Is South Carolina On the Verge of passing Open Carry?
Jose Nino
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On May 12, 2021, the South Carolina State House passed House Bill 3094, a bill that legalizes open carry for those who hold a Concealed Weapons Permit (CWP), by a vote of 83-34. The bill was previously passed in the Senate on May 6, by a vote of 28-16. In addition, the bill would eliminate the $50 application fee that must be paid to acquire a CWP.
South Carolina’s current gun laws have placed it in a peculiar spot with other states like California and New York who don’t have open carry on the books. Now, HB 3094 will arrive at Governor Henry McMasters’ desk where he is expected to sign it. Passing this law would be a solid improvement upon South Carolina’s current gun policies, which are decent but not great. According to Guns & Ammo Magazine’s Best States for Gun Owner’s rankings, South Carolina is ranked in 22nd place. Similarly, Guns & Ammo’s rankings for best states for concealed carry, South Carolina is ranked at a sub-par 29th place.
Barring a freak political development, HB 3094 should be signed into law. At a glance, 2021 is turning out to be a fantastic year for anyone advocating for the liberalization of gun laws.
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