South Carolina Senate Gives The Go-Ahead To Expand Recognized CCW Permits

COLUMBIA -- "The state Senate gave key approval Thursday to a measure that will increase reciprocity for concealed weapons permit holders.

The bill (H.3212) increases the number of states that will recognize South Carolina’s concealed weapons permit while allowing an additional 14 states’ permit holders to legally carry a concealed weapon in South Carolina.

Senator Jim Ritchie (R-Spartanburg), Majority Whip, led the floor effort that led to Senate approval.

“The Senate-passed bill has the full support of both the NRA and South Carolina law enforcement,” says Senator Ritchie. “We were able to maintain the high standards South Carolina requires to obtain a concealed weapons permit while expanding reciprocity to 14 additional states. This is a victory for the second amendment and the people of South Carolina.”

H. 3212 provides for the recognition of valid out-of-state permits by residents of a reciprocal state as long as the reciprocal state requires applicants to successfully pass a state and federal criminal background check and a firearms safety and training course. Residents from other states will be subject to the same concealed weapons permit laws as South Carolinians while in the state.

States that currently recognize South Carolina’s concealed weapons permit include: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia and Wyoming.

The bill passed today would expand the states recognizing South Carolina’s concealed weapons permit to include: Colorado, Florida, Maine, Minnesota, Nebraska and Nevada.

South Carolina currently recognizes the concealed weapons permits of the following states: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, Tennessee and Wyoming.

The Senate action will expand that list to include: Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia and Wyoming. A reciprocity agreement with West Virginia is pending."

This is good news for Floridians in particular and all CCW holders in general. Any time a state broadens its view of firearms it is most welcome. Now I don't have to lock up the rig when passing through SC on the way to most northern climes.

Note: I didn't include a link because the page itself disappeared after I copied and pasted the pertinent info.