South Carolina has taken a significant step toward strengthening gun rights as the state Senate recently approved the constitutional carry conference report, and Governor Henry McMaster is expected to sign it into law. This legislation, which will come into immediate effect upon signing, allows individuals to carry firearms without the need for a permit.
The constitutional carry bill successfully navigated through both the House and Senate, clearing the final hurdles to become law. The legislative committee, comprising members from both chambers, played a crucial role in refining the bill, ensuring its passage through the state House and Senate. This move aligns South Carolina with a growing number of states that embrace constitutional carry as a means of upholding Second Amendment rights.
Following the conference report’s approval in the state House on Tuesday and the Senate on Wednesday, Governor McMaster is set to sign the bill into law. The private signing ceremony on Thursday will be followed by a ceremonial, non-private signing on a future date. This development reflects the continued momentum across the nation in favor of constitutional carry, an approach already adopted by 28 other states.
The list of states with constitutional carry includes Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming. Notably, Louisiana is set to join this roster, with its constitutional carry law slated to take effect on July 4, 2024. As the push for expanded gun rights gains traction, South Carolina’s move underscores the broader conservative perspective advocating for the protection and enhancement of Second Amendment freedoms.
