South Carolina General Assembly
121st Session, 2015-2016

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Indicates New Matter

H. 4436

STATUS INFORMATION

Concurrent Resolution
Sponsors: Rep. Gilliard
Document Path: l:\council\bills\agm\18775ab16.docx

Introduced in the House on January 12, 2016
Currently residing in the House Committee on Invitations and Memorial Resolutions

Summary: Security at churches and houses of worship

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS 

     Date      Body   Action Description with journal page number
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   12/3/2015  House   Prefiled
   12/3/2015  House   Referred to Committee on Invitations and Memorial 
                        Resolutions
   1/12/2016  House   Introduced (House Journal-page 25)
   1/12/2016  House   Referred to Committee on Invitations and Memorial 
                        Resolutions (House Journal-page 25)

View the latest legislative information at the website

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

12/3/2015

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

TO ENCOURAGE ALL CHURCHES AND OTHER HOUSES OF WORSHIP IN SOUTH CAROLINA TO PROTECT RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND PUBLIC SAFETY BY EMPLOYING COMPREHENSIVE SECURITY MEASURES, PARTICULARLY THE INSTALLATION AND USE OF SECURITY CAMERAS AND SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS.

Whereas, the South Carolina General Assembly acknowledges the undeniably important role that churches and other houses of worship play in American society, providing not only places of religious expression and worship, but also as centers for social fellowship, community service, cultural nurturing, and civic mobilization; and

Whereas, the South Carolina General Assembly acknowledges that running parallel to the role that churches and other houses of worship play in American society is a history of violence against houses of worship and their attendees, often undertaken in an effort to suppress not only religious worship but also to thwart secular pursuits conducted in churches to better the community; and

Whereas, the horrific mass shooting at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston earlier this year made the world painfully aware that such violence against churches and their worshipers is not a closed chapter in American History, but is shockingly a part of its present; and

Whereas, mindful of the need to protect religious liberties and public safety in this State, the South Carolina General Assembly calls upon all churches and other houses of worship in South Carolina to employ comprehensive security measures, particularly the installation and use of security cameras and surveillance systems, which also may provide necessary information to investigating law enforcement and evidence when a crime against a church occurs. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, encourage all churches and other houses of worship in South Carolina to protect religious freedom and public safety by employing comprehensive security measures, particularly the installation and use of security cameras and surveillance systems.

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This web page was last updated on January 13, 2016 at 11:57 AM