gun policy.

STOP School Violence Act of 2018: Mark Sanford was among the ten congressmen that voted not to reauthorize funding for school security that would pay for officers in schools, training, enforcement, and installing preventative measures like door locks.

Concealed Carry and Reciprocity Act of 2017: Mark Sanford voted yea to allow concealed carry of firearms across state borders regardless of within the state that prohibits it. The bill also requires that the Attorney General report on the use of bump stocks in crimes and what firearms can use them.

Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act (2017): Mark Sanford voted yea to allow veterans deemed mentally incompetent to own and purchase firearms and ammunition unless they are noted as dangerous by a federal judge

Providing for congressional disapproval of the rule submitted by the Social Security Administration relating to Implementation of the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007: Sanford voted yea to imposing gun restrictions on individuals shown to be unable to properly handle federal benefit payments.

Sportsmen’s Heritage and Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) Act of 2015: Sanford voting to expand hunting into certain national forests.

Prohibits District of Columbia from Implementing Certain Firearm Laws (2014): Sanford voted yea to not allowing funds to be spent in DC on the enforcement of:

• The Firearms Registration Amendment Act of 2008;
• The Firearms Amendment Act of 2012; and
• The Administrative Disposition for Weapons Offenses Amendment Act of 2012.

24 Hour Background Check Amendment (1999): Sanford voted yea to decreasing the federal background check time allotment to 24 hours but increases the minimum sentence for using a gun with a large capacity magazine to 15 years.

72 Hour Background Check Amendment (1999): Sanford voted nay to increasing the federal background check time allotment to 72 hours and defines a gun show as interstate commerce with the sale of 50 firearms and 10 vendors.

Mandatory Gun Show Background Check Act (1999): Sanford voted against requiring background checks for firearms purchases at gun shows which includes a provision that requires child safety devices be sold along with hand guns.

Minimum Sentences for Gun Crimes (1998): Sanford voted yea for increasing the minimum sentences for federal crimes committed with firearms.

Gun Ban Repeal Act of 1995: Sanford voted yea to repeal the ban on semiautomatic firearms.