Why Do People Say South Carolina is Gun Friendly?

[jmr40]

We are used to the laws where we live. Every state is a little different. There are some things about GA gun laws that some may find hard to deal with, but since I'm used to them I've adapted and never really consider them as a negative. It is just the way it is. It is all relative, to someone moving from Virginia or Maryland SC may seem like gun owners heaven. Moving from GA to SC may be more see more restrictions than I'd want.

I cannot say a lot about SC though. I live in the NW corner of GA and overall am quite pleased with our gun rights. In fact over the last 5-10 years the trend is for much better gun rights than ever before. I often venture into NE Alabama, East Tennessee and Western NC and am more familiar with their laws and can live with them. I get to Florida quite often as well, but only crossed into SC a couple of times, so I've never really looked hard at them.

 

[oneounceload]

but then allowing your average person to have the authority to turn you into a criminal is beyond belief.

Sorry, private property rights of the owner trump your right to carry on their property.

I just rather not live in this type of America, being in constant fear of being a criminal for exercising 2A rights

Can always try Switzerland.........

North Carolina. From reviewing the laws of Tennnesse and North Carolina, they look pretty on par.

IIRC, you need a permit to purchase a handgun in NC if you do not have a CCW

 

[Midwest]

Kentucky is a great state for gun rights. You can open carry without a permit, even carry a loaded gun in your glove compartment or center console without a permit.

You still need a concealed carry permit to carry concealed. It takes about 8 hours and it costs $80 to $90 for the required course and another $60 or so for a 5 year permit. A lot of states do recognize the KY carry permit and the carry permit also allows you to bypass NICS and the permit also covers other concealed weapons like knives. Actually the permit is a 'concealed deadly weapons license', so keep that in consideration.

Other than the permit to carry concealed. There are no other permits or licenses required. All NFA is allowed and the Sheriff is required by law to sign off on the transfer within 15 days. Knob Creek and Bud's Guns is located in Kentucky.

There are no waiting periods for regular firearms, no assault weapons ban, no roster of handguns, private sale allowed, no permit to purchase or any kind of that nonsense here.

Hunting is great here and so is fishing too. Cost of living is low, but so is the pay too.
.

 

[Red Wind]

Kentucky is well above average gun wise. Hopefully, this will be the next state to go the way of permit less carry. I'm betting on that happening in the very near future.

 

[Evergreen]

Sorry, private property rights of the owner trump your right to carry on their property.

Sorry, but can you show me where in our Constitution that a private citizen has the right to incriminate you by rule of law, for exercising your 2nd Amendment rights in their home? Did our Founding Fathers require permission when visiting each others homes or risk imprisonment and gun/permit confiscation? If a person does not want you to carry a gun in their home, then they have the right to tell you to leave and if you refuse, you should be cited for "Trespassing" not for exercising your constitutional rights on their property. This law, that South Carolina has, can easily be used in an abusive way to incriminate gun owners. In fact, considering this is a right, not a privilege, I think anybody who does not want a person carrying a gun in their home should verbally state this beforehand. They can also put up all the No Gun Zone signs on their house as well. For example, what if a plumber or electrician is forced to work a job in a dangerous side of town, where maintenance guys get robbed continually. Now he is working the job and the person sees his gun and calls the police, now he is a criminal gun violator for life! Whereas they could have just told him to leave and he would have.

Property rights are property rights, Gun rights are gun rights. People who violate property rights will be cited for trespassing violations. A person should be no more penalized for carrying a gun on a person's property, than they would if they are wearing an offensive t-shirt, un-showered, wrong religion or whatever other offense a property owner may have that would require them to leave. Just the fact that you carry a gun shouldn't make you a criminal who is punished by a gun violation offense, which can strip you of your 2nd Amendment rights and cause other legal problems for you down the line.

Can always try Switzerland.........

Or, I can try another state, like the one I live now, where people cannot be arrested for carrying a gun with them into a person's home. At least Washington, among other states, follow the property laws as per the letter, instead of using property laws as a means of more gun control. If it wasn't for me losing my job, how expensive it is to live here and the fact the salaries are not matching the living costs, I would stay here. Also, I am not so happy with the large influx of liberal/anti-gun people who want to "fix" things that were not broken here.

Swizterland has more restrictive gun laws than the USA and I like the America of our Constitution, not the one misinterpreted by our politicians and people like yourself.

 

[Evergreen]

Kentucky is a great state for gun rights. You can open carry without a permit, even carry a loaded gun in your glove compartment or center console without a permit.

You still need a concealed carry permit to carry concealed. It takes about 8 hours and it costs $80 to $90 for the required course and another $60 or so for a 5 year permit. A lot of states do recognize the KY carry permit and the carry permit also allows you to bypass NICS and the permit also covers other concealed weapons like knives. Actually the permit is a 'concealed deadly weapons license', so keep that in consideration.

Other than the permit to carry concealed. There are no other permits or licenses required. All NFA is allowed and the Sheriff is required by law to sign off on the transfer within 15 days. Knob Creek and Bud's Guns is located in Kentucky.

There are no waiting periods for regular firearms, no assault weapons ban, no roster of handguns, private sale allowed, no permit to purchase or any kind of that nonsense here.

Hunting is great here and so is fishing too. Cost of living is low, but so is the pay too.
.

Kentucky, is on my radar Midwest.. How is life in Louisville? I hear IT is emerging there, although a bit slowly. The cost of living looks quite cheap and I hear Kentucky has beautiful rolling hill scenery. I'd be interested to visit Kentucky. I also love Bourbon, including the Knob Creek you mentioned. I've also purchased quite a few guns from Bud's.. So, I guess I already have some stake in Kentucky I never thought about..

 

[Red Wind]

Or, I can try another state, like the one I live now, where people cannot be arrested for carrying a gun with them into a person's home.

Also forget about Alaska, Arkansas and Louisiana who also require the homeowners permission to enter before carrying into their dwelling

And South Carolina is one of only 9 states that require you to notify the LEO that you are carrying upon official contact.

That's Life.

 

[DP03]

I have family in SC, and as such, I would like to CC there. I have a Utah and Arizona non-resident license, which covers 33 states. It does not include SC, and last time I checked, you had to own property there to get a non-resident permit.

 

[BSA1]

Evergreen,

I have being reading your posts and wondering why you are attacking South Carolina's gun laws.

Your statement "you will be required to have written permission from entering any persons home if you are carrying a gun with you" is absurd.

As a homeowner where I live I have the right to decide who I let in and what they are bringing with them. Are you saying that in Washington State I can bring whatever I want to into your home? So if I want to being in.illegal drugs you can't say no?

I sense that you are angry about your current situation. However lashing out at places and people living there that have nothing to do with your misfortune doesn't make sense.

 

[Red Wind]

Your statement "you will be required to have written permission from entering any persons home if you are carrying a gun with you" is absurd.

No written permission required. You verbally ask the homeowner if permission to enter with your firearm is granted. Same goes for AK,AR and LA.

 

[Midwest]

Kentucky, is on my radar Midwest.. How is life in Louisville? I hear IT is emerging there, although a bit slowly. The cost of living looks quite cheap and I hear Kentucky has beautiful rolling hill scenery. I'd be interested to visit Kentucky. I also love Bourbon, including the Knob Creek you mentioned. I've also purchased quite a few guns from Bud's.. So, I guess I already have some stake in Kentucky I never thought about..

I live in Northern Kentucky about 15 miles from the center of Cincinnati. Louisville is 90 miles from here, but it is a big city and I am sure there are IT jobs available as is Lexington. Bourbon Country is between Louisville and Lexington on I - 64 in Woodford County. Frankfort is the State Capitol (roughly between Lou and Lex off of I-64) and I'm sure there are State IT jobs there as well.

There are jobs here, but not on the same pay scale as Silicon Valley or the Northeast, but one can live quite comfortably here and have a sense of freedom.
.

 

[Art Eatman]

Gigglesnort. Somebody comes into my house without a gun, I figure he left home before he finished dressing.

Anyhow, Georgia seems plenty friendly, as does Texas. In Austin, somewhat noted for both good IT wages and a high cost of living, a CHL lets you bypass the ding-dong machine to walk into the capitol building with your gun.

 

[Evergreen]

Evergreen,
Your statement "you will be required to have written permission from entering any persons home if you are carrying a gun with you" is absurd.

I say "written" permission, because how can you prove in court if, for example, your friend, girlfriend, etc got mad at you and called the cops and what type of verbal permission the person gave you? Once again, this is why I hate these type of laws, because they can be used as a way to incriminate law abiding gun owners.

As a homeowner where I live I have the right to decide who I let in and what they are bringing with them.

Yes you have that right. If you read my previous post earlier, I explain very well you have the right to choose who you allow on your property and who you don't. What you don't have the right to do, according to our constitutional laws is to turn a person into a criminal for exercising their 1st or 2nd Amendment right. If a person doesn't like Blacks, Buddhists, Metalheads, Liberals, Conservatives, Goths etc he has the right to tell them to leave and they must do so. If they refuse, just like any other offender of property rights, they should be arrested and cited for trespassing. What if a state made a law stating that if you are black or a Catholic and go into a white or protestant persons house without permission you are guilty of a Class B Misdemeanor? I don't see why people would disagree with this? Why does a gun suddenly make you more evil than someone who wears satatnic t-shirts into the home of a religious Christian family?

Are you saying that in Washington State I can bring whatever I want to into your home? So if I want to being in.illegal drugs you can't say no?

So you equate guns to illegal drugs? Sorry, but guns are legal and illegal drugs are illegal, that is different. And, yes in Washington state you can bring a gun into my home. If I call the police, the police will tell the person to leave and the person will not have their gun rights taken away or receive a weapons Misdemeanor charge because of my phone call. If they refuse to leave they will be arrested for trespassing in the state of Washington and Oregon.

I sense that you are angry about your current situation. However lashing out at places and people living there that have nothing to do with your misfortune doesn't make sense.

I am not lashing out at anyone and the anger of my situation has little to do with this discussion.

Also forget about Alaska, Arkansas and Louisiana who also require the homeowners permission to enter before carrying into their dwelling

And South Carolina is one of only 9 states that require you to notify the LEO that you are carrying upon official contact.

Sucks about ALaska, Arkansas and Louisiana. Although, I have this feeling in Alaska not many will care. However, still this type of law I think can be potentially dangerous and can potentially make a law abiding citizen into a criminal at the whim of another person who suddenly wants to get revenge on you or who knows what reason. It also effectively makes it impossible for maintenance people and others working in dangerous environments to carry a gun for self-defense, if they may enter a person's home during their work.

No written permission required. You verbally ask the homeowner if permission to enter with your firearm is granted. Same goes for AK,AR and LA.

And, how would you prove this in court if this person decided to call the police on you and said there is a man in my house with a gun, who I never gave permission to? It's your word against his in court.

 

[Evergreen]

Gigglesnort. Somebody comes into my house without a gun, I figure he left home before he finished dressing.

I may require people to have a gun to come into my house or else I will call the cops for being unarmed Sorry, bad humor on my part

Anyhow, Georgia seems plenty friendly, as does Texas. In Austin, somewhat noted for both good IT wages and a high cost of living, a CHL lets you bypass the ding-dong machine to walk into the capitol building with your gun.

Art, I have considered Texas, but it is hot and bit flat .. However, you are right, it has one of the most thriving IT markets in the country. I would have thought about Austin, but the prices of living there are skyrocketing. Dallas, Austin and Atlanta area I will be investigating.. It's bit overwhelming trying to relocate to an entire part of the country you never spent any time in.

I live in Northern Kentucky about 15 miles from the center of Cincinnati. Louisville is 90 miles from here, but it is a big city and I am sure there are IT jobs available as is Lexington. Bourbon Country is between Louisville and Lexington on I - 64 in Woodford County. Frankfort is the State Capitol (roughly between Lou and Lex off of I-64) and I'm sure there are State IT jobs there as well.

There are jobs here, but not on the same pay scale as Silicon Valley or the Northeast, but one can live quite comfortably here and have a sense of freedom.
.

I will have to investigate Louisville and Lexington further. Those are places that have always been of great interest to me. Well, in Silicon Valley, a $90,000 salary is what a poor man makes. When you pay $3000/mo for your 1 bedroom apartment and 10% state income tax, it is not like an $100,000 salary goes far there. And, yes, you can kiss goodbye your freedoms living in California or the Northeast.

 

[Theohazard]

Evergreen keeps hitting the nail on the head regarding bringing a gun into someone else's home. Just like anything else, if someone enters a home here in WA carrying a gun and the homeowner doesn't like it, he can request that the person leave. At that point if they don't leave they can get arrested for trespassing. And that would work with anything else the homeowner doesn't like; a homeowner gets to decide who enters their house and who can stay.

People seem to be missing Evergreen's point and simply responding with strawman arguments. No, here in WA the homeowner doesn't lose his property rights: He can force you to leave his house if you're carrying a gun. And no, WA law doesn't mean that someone can bring whatever they want to someone else's house: Again, the homeowner can force someone to leave for any reason, whether it's because they have a gun, drugs, or a bottle of soda.

 

[Sam1911]

Your statement "you will be required to have written permission from entering any persons home if you are carrying a gun with you" is absurd.

As a homeowner where I live I have the right to decide who I let in and what they are bringing with them Are you saying that in Washington State I can bring whatever I want to into your home?

BSA1, I'm thinking you either missed the actual point of the law or are reading into it something that isn't there.

The question isn't "can a person bring something into my house that I don't want there?" The question is "does a person have to, BY LAW, obtain my express permission before bringing X,Y,Z into my home?" Subtle but important difference.

Most states assume that whatever someone carries about with them during their daily activities, they manage to deal with their fellow citizens well enough and do whatever verifying is necessary -- or NOT to bother with any verifying where NOT necessary -- about possessing any items while present on someone else's property.

That will mean, for most concealed carriers, they will go about their business with a concealed firearm and enter and leave whatever places they need to without that firearm ever making an appearance or coming into discussion. They won't stop at the door of someone who's just invited them inside and say, "Oh, before I enter we need to discuss my concealed firearm..." The gun doesn't have anything to do with the visit and doesn't enter into the conversation.

Now, if something goes sideways and somehow Mr./Ms. Concealed Carrier finds him/herself talking to that resident about the firearm he or she is carrying, the resident may go ahead and ask Mr./Ms. CCW to depart. No laws have been broken and none will be unless Mr./Mrs. CCW acts like a jerk and refuses to leave.

A few states, though, have books on the laws that say before you enter someone else's property you have to stop and ask them directly how they feel about your defensive sidearm. And as Evergreen points out with some just cause, you might had better get that in writing...

 

[Zach S]

If you've never lived in the south have fun figuring out the culture. Not saying its bad , its just a LOT different.

According to the transplants I've known, our language is a lot harder to figure out than our culture. Bless their hearts...

My biggest grip about SC and NC is the stupid must inform issue. Legal Concealed Carriers are no threat to LEO and the BG's aren't going to inform no matter what the law is so it just makes no sense.

I agree, but most of the officers that have stopped me didn't seem phased at all.

However, it seems like everyone has at least one story about that one cop... In my story, I wasn't even armed.

 

[Bobson]

And don't overlook other States like Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana and West Virginia they are pretty good too.
.

Definitely check out Indiana. My BIL is a software engineer there, and on top of fair gun laws, he says the companies there tend to pay quite a bit more than similar jobs on the west coast, apparently because companies hiring for those jobs in that part of the country have a more difficult time getting the best people. He and my sister love Indiana though. Also, you can get a heck of a house for a fraction of what you'd pay here in WA......

Isn't the Military Arms Channel on YouTube also based out of Indiana? And the host owns a gun shop there now (Copper Custom Armament). The laws can't be too bad, being that they deal in Class III.

 

[Pilot]

Maybe stay in Washington state, and just get another job there? You seem to think it's so great anyway. I have one word for WA. SEATTLE.

 

[X-Rap]

Go through all 50 states and I bet you will find gun laws that you don't like. I know I've done it randomly and compared to my home state I almost always see something that is disagreeable.
Best thing to look at are deal breakers and then of course remember that laws can and will change.

 

[benEzra]

I'm also going to consider moving to Georgia , which after reviewing its laws, looks to be as friendly, if not more gun friendly, than my home state of Oregon. Also, looking at Tennessee and North Carolina. From reviewing the laws of Tennnesse and North Carolina, they look pretty on par. The couple laws they have that suck are the "No Gun Zone" signs that have force of law and no religious institution carry, therefore Church/State are still intermingled and if another Dylan Roof or whoever comes around, I am just a sheep to be slaughtered during the religious service. Ironic, South Carolina, a state that bans church carry is where a church mass shooting took place?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty certain licensed CCW in a place of worship is legal in NC as long as the building is not posted no-carry (and I've never seen a church that is posted).

Having said that, NC's gun laws still need some work, mostly due to some holdovers from the Jim Crow era that some administrators in our state Sheriff's association keep defending, primarily the $5 handgun purchase permit (which isn't needed if you have a CHL, and which recent reforms made shall-issue, thank goodness). It's a bit of a pain to get a CHL, but the process is shall-issue and it's good for 5 years; renewal is easier.

Prior to the 1994 AWB, NC was ranked by the Brady Campaign as the 13th-strictest state in the nation, but the backlash against the AWB and NC's Jim Crow CCW rules eventually gave us shall-issue CCW and a whole host of other reforms, and we are much more mainstream now.

 

[oneounceload]

Evergreen,

I have being reading your posts and wondering why you are attacking South Carolina's gun laws.

Your statement "you will be required to have written permission from entering any persons home if you are carrying a gun with you" is absurd.

Sounds like Evergreen just needs to stay in lovely Washington State.

If he wants the best paying IT jobs, Silicon Valley is where they are. Great everything (except gun culture)

 

[Balrog]

The laws in Georgia have been improving over the last few years. We can now carry in more places.

Remember a lot of the gun control laws in the South were passed trying to keep guns out of the hands of black people back in the days post segregation. Those days are behind us now for the most part.

 

[BSA1]

I say "written" permission, because how can you prove in court if, for example, your friend, girlfriend, etc got mad at you and called the cops and what type of verbal permission the person gave you?

Since this is a big concern for you then you need different friends and girlfriend.

What you don't have the right to do, according to our constitutional laws is to turn a person into a criminal for exercising their 1st or 2nd Amendment right

No you don’t understand that the Bill of Rights puts restrictions on the Government not the individual. I don’t have “right to do…is to turn a person into criminal for exercising their 1st or 2nd Amendment right.” That is done through the legal system.

What if a state made a law stating that if you are black or a Catholic and go into a white or protestant persons house without permission you are guilty of a Class B Misdemeanor?

Actually if you will study American history the United States has had laws such as what you describe. Research segregation in the South during the late 19th and up to the 1960’s.

And, yes in Washington state you can bring a gun into my home.

Without your permission????

And, how would you prove this in court if this person decided to call the police on you and said there is a man in my house with a gun, who I never gave permission to? It's your word against his in court.

Again why is this such a big concern for you?

Sounds like Evergreen just needs to stay in lovely Washington State.

One thing you should keep in mind is the differences in culture. Folks from California make a lot of fun of Kansans as they consider us 10 years behind California. This is a common attitude also by folks from the NorthEast. You know what? We kind of like being behind California.

As discussed the gun laws on the books should only be one part of a decision where to move. For some it is more important than others. For me living in a State with many firearm freedoms is important. Like you about 4 years ago I was laid off from my job for 18 months. We discussed moving with Texas being a big consideration. As it turned out I was rehired by my company after agreeing to a big pay cut. We had to make some adjustments to our lifestyle but such is the price of staying put.

 

[BSA1]

The question isn't "can a person bring something into my house that I don't want there?" The question is "does a person have to, BY LAW, obtain my express permission before bringing X,Y,Z into my home?" Subtle but important difference.

Aha! This is a interesting point. Thinking it over I can see where it might be on the books in States with restrictive gun laws however I wonder if it is ever used. Many at a party with someone getting drunk and disorderly???

South Carolina might be more of example of the problem with getting old laws off the books.

Now you have me curious what Kansas law says. I know how it applies to businesses but I wonder if private residences are different.