Dear Fellow Pawnbroker:

I have been asked by many Pawnbrokers, “Why do we have the SC Pawnbrokers’ Association, and why should I be a member?”  The answer is simple.

1) Pawnbroking is among the most heavily regulated industries in America.
For example, in my small shop, I must simultaneously ensure compliance with the zoning standards, rules, statutes, laws and codes enforced by the US Treasury, ATF, Columbia Police, Richland County Sheriff’s Office, SLED, and, because of my downtown location, possibly the University Police and the Capital Complex Police. Any one of these agencies has the judicial and/or legislative power and ability to sever my livelihood on a whim.

2)  No other lawful industry is more unevenly regulated or unfairly targeted.
For decades, we have been unfairly portrayed on the big screen as gangsters when most of us have never been cited for any violation and even enjoy a reciprocally beneficial relationship with those that enforce our rules.

Also, while we all make best efforts to diligently comply with the various reporting requirements and use good judgment to avoid stolen property, it is still frustrating to know that other industries report nothing, hold nothing, and never go out of their way to alert law enforcement about items of concern.

3) Because of numbers 1 and 2 above, we have become low hanging fruit.
We are easy prey to those in elected office or those seeking to gain the favor of uninformed voters. Legislators without vision or proper information have used our industry as a scapegoat to impress their constituents.

Because of these issues, it is imperative that we remain united and share a voice. The SC Pawnbrokers’ Association has a proven track record of successfully challenging harsh new laws and curtailing amendments to existing laws that unfairly targeted our industry. While many of these simply increased our workload or expenses, others were introduced with the intent of eliminating our entire industry over time.

For example, House Bill 4270, introduced this year by Representatives Hill, Henegan, and Spires, would require us to prorate interest daily. Imagine making a one-hundred-dollar loan on Wednesday to hold someone over until Friday. Based on that bill, imagine that the loan would be redeemed for pennies in interest and how much income your business would lose over time as a result.

The Association, comprised of pawnbrokers across the state, has been working tirelessly to ensure three efforts:

Long Term / Big Picture Efforts:
To educate our lawmakers to better understand our industry and appreciate the benefits we provide to the segment of population that cannot borrow from the banks so that they will be less likely to advance harsh amendments;

Short Term:
To ensure that bills affecting our industry are identified and addressed. Our lobbyist has been highly successful in stopping unfair and unworkable resolutions before they are introduced;

Pawnbroker Benefits:
To benefit our members with goods, services and training to help ensure a safer and more respected industry.

To accomplish this, every pawnbroker in this state who wants to continue in business has an obligation to come to our state annual meeting on August 26, 2017 at the Columbia Marriott (1200 Hampton Street Columbia, SC 29201). Learn more about our initiatives, support the organization, and do YOUR part to show support for our sponsors.

This year’s Platinum Sponsors are Geib Refining Corporation and Marshall & Sterling Insurance.

Our Gold Sponsor is Palak Diam.

Our Silver Sponsors are ABC Diamonds and Wexler Insurance Agency.

Registration will take place from 3:00-4:00. ATF Industry Operations Investigator Suzanne Costello will provide a seminar and Q&A from 4:00-5:00. We’ll break for cocktail hour from 5:00-6:00 and then enjoy dinner at 6:00.

It’s always fun meeting with pawnbrokers, and it’s a great time to share ideas and swap some good tales. I want to thank our current members for their continued support and hope those who aren’t yet members will make the investment in our industry’s future in South Carolina.

If you aren’t an Association member or need to renew your membership, simply download, complete, and mail THIS membership form.

The cost to attend is only $32.00 per person. Tickets are available by downloading, completing, and mailing THIS registration form.

Sincerely,

 

 

 

Jay Friedman
President; South Carolina Pawnbrokers’ Association

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