2021-05-18 GCSO Open carry of firearms legal on Aug. 16, 2021

Sheriff Carter Weaver of Georgetown County says South Carolina’s new law allowing people with concealed weapons permits from the state to carry their guns in the open will require understanding of the law by the public and training for law enforcement.

Follow this link to see the text: South Carolina Legislature Online - Bill Search by Bill Number (scstatehouse.gov)

S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster has signed into law a bill allowing open carry of firearms for people who undergo training and background checks anywhere there isn’t a sign prohibiting it.

The law takes effect Aug. 16, and South Carolina will no longer be with California, Florida, Illinois and New York to prohibit any type of open carry.

The law eliminates a $50 permit fee to get a concealed weapons permit and lowers the number of bullets that someone must fire at a target in an accuracy test to get a permit from 50 to 25 shots. Requirements remain that a permit holder be 21 or over, take eight hours of training and pass a background check that includes fingerprinting.

The state had about 425,000 people with an active permit at the end of 2020, according to the State Law Enforcement Division.

The proposal also makes South Carolina a “Second Amendment Sanctuary,” which orders states and local governments to refuse to enforce any federal law or executive order that limits gun rights.

Sheriff Weaver states: “I am a strong supporter of the Second Amendment, but with that right comes responsibility by those who exercise it.”