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Update: Permitless (open and concealed) carry legislation continues to die in the South Carolina General Assembly. In April 2019, the latest iteration of the bill (S. 139) was tabled after a pro-gun activist threatened to shoot House Judiciary Committee chairman Peter McCoy for not marking it up. Thanks to everyone who has taken this action and hindered this terrible policy!
South Carolina already has the 11th highest rate of gun death of the 50 states.
Nonetheless, in March 2017 the South Carolina state House of Representatives passed a dangerous bill which would allow residents of the state to carry firearms in public—openly or concealed—without any permit, background check or training. The bill was purposely rammed through committee when Democrats were not present to avoid scrutiny and public testimony.
This legislation will likely be taken up by the state Senate for consideration. The Majority Leader of the South Carolina Senate, Senator A. Shane Massey, has responsibility to schedule votes and assign bills to committee. South Carolina lawmakers are scheduled to return to work on January 9, 2018.
Please contact Senator Massey through one of the channels below and give him the following message (personalized as you like):
Senator, I was deeply disturbed to hear that your chamber might again be taking up the dangerous and irresponsible permitless carry legislation that failed earlier in the year. South Carolina already has the 11th highest gun death rate of the 50 states. The state has experienced countless shootings by dangerous individuals with legal access to firearms, including Emanuel AME Church gunman Dylan Roof. Please table all bills that would allow permitless carry immediately and permanently. Your chamber should focus on closing the Charleston Loophole, which allowed Roof to consummate his murderous plan. You should also define and improve the process by which South Carolina courts report disqualified gun buyers to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. Finally, a procedure should be established for gun dealers to notify local law enforcement when gun buyers lie on a background check application, a felony offense. This way these criminals can be arrested on the spot without further delay. I care deeply about the safety of Palmetto State residents and will be watching your actions closely.
State Senate Majority Leader A. Shane Massey
Phone: (803) 212-6330, (803) 480-0419
Email via webform: http://senatormassey.com/contact-2/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/senatormassey/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/shanemassey
Please contact Senator Massey regardless of where you live! If you do not live in South Carolina, but travel to the state or have some other connection to it, let the senator and his staff know.
Once you have contacted Senator Massey, click the orange banner below to report taking action!