After three decades of hard work, NRA-ILA can announce that the South Carolina Legislature has repealed the state’s "one-gun-a-month" law, which has limited the rights of law-abiding citizens by prohibiting multiple handgun purchases within a 30-day waiting period. HB 3442 is now headed to Governor Mark Sanford (R).
"NRA is pleased that the people of South Carolina will no longer be subject to this unreasonable gun rationing law—a law that has only affected honest gun owners and therefore could only have a negative impact on crime," said NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris W. Cox. "Gun rationing laws set a bad and unconstitutional precedent that government can limit the frequency with which a law-abiding citizen may exercise a constitutionally-protected right. If governments can limit law-abiding citizens to one gun a month, they can extend it to one gun a year, one-gun a lifetime, or no guns at all."
"One-gun-a-month" laws have been tried in South Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland, and have failed in all three states. After South Carolina imposed its law in 1975, violent crime soared there and in New York City, the supposed beneficiary of the law. In the 1990`s, violent crime declined nationally, but rose in Washington, D.C., the supposed beneficiary of Virginia’s law. Maryland imposed its law in 1998, yet it has the highest robbery rate of any state, and Baltimore’s homicide rate is among the worst of all major U.S. cities.
"On behalf of tens of thousands of South Carolina NRA members, gun owners and sportsmen, I want to thank the Senators and Representatives who supported this bill and Governor Sanford for acting to abolish this senseless law," added Cox. "Additionally, I would like to single out the efforts of several key lawmakers who ensured passage of this reform including Representatives Bill Sandifer (R-2) and James Harrison (R-75), and Senators Hugh Leather man (R-31), Glenn McConnell (R-41), and John Hawkins (R-12). The Second Amendment is stronger today thanks to the efforts of all those in South Carolina and across America who stand up to preserve freedom."
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