Fearing They are Outgunned, Some SC Troopers Buying Rifles

Col. Chris Williamson, commander of the S.C. Highway Patrol, recently confirmed that some front-line troopers wanted the more effective rifles so badly for potential confrontations that about 50 have bought their own in the past couple of years.

December 28, 2017

Some S.C. Highway Patrol troopers, fearful of being outgunned, have been buying and bringing their own high-powered rifles on duty to replace their state-issued shotguns.

The news comes as the state Department of Public Safety is seeking $500,000 in next year's state budget to equip all troopers with AR-15 rifles, which officials contend could save lives if there's a mass shooting in South Carolina.

Col. Chris Williamson, commander of the S.C. Highway Patrol, recently confirmed that some front-line troopers wanted the more effective rifles so badly for potential confrontations that about 50 have bought their own in the past couple of years.

A policy change allowed troopers to carry personal rifles on the job that meet specifications, provided they undergo the agency's eight-hour course on the weapon, the Charleston Post and Courier reports.

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