Constitutional carry continues to show no signs of slowing down, as South Carolina became the 29th state to join the ranks just two days after Louisiana, which had its version of constitutional carry signed into law on March 5.
“With my signature, South Carolina is now the 29th state in the country with constitutional carry. This bill expands the Second Amendment rights of our law-abiding citizens and will keep violent criminals behind bars with increased penalties for illegal gun use and possession,” Gov. Henry McMaster (R) posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Constitutional carry reinforces Americans’ right to carry a firearm for self-defense by eliminating the requirement that law-abiding gun owners obtain a permit to carry. Those who wish to obtain a permit to carry, so they can carry in states that have reciprocity agreements with their state, still can get a permit. In addition, this law does not change who is permitted to obtain a firearm.
As the NRA Institute for Legislative Action reported earlier this week, “House Bill 3594 strengthens the right to self-defense in South Carolina by recognizing the right of all adults to carry a concealed firearm without first obtaining the government's permission.”
“Gov. McMaster and my colleagues across both chambers of the Legislature have sent a resounding message: South Carolinians should never require government permission to defend themselves, their families, and their communities. Our God-given right to self-defense, as enshrined in the Second Amendment to the Constitution, is unequivocally affirmed, just as our founding fathers intended. Thank you to my fellow NRA members, gun owners and patriots throughout South Carolina who have tirelessly worked to make this day a reality,” Rep Bobby Cox, the bill’s sponsor, told Fox News Digital.
Also speaking to Fox News Digital, NRA-ILA Executive Director Randy Kozuch proclaimed, “The NRA celebrates another significant milestone as South Carolina becomes the 29th state to enact the landmark NRA-backed Constitutional Carry legislation. This pivotal move ensures South Carolinians are no longer required to obtain permission to defend themselves and their families, reinforcing the fundamental right to self-defense.”
“Governor McMaster honored his commitment by swiftly signing this vital legislation into law, doing so less than 24 hours after its passage by the South Carolina Legislature. This prompt action has garnered widespread praise from the NRA’s millions of members,” Kozuch continued.
All of this comes as Americans have continued to embrace their Second Amendment rights by all available reports. Along with constitutional carry’s spread, Americans have been purchasing firearms in record numbers according to data from the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), which shows that more than one million background checks have been conducted for the purchase of a firearm for 55 straight months.
“February’s adjusted background checks reflects the steady appetite Americans have for exercising their Second Amendment rights. This is noteworthy given the increasing attacks on lawful gun ownership by the Biden administration,” said Mark Oliva, NSSF managing director of public affairs.
As we’ve reported at America’s 1st Freedom, constitutional carry has been spreading rapidly over the past few years. Just last year, Florida and Nebraska passed constitutional carry, while in 2022 and 2021, four and five states did the same, respectively. This stands in stark contrast to just over two decades ago, when only one state, Vermont, had constitutional carry.
As of today, the 29 states with some form of constitutional carry are Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming.
