From ‘Gun-Free Zones’ to ‘Cease-Fire Zones”

“Gun-free zones” are a bad idea in and of themselves, but a city council member in Darlington, South Carolina has come up with something that’s arguably even worse. 

Elaine Reed, who was the subject of a recent investigation involving an alleged assault, is now taking aim at violent crime in her city with a uniquely silly proposal: creating a number of “cease-fire zones” in the community. 

Reed is working with the New Alpha Community Development Coordination Cease Fire USA to establish zones in Darlington.

The zones would be designated areas, like drug-free zones, where you’re not allowed to fire a weapon.

“I can’t seem to stop. Trying to organize. Trying to get this community, the Darlington community to address this. From the families. From the churches,” said Reed.

If Reed can’t stop, she should at least have the self-control to hit the “pause” button and think deeply about what she’s proposing. It’s already a crime in Darlington (and the rest of South Carolina) to fire a gun in the commission of an unlawful act, so what exactly will her “cease-fire zones” actually do? 

Localities like Darlington don’t have the authority to create new felony offenses, so any “cease fire” ordinance adopted by the city would be a misdemeanor. As it turns out, it’s already a felony in South Carolina to discharge firearms within 200 yards of a school property boundary and within 300 yards of a dwelling, business, or subdivision, unless the individual is acting in lawful self-defense. 

If her goal is to reduce shootings, her grand idea is utterly worthless, and could very well lead to prosecutors offering suspected shooters a plea deal that reduces felony-level charges down to lesser offenses. A blanket ban on the discharge of firearms in particular areas also likely violates the state’s firearm preemption law, and the city should expect a court challenge if they adopt her proposal. 

In October of 2023, she lost her 16-year-old godson to gun violence. She fears that more and more young people are turning to violence.

“Now, we see a rise, with our young folks. We’re seeing that now. It comes a rash. It started with maybe a carjacking in that. Now, it’s elevated. Because cause what I say is the biggest problem. The availability of those guns. To our youth,” said Reed. 

She’s gotten help from Darlington community activist Damian Prince. Prince said we can’t wait and have to act now.

“We have to do something that’s when it’s going to shift. And so, now this burden doesn’t rest on anybody else, right now. It rests on us. What is our next move,” said Prince.

Well, whatever it is, it shouldn’t involve “cease fire zones”. Aggressively prosecuting carjackers, home invaders, and gang members who are trigger-pullers would be a good start. The city could even take a carrot-and-stick approach by adopting an Operation Ceasefire-style program that offers high-risk individuals the opportunity to turn their lives around through counseling, job training, GED classes, and other educational opportunities while also refusing to offer those accused of violent offenses plea deals and instead prosecuting them to the fullest extent of the law. That could be accomplished with minimal investment by the city, and there’s always the potential to partner with the DOJ or the state government in putting that program in place, which would further reduce the cost to local citizens. 

I feel for Reed regarding the death of her godson, and I’ll assume that her proposal is a good-faith effort to reduce violent crime in her community. Still, good intentions don’t always lead to good ideas, and Reed’s call for “cease-fire zones” is a waste of time and energy that will hopefully be rejected by her fellow council members.