SC Attorney General Joins Push for National Concealed Carry Reciprocity
South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson has joined a coalition of state attorneys general advocating for the U.S. House of Representatives to pass the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act (H.R. 38). This proposed legislation aims to establish a framework for lawful concealed carry across state lines.
In a letter sent to House leadership, Attorney General Wilson and his counterparts emphasized that expanding concealed carry rights for law-abiding citizens enhances public safety and upholds fundamental liberties related to gun ownership.
Wilson stated that it is unacceptable for law-abiding Americans to face felony charges or imprisonment for exercising a constitutional right simply by crossing into a different state. He argued that the current inconsistent patchwork of state laws regarding the Second Amendment needs to be rectified by Congress, asserting that delays allow constitutional rights to be infringed upon and responsible citizens to be treated as criminals.
The proposed measure would grant individuals lawfully permitted to carry a concealed firearm in their home state the same privileges in any other state where concealed carry is legal. The letter addresses critics by clarifying that the bill excludes anyone prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm. The attorneys general also cited independent studies indicating that concealed carry licensees exhibit a higher degree of law-abiding behavior than the general population.
The letter further stressed that concealed carry is a constitutional right with substantial public safety benefits, enabling individuals to respond to immediate threats when law enforcement is not instantly available. It highlights the injustice of constituents facing arrest and prosecution for technical violations of licensing or possession laws that are otherwise legal in most states, particularly in those with a history of restricting gun rights. The attorneys general affirmed Congress’s authority and duty to safeguard these rights.
In addition to South Carolina, the letter was signed by the Attorneys General from Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
