Horry County takes next steps toward becoming a ‘Second Amendment Sanctuary’
Horry County Council may become one of the first “Second Amendment Sanctuary” areas in South Carolina.
The public safety committee of council voted to send to council an ordinance declaring Horry County is opposed to any perceived threat to rights to own guns.
Monday morning’s meeting was packed with gun owners advocating for the ordinance. Horry County Council Member Al Allen said both he and most people in South Carolina want to send a message to those who support limitations on gun rights.
“We as Horry County Council are going to support the Second Amendment and we won’t support any threat to it passed by any other entity,” he said.
The Second Amendment Sanctuary movement began in Virginia in response to a few proposed laws that would limit how many guns could be purchased each month, enforce background checks and ban guns from public events.
Local governments across Virginia passed Second Amendment Sanctuary laws, and then other municipalities across the country followed. Allen said the Horry County ordinance is fashioned after ones approved elsewhere.
Allen defined a threat to gun rights as any attempt to take away a law-abiding citizen’s right to protect themselves with a firearm. The ordinance states that Horry County will not enforce any gun control laws passed by the South Carolina state government.
While acknowledging that state laws are higher than local laws, Allen said all governments work under the U.S. Constitution.
Horry County Council will most likely hold the first of three votes required to pass the ordinance during a Feb. 3 meeting.
This story was originally published January 27, 2020 at 1:49 PM.
