Author: Merting

Robert was raised in the pine forests of South Carolina’s Lowcountry. He is a graduate of Wofford College and received his Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Washington and Lee University. An avid hunter, shooting sports enthusiast and outdoorsman, Robert has built his law practice with a focus on firearms law and the legal structures required for the purchase and protection of firearms. Previously, he worked as in-house counsel to a large defense contractor, from which he brings a depth of business knowledge to his clients. Robert lives in the Upstate and practices law from his office in Greenville, South Carolina.

Civil Rights and the Sex Offender Registry

Posted onAugust 10, 2021July 26, 2021AuthorMerting

Clients seeking a pardon commonly ask what rights a pardon restores. The right to sit on a jury, the right to run for public office, the right to possess a firearm, and nearly anything else that is a civil right is a restored by a pardon. A pardon is very broad. But if we ask Read More …

SC CWP: Shall Issue or May Issue?

Posted onJuly 26, 2021AuthorMerting

At first blush, you would expect that South Carolina has friendly gun laws. If you can own it Federally, you can own it here. You can carry in your car’s glove box without a permit. There are no state requirements to buy firearms and ammunition. We are a “shall issue” CWP state. Or are we? Read More …

What Part of the AR-15 is the Receiver?

Posted onFebruary 28, 2021AuthorMerting

If you read the subject line and thought: “Duh, the lower, we’ve known that since the 60s.” you want to read on. Yes, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) has held for years that the lower ‘receiver’ is just that, the receiver of the AR-15 rifle. However, in a recent criminal defense, Read More …

Is Your Healthcare Power of Attorney up to date?

Posted onApril 30, 2020AuthorMerting

News today bombards us with pandemic and hysteria about the latest coronavirus. So many thousands infected today. So many hundred died. I’d quote numbers, but by the time you read this they’ll be outdated. The veracity of the pandemic aside, there is a simple lesson, among many, we can learn from this scare. Consider: If Read More …

Traveling After a Firearm Purchase Denial

Posted onMarch 15, 2020AuthorMerting

Most of my clients have a concealed weapons permit (CWP) and will pass a background check in a minute. However, some people are not so lucky. Perhaps it was a foolish act as a kid, an incorrect report, or just a mistake of identity. Regardless of the initial cause, a Denial to purchase a firearm Read More …