SC:Constitutional Carry Killed in Committee

Senator Lee Bright, Sponsor of the Constitutional Carry Bill

South Carolina's up and coming governor, Nikki Haley is in favor of Constitutional Carry (the ability to exercise second amendment rights without first receiving government permission), but the Senate Judiciary Committee shot down the bill anyway.   The Committee's Chairman, Senator Larry Martin,  R-Pickens, is credited with killing the bill last year as well.  He is a fervent opponent of the open carry of firearms.   

 "You can carry a weapon openly if this bill is adopted and I'm offended by that," said committee chair Sen. Larry Martin (R-Pickens). 

South Carolina is one of only six states that ban the open carry of holstered handguns.  It is likely that the number will soon be reduced to five.  Both of the likely candidates for Texas governor have said that they are in favor of restoring legal open carry.

Governor Haley signed a gun law reform bill just a few days ago.  Perhaps the committee members want to digest the current reforms before taking a bigger bite toward restoring second amendment rights in South Carolina.

Senator Lee Bright, the sponsor of the bill, is expected to be endorsed by several "Tea Party" groups in his primary bid  for the U.S. Senate.

Senator Bright is not shy about his efforts:

"Many thanks to Rachel Maddow and MSNBC for [inadvertently] spreading the word about my Constitutional Carry bill! I'm proud to have the terrific support of Governor Haley in this effort."

Senator Bright raffled off an AR-15 rifle as part of his campaign.

©2014 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
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