State of South Carolina Archives: on Gun Control
Brad Hutto:
Supports only current gun laws
I support the current weapons
laws in effect in this State.
Source: S.C. Congressional Election 2012 Political Courage Test
Nov 1, 2012
Gloria Bromell Tinubu:
Pass common sense gun reform
As your Senator I will work to--- Reform the Criminal Justice System
- Pass Common Sense Gun Reform
Source: 2020 S.C. Senate campaign website GloriaForUSSenate.com
Feb 9, 2020
Henry McMaster:
Government continues to intrude on gun owners' rights
For decades, Henry has worked with the NRA to protect our 2nd Amendment rights. But government at every level continues to intrude on gun owners' rights. Henry has passionately defended our 2nd amendment rights in state & federal courts across America.
Henry was instrumental in clearing the way for concealed weapons reciprocity with other states. When local government officials have attempted to encroach gun owners constitutional rights, the attorney general took action to protect gun owners' rights.
Source: 2010 S.C. Gubernatorial campaign website HenryMcMaster.com
Jan 11, 2017
James Emerson Smith:
Strict new regulations on gun sales, use and ownership
James believes in a South Carolina that stands with our youth. James will sign legislation that: Bans bump stocks and trigger cranks, requires universal background checks, including gun show sales, makes it a crime to threaten use of a weapon
on school grounds, restricts retail sales of military-style assault weapons and introduces individual responsibility measures requiring owners of military-style assault weapons to be responsible for safekeeping and reporting stolen weapons promptly.
Source: 2018 S.C. gubernatorial candidate website JamesSmith.com
May 2, 2018
Thomas Ravenel:
Second Amendment is the only gun law needed
There is only one gun law that law-abiding Americans need to follow: The Second Amendment. It's always amazed me that government was so gung-ho to restrict our constitutionally guaranteed right to bear arms. After all, the government's own statistics
conclusively prove my point that increased gun ownership among the law-abiding public leads to a safer society.
It's a simple equation: Higher gun ownership among our citizens means a safer society. The government knows this.
They know this debate isn't about safety--it's about power. In 1938, the Nazis banned Jewish citizens from owning weapons of any kind or participating in the arms' manufacturing industry. We all know what happened next. I'm not suggesting our leaders are
Nazis, but I am suggesting it's a lot easier to take people's freedoms away when they can't fight back--and if you think Washington is out of control now, just wait until they succeed in advancing their radical "gun control" agenda.
Source: 2014 S.C. Senate campaign website, RavenelForSenate.com
Sep 1, 2014
Henry McMaster:
Graduated criminal penalties for illegal gun possession
Last year, I told you that law enforcement needed help. They needed a stronger law to keep illegal guns out of the hands of criminals and juveniles, which would help "close the revolving door." You acted and, on March 7, 2024,
I signed into law graduated criminal penalties for illegal gun possession. I am pleased to report that in less than a year, according to SLED, there has been an 86% increase in the number of arrests made using the new law: 2,412 arrests up from 1,295.
Source: 2025 State of the State Address to the S.C. legislature
Jan 29, 2025
Page last updated: Feb 07, 2026