South Carolina Reciprocal Conceal Carry Bill About to Pass?

[eric.cartman]

Is there any progress on this bill???

I'll be traveling through SC in July and would sure like to carry.

 

[clemsonu0219]

no probs from NC

 

[CNYCacher]

It's more than a training issue, they also neatly nixed the possibility of out-of-state non-res permits, and limited the acceptance of permits to reciprocal states.

Valid out-of-state permits to carry concealable weapons held by a resident of another state must be honored by this State

Technically this covers non-res out of state permits. Like a NY resident with a FL permit.

Valid out-of-state permits to carry concealable weapons held by a resident of a reciprocal state must be honored by this State, provided, that the reciprocal state requires an applicant to successfully pass a criminal background check and a course in firearm training and safety

 

[Mr. Designer]

These hangun laws are so stupid. We need a US carry permit.

 

[lacoochee]

:Bump:

Any news on this bill, is the governor going to sign it and if he does when would it go into effect?

 

[aomagrat]

The South Carolina House is run by conservative Republicans and supports gun rights. The South Carolina Senate is run by a coalition of Democrats and rinos that do everything they can to gut pro-gun bills.

 

[rdalrymple]

H.3212 passed both houses yesterday. According to the legislative website, I can't see any difference in the language compared to the senate amended language that the house refused to concur with back in March. If the language posted on the website is correct, the law will read

Valid out-of-state permits to carry concealable weapons held by a resident of a reciprocal state must be honored by this State, provided, that the reciprocal state requires an applicant to successfully pass a criminal background check and a course in firearm training and safety. A resident of a reciprocal state carrying a concealable weapon in South Carolina is subject to and must abide by the laws of South Carolina regarding concealable weapons. SLED shall maintain and publish a list of those states as the states with which South Carolina has reciprocity.

This is not the straightforward recognition law we wanted, but at least it gets SLED out of the game of negotiating reciprocity. This should add a few states for us.

http://www.scstatehouse.net/sess117_2007-2008/bills/3212.htm

 

[Cacique500]

Thanks for the update...keep us posted!

 

[lacoochee]

Any updates on this? The bill was signed into law a month or two ago. When will we start to see additional states added to the reciprocity list? (Specifically, Florida would be great for me. )

 

[siglite]

We've been working really hard on our end to keep the fire lit for a reciprocity agreement with SC. Word 'round the campfire is that SLED moves at the speed of bureaucracy.

Ball's currently in SLED's court. So, SC residents, light a fire under SLED. Please.

 

[TheReeves]

I'm waiting in anticipation too. I *think* VA permits will be honored.

 

[eric.cartman]

So can a Floridian carry in SC yet?

 

[rdalrymple]

First, I am not a lawyer (IANAL, but I hate acronyms). The new law was effective with the Governor's signature on 6/16/08, and reads ...

Valid out-of-state permits to carry concealable weapons held by a resident of a reciprocal state must be honored by this State, provided, that the reciprocal state requires an applicant to successfully pass a criminal background check and a course in firearm training and safety. A resident of a reciprocal state carrying a concealable weapon in South Carolina is subject to and must abide by the laws of South Carolina regarding concealable weapons. SLED shall maintain and publish a list of those states as the states with which South Carolina has reciprocity.

To me, this means that if your state recognizes the SC permit, and requires you to "successfully pass a criminal background check and a course in firearm training and safety" to get your state's permit, yours is a reciprocal state and you should be good to go.

SLED has not updated their reciprocity web page since February 25th, long before the new law passed. The way I read the new law, that doesn't matter. They are required to publish reciprocal states, but actual reciprocity, in my opinion, does not depend on the list being published.

Example, Kentucky is not currently on SLED's list of reciprocal states, but according to handgunlaw.us, Kentucky recognizes the SC permit, and according to Kentucky statute found here, they require a background check and a safety course. This appears to meet the criteria of the new SC law, and SC should now honor the Kentucky permit.

So, based on my own interpretation, if your state requires a background check and a course in firearm training and safety, then all you have to do is recognize our South Carolina permits and we'll then recognize yours.

Lastly, I am not a lawyer. This is my opinion based only on my reading of the new law.

 

[siglite]

rdalrymple,

While that interpretation *may* be correct, it's awfully gray. I would absolutely, without question, wait until there is confirmation of an inked reciprocity agreement before "assuming" you're legal. No one wants to be that test case in a criminal trial. Ya know?

We're certain in WV that we qualify too. But without an inked agreement, it's damned iffy, and I wouldn't test it.

 

[Cacique500]

It sounds like non-resident permits won't be honored from the text of the bill. GA permits won't be honored (because we don't have a course in "firearm safety") and non-resident FL permits("resident" of a reciprocal state) won't be honored, so we're in the same boat. :banghead:

 

[rdalrymple]

siglite,

I agree 100% that there is a lot of gray in the wording. I think it's important to know, though, where we came from. The old law read

Valid out-of-state permits to carry concealable weapons held by a resident of a reciprocal state must be honored by this State. SLED shall make a determination as to those states which have permit issuance standards equal to or greater than the standards contained in this article and shall maintain and publish a list of those states as the states with which South Carolina has reciprocity.

The change was intended to get SLED out of the business of deciding which states have equal to or greater than standards. SLED theoretically now has no say in the matter, they just publish the list. The new statute says, in effect, if your state does so & so, then we recognize your permit and SLED must put you on the list. There is some gray in the so & so, no argument there.

Cacique500, you are correct, you must be a resident of the state that issued your permit. You are also correct about Georgia, no good since they don't require a training course.

This bill originated in our house of representatives, and as initially passed it read

Valid out-of-state permits to carry concealable weapons held by a resident of another state must be honored by this State.

Hopefully we'll get that language passed one day, but the version that did pass is supposed to be an improvement.

 

[jwharris]

SLED call in day scheduled for August 18th

According to http://www.sled.sc.gov/Admin2.aspx?MenuID=ContactInformation, here's some contact info at SLED. Let's ring their phones off the hook starting Monday (8/18) morning to get them to update the Reciprocity list. They tend to listen more if it's the only thing they can work on for the day.

REGINALD I. LLOYD, Director of SLED
(803) 896-7001

JENNIFER TIMMONS, Public Information Office
(803) 896-7013

Suggested Script:
Hi. I'm calling about bill H.3212 that was passed into law and signed by the Governor on June 16th. When will be you be updating the list of reciprocal states for concealed firearm carry?....Thank you for your time and I look for to seeing an updated list published."

 

[Slappy McGee]

How can an SC resident with SC CWP carry in Georgia? Is this possible with an NH non-resident permit?

 

[mgkdrgn]

"How can an SC resident with SC CWP carry in Georgia? Is this possible with an NH non-resident permit?"

Either the NH or the FL non-resident permit will do.

 

[jasonguerard]

Wonder if Georgia will recognise the SC permit ?
That would be lousy, "ya'll can carry here but we'll leave ours at border seein' how's we's not safe like". :banghead:
Most of us have taken some type of gun safety class. Some gun ranges require a NRA or equivilent certificate to join.
Oh well, at least we can carry to supper in a restaraunt.

 

[SCKimberFan]

Wonder if Georgia will recognise the SC permit ?

Probably not. Usually only reciprocal agreements permit that. Get a NH permit - $20 and a copy of your states CWP for 4 years.

 

[wdlsguy]

How can an SC resident with SC CWP carry in Georgia?

Georgia currently honors the following permits: AK, AR, AZ, AL, CO, FL, ID, IN, KY, LA, MI, MO, MS, MT, NH, NC, OK, PA, SD, TN, TX, UT and WY.

http://www.handgunlaw.us/documents/USReciprocity.pdf