Advocates to renew calls for closing ‘Charleston Loophouse' at State House rally
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCBD) — Advocates will gather in Columbia on Thursday as part of an ongoing push to encourage lawmakers to pass stronger gun reform laws.
State lawmakers will join members of Moms Demand Action and the South Carolina chapter of Students Demand Action for a noon rally on the steps of the State House.
The groups are expected to renew their calls to close the so-called Charleston Loophole and push back against what they call 'misguided measures' related to firearms.
The Charleston Loophole is a gap in the federal system that allows gun sales to proceed after three business days, even if the background check has not yet been completed.
Dylann Roof, the Emanuel AME Church shooter, was able to purchase a gun even though his background check had not cleared. June will mark the 10th anniversary of the tragedy.
SC Senate revisits bill to penalize smoking with kids in cars
Dr. Annie Andrews, a pediatrician and former Democratic nominee for South Carolina's First Congressional District, is among those scheduled to speak during Thursday's event.
'Gun violence is nonpartisan,' Andrews said in a March 11 press release. 'It is a public health crisis indiscriminately devastating families across our state and our country. As we all stand here once again in deeply red, deeply gerrymandered South Carolina, we are proving that we're not ready to give up on our state yet. We're not backing down. We want a safer future for our kids and our communities. Our lawmakers should too.'
Governor Henry McMaster signed a permitless carry bill into law last year that allows anyone over 18 who can legally own a gun to carry the weapon openly and without a permit or training.
South Carolina has the 12th-highest rate of gun deaths in the United States, according to Everytown for Gun Safety.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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