🔫 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.
📰 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.