COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina lawmakers voted Wednesday to pass a bill that would loosen gun laws in the state.
The Constitutional Carry Bill would allow anyone 18 and older, who legally owns a gun to carry that gun in public without a specific government permit or training.
Opponents of the bill argued this could increase violence in communities across the state…
“with all of the killings, in South Carolina and in America, why do we want to promote, what we consider to be the second amendment right, why won’t we put restrictions on it, why are we going to allow people to carry more guns and this time without a CWP,” Sen Margie Bright Matthews said.
After the house passed the bill with most republicans voting for it and democrats against it, the senate has now voted 28-18 in favor of the bill as well.
“I think this is a good start. what i wanted was my constituents that are law abiding to be able to carry their weapon without asking government for permission and that was accomplished today,” Sen Shane Martin said.
There are exceptions, under the bill...where guns won’t be allowed…those include daycares, churches, doctors offices and courtrooms.
The bill would also provide free gun training for any adult who wants it…lawmakers say this would cost the state about five million dollars a year.
“Even though training is not required it is really encouraged in this. I think there’s going to be a lot of folks who would say at first I'm not going to get the training, I'm not going to go through the permit process when they look at the potential consequence of not doing it, I think they’ll do it,” Sen Shane Massey said.
A number of Republican House members unhappy about a proposal that would add punishment for people who don't take the training and are convicted of not following the rules about where guns are banned.
Gov Henry McMaster is expected to sign the bill, allowing South Carolina to join nearly 30 other states where the open carry of guns without a permit is allowed.
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