Will Open Carry Finally Come To South Carolina?
BY Herschel Smith
10 years, 10 months ago
S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley said Tuesday that she backs a proposal that would make it legal for most South Carolinians to carry guns – concealed or in the open – without a permit or the training that the state currently requires.
Haley made her comments after she signed into law a bill that allows gun owners with licenses to carry concealed weapons into businesses that serve alcohol – restaurants and bars – as long as they do not drink alcohol and the businesses did not bar guns.
After signing the restaurant and bar bill, Haley said she backs a pending state Senate bill, called the “Constitutional Carry Act,” that would eliminate the state’s current permitting and training requirements for citizens who wish to carry firearms.
“Criminals are dangerous, and I think that every resident should be allowed to protect themselves from criminals,” Haley said when asked by The State to respond to some state senators’ fears that doing away with the permitting and training requirements could threaten the public.
State Sen. Lee Bright, R-Spartanburg, the chief sponsor of the constitutional-carry proposal, says the 2nd Amendment gives Americans the right to carry firearms without any government restrictions.
However, it is unlikely Bright’s bill will pass this year. It faces significant opposition in the Senate and still must clear the Senate committee where it nearly died last week.
Perhaps this won’t happen this year. But if this manages to make it out of committee and on to the floor for a vote, someone may have to remind the Governor of her promise – you know, just in case she was posturing because she thought she would never really have to sign such a bill into law.
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On February 12, 2014 at 9:14 am, Paul B said:
I always like South Carolina. Might have to go there someday and I like that they think criminals are like you know, bad.
On February 13, 2014 at 9:36 am, mikestollewnerk said:
45 states allow open carry of properly holstered handguns. So should South Carolina. Learn more at OpenCarry.org, see open carry map at http://www.opencarry.org/?page_id=103