S.C. Lawmakers Poised to Discard 'Subversive Agent' Form
After South Carolina became the butt of jokes because of a decades-old law on the books that requires any group planning to overthrow the government to register its activities, lawmakers there are poised to repeal the legislation.
State Sen. Larry Martin told the Associated Press this week that the 1951 McCarthy-era statute aimed at deterring communism is one more thing making South Carolina look bad.
Bloggers and talk radio shows picked up on the legislation last month and a misconception spread that the law, which has been on the books for almost 60 years, was a recent law.
Martin, who’s pushing a repeal, says the law has “long outlived its usefulness, if ever it had one.”
The AP reports that the state’s “subversive activities registration act” requires any group that advocates overthrowing local, state or federal governments to pay $5 and register the group’s name, its leader’s address, beliefs, all members living in South Carolina and check yes or no to the following: “Do you or your organization directly or indirectly advocate, advise, teach or practice the duty or necessity of controlling, seizing or overthrowing the government?”
Failing to register could result in a $25,000 fine and 10 years behind bars.
There were never any registrations until February, when 10 organizations registered, in jest, according to the secretary of state. See the form (PDF).
Hat Tip: Pat’s Papers
