It appears a South Carolina lawmaker (and we assume, formerly "law-abiding gun owner" of the NRA) got a little hot under the collar Saturday evening. Unfortunately, he had his gun with him.

A South Carolina lawmaker was arrested after his pistol fired when he went to investigate utility workers checking for storm damage in the backyard of his parents' home.

Rep. Wallace Scarborough, R-Charleston, was charged with two counts of assault with intent to kill after the 47-year-old brandished and pointed a pistol at utility workers and then fired his gun about 9:45 p.m. Saturday, according to an affidavit.

Scarborough, who was house sitting for his parents, was released from jail Sunday on a personal recognizance bond, according to jail officials.

Two South Carolina Electric and Gas employees were checking electric equipment after a series of storms passed through the area, SCE&G spokesman Eric Boomhower said.

Scarborough's lawyer, state Rep. John Graham Altman, said Scarborough asked the workers to leave and when they told him they had a right to be there, the lawmaker returned to the house to call police.

On the way, the gun accidentally discharged and a bullet hit the porch, said Altman, R-Charleston.

One of the workers said the lawmaker shined a flashlight on the pistol and said, "You see what I have? Get off my property," according to the incident report. The workers fled when the gun went off, the report said.

Altman said he wants the charges dismissed and an apology from the electric company.

"I don't think it's against the law to fire a pistol into your own back porch. It's absolutely obscene to think that a judge would uphold these charges," Altman said.

Is it against the law to fire a pistol into your back porch? We guess that's something the courts will end up deciding. But we do know it's against the law to brandish your weapon at utility workers, especially when they're checking electrical equipment after a storm.

And the funniest part is that Altman is actually demanding an apology from the electric company. You're the one that pulled a gun on them, idiot. And you're the one who "accidentally" let the gun go off, moments after you had used it to threaten people trying to help you. Just because you're a lawmaker doesn't mean you can pull a gat every time the meter reader comes around. Here's hoping the electric company stands by its men and takes Altman to court to teach him a lesson.

And there's one more question we have about this. License to Murder hasn't passed yet in South Carolina, but what if it had? The electric company, according to Altman, was trespassing on his property, right? And if he pulled the gun on them, he must have felt threatened for his life, right? So if License to Murder had already passed there, wouldn't Altman have had the right to shoot the two men who came to check his electrical box on Saturday night?

Let us know if you hear an answer from the NRA on that one.