SC Senate passes tougher domestic violence penalties

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The South Carolina Senate has given key approval to a bill that would create tougher sentences and take guns away from people convicted of domestic violence.

The bill, which passed Wednesday on a 38-3 vote, creates three degrees of domestic violence charges based in large part on the level of violence or previous convictions.

The biggest sticking point was a gun ban. An amendment passed Wednesday would still ban guns for 10 years for anyone convicted of the two most serious degrees. A third-degree domestic violence conviction would have a five-year gun ban only if a judge approved.

Sen. Greg Hembree says the vote shows South Carolina is taking domestic violence seriously. The state frequently ranks at the top in the number of people killed by loved ones.