Gov. McMaster signs constitutional carry into law. (NRA )
LOUISIANA BECOMES NATION'S 28TH STATE WITH CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY LAW ON THE BOOKS: 'LANDMARK VICTORY'
"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," he said.
McMaster is the second Republican governor this week to sign such legislation into law, following Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry signing his state’s version of permitless carry into law on Tuesday.
Interim NRA CEO and Executive Vice President Andrew Arulanandam (NRA )
South Carolina is the 29th state in the nation to sign its version of constitutional carry into law. Florida had the honor last year to tip the U.S. as a permitless carry-majority nation, when Gov. Ron DeSantis signed his state’s legislation into law last April.
Under South Carolina’s law, carrying a firearm is still banned in certain locations, such as schools, courthouses and polling places on election days. Residents can still obtain a permit if they wish to do so. The bill also increases penalties against those who are barred from carrying a firearm, such as convicted felons, if they are found with a gun, and establishes penalties against those who repeatedly carry a firearm in restricted areas.
GEORGIA GOV. SIGNS MAJOR CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY BILL INTO LAW
"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," NRA-ILA Executive Director Randy Kozuch told Fox News Digital in an exclusive comment.
"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.
He thanked Cox for advocating for the bill as its primary sponsor, alongside state lawmakers such as Speaker G. Murrell Smith, Jr., Sen. Shane Martin, Sen. Wes Climer, Rep. Jason Elliot and Rep. Micah Caskey for their "collective dedication has been instrumental in advancing the right to self-defense in South Carolina."
"Most importantly, thank you, NRA members, because without you, none of this would be possible."
Critics of the bill argued it could drive crime and gun-related deaths as more people will likely carry firearms.
"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," Democratic state Sen. Margie Bright Matthews argued this week.
"This is something I’m deeply troubled we’re doing," Democratic state Rep. Seth Rose told House members this week. "I have friends and citizens from both political parties...come up to me and say ‘What are y’all doing? What are you thinking?’"
Republican state Sen. Shane Martin, who supported the legislation, told Fox News Digital that the law is "about nothing more and nothing less than our God-given Constitutional rights."
"I have sponsored Constitutional Carry legislation for more than a decade. I am proud and pleased that my perseverance on this fundamental question now means that law-abiding South Carolinians no longer must ask the government to exercise their freedoms," he said.
"I appreciate Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey for working with me to prioritize this bill in 2024, and I thank Senator Brad Hutto for his work on our conference committee. I was proud to lead this successful fight for our rights, and we need them now more than ever."
The South Carolina State House in Columbia, South Carolina, on May 16, 2023. (LOGAN CYRUS/AFP via Getty Images)
Evans said McMaster’s signature on the bill is a "monumental victory for South Carolina" and the women she trains to defend themselves from criminals.
"Criminals don’t wait for permission to arm themselves illegally, and neither should the courageous women I stand with. We demand the right to self-defense without barriers. Today, we celebrate a monumental victory for South Carolina, making it the 29th state to recognize this essential freedom. On behalf of Chicks With Triggers and the fearless women we stand for, we thank Gov. McMaster, Rep. Cox, and the NRA for their unwavering dedication to securing this life-affirming law.
"Together, we are rewriting the narrative, from victims to victors," she added.
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The law took effect upon the governor’s signature Thursday.
The full list of states with constitutional carry laws now includes 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.
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