I ran for the SC Senate in 2008 on a platform of effective leadership that listens to the people. One thing I heard in that campaign and in every campaign since is that law abiding citizens want their 2nd Amendment rights respected in South Carolina.

I have sponsored Constitutional Carry legislation for more than a decade, and every year members of both political parties resist or block its passage. This year, however, a majority of the Senate listened and acted. The Senate Judiciary Committee reported out my Senate bill on May 9th, and I successfully recalled the House version of the bill from the same committee that day.

I explained the Bill and its effects from the Senate podium. I spoke about misinformation that opponents have spread, and explained that this legislation is about nothing more and nothing less than our God-given Constitutional rights. I am proud and pleased that this legislation is finally on the Senate floor. We will not get to consider it this year, as the session ends too soon. But, we will take this up in January, and every senator will get to vote. I look forward to it and to the passage of this bill.

The Senate president recognizes someone other than the Senate Majority Leader only once or twice a year, but I yelled loud enough not to be ignored, and gained recognition for the motion.