🔫 Constitutional Carry (Bill 3594)
- Passed in March 2024, this law allows permitless open and concealed carry for individuals legally allowed to possess firearms.
- No permit or training required, though training is still encouraged for safety.
- Businesses and private property owners can still prohibit firearms with posted signage.
📜 Bill 3180 – Assault Weapons & High-Capacity Magazines
- Introduced in January 2025, this bill seeks to expand the definition of banned firearms to include:
- Assault weapons (e.g., semiautomatic rifles with detachable magazines over 21 rounds)
- High-capacity magazines (over 15 rounds)
- Would make it unlawful to transport, store, possess, sell, or give away these items.
- Still in committee as of now, facing strong debate from both sides.
🛡️ Second Amendment Financial Privacy Bill (H.3930)
- Passed out of the House Judiciary Committee in April 2025.
- Prohibits the use of firearm-specific merchant codes that could track purchases.
- Includes enforcement powers for the Attorney General to pursue violators.
🦌 Hunting Heritage Protection Act (H.3872)
- Passed the House and now in the Senate.
- Requires the Department of Natural Resources to maintain or expand hunting land access.
- Seen as a pro-sportsman measure to preserve traditional firearm use.
Here’s what the public and media are saying about South Carolina’s current gun rights bills:
🗣️ Public Opinion
- Gun rights advocates strongly support the Second Amendment Financial Privacy Bill (H.3930) and the Hunting Heritage Protection Act (H.3872), viewing them as essential protections for lawful gun owners and sportsmen.
- Gun safety groups, including Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, are pushing to close the “Charleston Loophole,” which allows gun sales to proceed if a background check isn’t completed within three days. They argue this contributed to the 2015 Emanuel AME Church tragedy3.
- Local leaders, like Columbia City Council member Tyler D. Bailey, have voiced concern over Constitutional Carry (Bill 3594), saying it removes “common sense protections” and could increase unregulated gun ownership.
đź“° Media Coverage Highlights
- NRA-ILA reports strong momentum for pro-gun bills, especially H.3930 and H.3872, and emphasizes privacy and land access as key Second Amendment issues.
- FITSNews critiques the push to close the Charleston Loophole, questioning whether government failures should lead to broader restrictions on gun rights.
- WCBD News 2 covered emotional appeals from survivors and advocates at Emanuel AME Church, calling for stronger background checks and legislative accountability.