South Carolina S 1030: The Right to Bear Arms

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 1030 Text of Previous Version (Mar. 18, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 1030

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

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.

Be it enacted by the 
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

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

 Section 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.

SECTION 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?

Yes o

No o

Those 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 01:30 PM