South Carolina Joins Ranks as 29th State to Enact Constitutional Carry Law

South Carolina has become the 29th state in the United States to enact a constitutional carry law, allowing adults to carry handguns openly without a permit. Gov. Henry McMaster signed the bill into law on March 7, 2024, following its passage in the state legislature.

The new law, which is a significant expansion of gun rights in South Carolina, allows residents to carry firearms in most public places, creating what some advocates call a form of “constitutional carry.” The law applies only to handguns and not to rifles or shotguns, which can still be carried without a permit in the state.

The bill, known as 2023-2024 Bill 3594, was passed by the House on March 5, 2024, and the Senate on March 6, 2024. It was ratified on March 7, 2024, and signed by the governor the same day. The law amends various sections of the South Carolina Code of Laws, including those related to unlawful carrying of handguns and firearms, concealed weapons permits, and penalties for violations. The new law has been described as a “hard-fought victory” by gun rights advocates, who have been pushing for this legislation for nearly a decade. 

It is expected to have a significant impact on the state’s gun laws and the exercise of Second Amendment rights by law-abiding citizens. However, the law also includes provisions for stiffer penalties for criminals who illegally possess guns or use weapons in the commission of crimes. Law enforcement, prosecutors, and judges can now keep career violent criminals behind bars where they belong, unable to harm innocent people.

The bill has been supported by gun rights organizations such as South Carolina Carry, Inc., which is dedicated to promoting appreciation and respect for basic liberties guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. Gun Owners of South Carolina has also expressed its support for the new law, which is expected to protect and promote the law-abiding citizen’s constitutionally guaranteed right to own, bear, and use firearms for various lawful purposes.