The Right to Bear Arms

2025-2026 Bill 1030: The Right to Bear Arms - South Carolina Legislature Online

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
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S. 1030
STATUS INFORMATION
Joint Resolution
Sponsors: Senator Alexander
Document Path: SR-0580KM26.docx
Introduced in the Senate on March 18, 2026
Currently residing in the Senate Committee on
Judiciary
Summary: The Right to Bear Arms
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

Date

Body

Action Description with journal page number

3/18/2026

Senate

Introduced and read first time (
Senate Journal-page 4
)

3/18/2026

Senate

Referred to Committee on
Judiciary
(
Senate Journal-page 4
)

View the latest
legislative information
at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
03/18/2026

A joint Resolution

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 20, ARTICLE I OF THE
CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, RELATING TO the RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS, SO
AS TO CLARIFY THAT EVERY CITIZEN HAS THE PERSONAL, FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO KEEP
AND BEAR ARMS AND THAT RIGHT SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED BY INTERNATIONAL TREATIES
OR LAWS THAT VIOLATE THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION.

B
e it enacted by the
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

S
ECTION 1.
I
t is proposed that Section 20, Article I of the
Constitution of this State be amended to read:

S
ection 20.

(A) The right to bear arms in defense of himself is a
fundamental right possessed by each individual citizen of this State. Any
restriction on this right shall be subject to strict scrutiny.

(
B) No citizen shall be compelled by
any international treaty or international law to take an action that prohibits,
limits, or otherwise interferes with his personal, fundamental right to keep
and bear arms in defense of himself, and the state, if the international treaty
or international law, or its adoption, violates the United States Constitution.

(
C)
A well regulated militia
being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to
keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. As, in times of peace, armies are
dangerous to liberty, they shall not be maintained without the consent of the
General Assembly. The military power of the State shall always be held in
subordination to the civil authority and be governed by it. No soldier shall in
time of peace be quartered in any house without the consent of the owner nor in
time of war but in the manner prescribed by law.

S
ECTION 2. The proposed amendment must be
submitted to the qualified electors at the next general election for
representatives. Ballots must be provided at the various voting precincts with
the following words printed or written on the ballot:

"
Must Section 20,
Article I of the Constitution of this State, relating to the right to keep and
bear arms,

be amended so as to provide that each individual citizen of
this State has the fundamental right to keep and bear arms that cannot be
infringed by international treaty or international law that violates the United
States Constitution?

Y
es
o

N
o
o

T
hose voting in favor
of the question shall deposit a ballot with a check or cross mark in the square
after the word 'Yes', and those voting against the question shall deposit a
ballot with a check or cross mark in the square after the word 'No'."

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This web page was last updated on March 18, 2026 at 1:30 PM