I make decisions based on knowledge and facts, even if not popular or widely known at the time. It made headlines in April of 2015 when I asked Gov. Haley to suspend the refugee program in SC until the federal government could assure us that each refugee could be properly vetted. It had been proven they couldn’t be properly vetted (and still cannot). The refugee program requires the Governor of each state to sign an authorization form for state participation. Many of us warned Gov. Haley not to do that and even passed a law in June to prevent state funds from being used, but she reauthorized the program for 2016 in early August. After the Paris massacre, other Governors said they would no longer accept Syrian refugees, but our Governor merely asked the Obama administration to use their best judgment and not send SC any more refugees from countries with ties to terrorism. Many heard on the news that she “stopped” the program – not true and un-vetted refugees continue to enter SC. Terrorists will hide their identity and don’t mind using well-intentioned programs to accomplish their goals. We all have a duty to protect our homes and families first and I also feel a duty to protect my constituents as well. This issue also highlights just how important our 2nd Amendment rights are. We must remain free to protect ourselves and our loved ones from all threats, foreign and domestic.
“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
You are a fearmonger, a Trump wannabe. These people have suffered at the hands of a brutal dictator, and it is our duty to help them. By attempting to bar refugees you betray American values, which plays into the hands of our enemies and ultimately hurts our nation. America’s vetting process for refugees lasts years and is more rigorous than any other way of reaching our shores.
We have always been a nation of immigrants, and we need them now more than ever as our nation gets older and Social Security struggles. Immigrants are much more likely than native-born Americans to start businesses and less likely to use public assistance. Of the roughly 800,000 refugees admitted since 9/11 (and the 9/11 terrorists were not refugees), only three have been linked to terrorism. We should be letting more people in, not less.
And how dare you bring up the 2nd Amendment, which you, like all conservatives, read myopically (forgetting the whole “well-regulated” part)? Your briefing above makes it seem as if you want us to shoot these people because they are a different color or different religion. What a great Christian you are. The gun violence epidemic is one of our nation’s biggest problems, and something like 400,000 Americans have been killed by guns since 9/11 compared to around 100 from terrorism.
As a fellow Dorman and Clemson graduate, all I can say is that you bring great shame to our state and nation. You have no business serving us.
It is a simple task to listen to what others tell you. It is a simple task to find a news station who’s opinion is the same as the ‘popular choice’.
America is falling in on itself and the leading cause is hatred. The media strives on this hatred. This hatred that they stir, puts their income at an all time high.
Instead of falling into the closed box syndrome – step outside of it. Walk among those whom you defend. Participate in their lives a bit, get a real scope of what is happening here in America.
With an inside scope on the real daily life of those that were being treated unjustly in your eyes, I can promise that you’re wrong.
A man’s love of God cannot be determined by his choice to protect his areas of reach. I’m very sorry that you believe that guns have killed so many. Scientifically, this is impossible. Guns have no mind and no self propelled mechanisms, thus they can not be held accountable. People kill people, with guns, knives, pencils, bricks, poisons, even plastic bags..
Our Senator spoke nothing of racism, of violence or hatred, but you backlashed with those.
There are legal ways for these people to achieve what they want. If they can’t respect and honor our laws and liberties in the beginning, they will not suddenly decide to later. Haley refused to stand for us, and I for one, am thankful to have a senator who will!
Dear Senator Shane, I am proud you take this position of protection. I am glad you stand with the County Council resolutions made by the majority of SC Counties statewide! I want to do so much more. I want to get a hold of the dates for those now secret SCDSS Quarterly meetings for “stakeholders and providers”, and get the list of companies who are funding this refugee movement into SC. Can you get that list and publish it across SC to the public? Maybe we can boycott some of these businesses for aiding refugees against our will. The SC gov. won’t even tell us the county of these new Syrian refugees! The old days of welcoming new, safe, nice neighbors with a “Welcome Wagon gift basket” are over!