South Carolina Senate Approves Constitutional Carry

[mikelets456]

After nearly six full days of debate, South Carolina’s Senate approved a Constitutional Carry bill on Thursday by a vote of 28-15, removing the last major hurdle for the state to become the 28th in the nation to recognize the right to bear arms without the need for a government-issued permission slip.

The bill, which was already approved by the House last year, still needs to return to the lower chamber for a final concurrence vote since the Senate did amend the legislation before giving it their stamp of approval.

The amendment would allow people 18 and older to carry a gun without a permit but would also offer free, training twice a month in every county that is overseen by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. It would also add an extra penalty for people who don’t have their Concealed Weapon Permit if they carry a gun where doing so is prohibited and create a statewide campaign to inform people of those increased penalities.

https://bearingarms.com/camedwards/2...l-carry-n80050

[mikelets456]

One thing that’s not clear, is this for in state residents only or could people like us (PA residents with no reciprocity) be able to carry in SC if finally passed?

[claudel]

I'm confused.

"The amendment would allow people 18 and older to carry a gun without a permit "

and

"It would also add an extra penalty for people who don*t have their Concealed Weapon Permit if they carry a gun where doing so is prohibited"

Seems contradictory, but after all, the new law was created by politicians.

[buckengr]

I'm confused.

"The amendment would allow people 18 and older to carry a gun without a permit "

and

"It would also add an extra penalty for people who don*t have their Concealed Weapon Permit if they carry a gun where doing so is prohibited"

Seems contradictory, but after all, the new law was created by politicians.

Seems like the original bill was true Constitutional Carry, but then the Senate amendment created two classes of carry -- those with permits and those without. Hopefully the House strips out the amendment and kicks it back to the Senate so they can get it right this time. "Republicans" control both houses and the Governor so there is no good reason they can't follow the Constitution unless they are turncoats.

[Walleye Hunter]

One thing that*s not clear, is this for in state residents only or could people like us (PA residents with no reciprocity) be able to carry in SC if finally passed?

I think The Constitution is a thing for all US citizens. I'm open to correction if I'm wrong.

[soberbyker]

https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess125...4_20240202.htm

Here's the latest version of the actual bill if anyone cares to read through it.

[Ilikebuckets]

Glad to hear. I thought the Senate was going to screw this up. That will make them the 28th state with some form of CC. It*s nice to see most of the country going in the right direction as far as the 2nd goes. It puts more emphasis on states like California, New Jersey, New York and Pa having the abnormal, minority viewpoint when it comes to firearms.

[TheLevelOne]

Sadly, it looks like nothing changes for nonresidents once again:. Damn.

SECTION 25. Section 23-31-215(A) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

(A) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, except subject to subsection (B), SLED must issue a permit, which is no larger than three and one-half inches by three inches in size, to carry a concealable weapon to a resident or qualified nonresident who is at least twenty-oneeighteen years of age and who is not prohibited by state law from possessing the weapon upon submission of:


(3) proof of residence or if the person is a qualified nonresident, proof of ownership of real property in this State;


Regards ------------

[ROCK-IT3]

Sadly, it looks like nothing changes for nonresidents once again:. Damn.

SECTION 25. Section 23-31-215(A) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

(A) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, except subject to subsection (B), SLED must issue a permit, which is no larger than three and one-half inches by three inches in size, to carry a concealable weapon to a resident or qualified nonresident who is at least twenty-oneeighteen years of age and who is not prohibited by state law from possessing the weapon upon submission of:


(3) proof of residence or if the person is a qualified nonresident, proof of ownership of real property in this State;


Regards ------------

That would seem to mean, if you want to acquire a permit, you must be a resident or qualified non-resident.

I think Section 9, Paragraph (O) is the pertinent Constitutional Carry section (sorry, the strikethrough lines are not pasting. The second line, labeled (1), is deleted in the modified statute.) (Bolded by me):

SECTION 9. Section 23-31-215(K), (M), (O), and (U) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

....

(O)(1) A permit issued pursuant to this article is not required for a person:
(1) specified in Section 16-23-20, items (1) through (5) and items (7) through (11);
(2a) carrying a self-defense device generally considered to be nonlethal including the substance commonly referred to as "pepper gas"; or
(3b) carrying a concealable weapon in a manner not prohibited by law.
(2) The availability of a permit to carry a concealable weapon under this section must not be construed to prohibit the permitless transport or carrying of a firearm in a vehicle or on or about one's person, whether openly or concealed, loaded or unloaded, in a manner not prohibited by law.

....

[mikelets456]

South Carolina Lawmakers Pass Permitless Gun-Carry


https://thereload.com/south-carolina...ess-gun-carry/


Palmetto State lawmakers officially became the latest to do away with permitting requirements for public gun-carry.

The South Carolina Senate passed H. 3594 by a 28-18 vote on Wednesday. The measure will allow adults eligible to own a handgun to carry it in public, openly or concealed, without a permit. It now heads to the desk of Governor Henry McMaster (R.), who has pledged to sign it into law.

The bill*s passage clears the way for South Carolina to become the 29th state to adopt permitless carry and the 27th since 2010, in what has arguably been the most successful policy push of the modern American gun-rights movement. At the same time, South Carolina is the sole remaining trifecta Republican state without permitless carry, suggesting the policy*s rapid growth could soon be stunted for the foreseeable future.

South Carolina*s status as the lone trifecta Republican holdout among permitless carry states was not for lack of trying by advocates. A permitless carry bill cleared the state*s House in three previous legislative sessions but never cleared the state Senate during that time despite Republicans controlling both chambers.

Policy differences between the two legislative bodies nearly derailed this year*s permitless carry effort as well. While both chambers passed a version of the policy, lawmakers in the state Senate attached amendments creating stiffer penalties for illegal gun possession and designating new sensitive places off-limits to gun carriers in order to get more moderate and swing-distri