South Carolina Passes Constitutional Carry

If you’ve ever thought about carrying a concealed weapon in South Carolina, now’s your chance. The state just passed a permitless carry law, making it the second state to pass Constitutional Carry measures in 2024.

The Law

The new law allows South Carolinians age 18 or older to carry a weapon either openly or concealed. The law eliminated any training or licensing requirements for carrying weapons. People prohibited from owning guns still can’t carry them under this new law.

South Carolina still prohibits anyone from carrying a gun in certain places, like schools, hospitals, polling stations, churches, government buildings, and post offices. Citizens also can’t carry a gun on private property unless they have permission.

South Carolina Senator Bobby Cox sponsored the bill. Cox moonlights as a senator. During the day, he works for Sig Sauer as their Vice President of Government Affairs. He’s also a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve.

The Process

For a minute there, some observers had doubts as to whether or not South Carolina would actually pass its Constitutional Carry law this year. Although the state’s Senate passed the bill, the House of Representatives sent it back for revisions.

Final Thoughts

Although South Carolina lawmakers introduced a Constitutional Carry bill before their counterparts in Louisiana, the latter was the first to actually pass their law. Louisiana’s governor signed a Constitutional Carry law last week, making the Gulf Coast state the 28th to pass such a measure. South Carolina is the 29th Constitutional Carry.

Those are the only two states that had Constitutional Carry laws up for debate during this legislative session. We probably won’t be seeing many more states passing these types of laws for a while. But if we do, I’d guess that Nevada or North Carolina are the top candidates.