FIRST AMENDMENT

GOP Lawmaker: Register All Journalists

Wants to combat anti-gun media bias.

A Republican lawmaker from South Carolina wants to require registration for professional journalists in his state. State Rep. Mike Pitts introduced Tuesday a bill called the South Carolina Responsible Journalism Registry Law. According to the Post and Courier, "the bill would create requirements for people wanting to work as a journalist for a media outlet, and also before that outlet could hire anyone for a reporting position." Pitts' law would give the South Carolina secretary of state authority over a "responsible journalism registry" that would also establish the proper qualifications of a journalist, much like how lawyers and doctors are overseen by a board. The proposed law comes as Pitts' response to what he feels is unfair media coverage of gun owners.