EXPRESSING AN INVITATION FROM THE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO OUT-OF-STATE BUSINESSES INVOLVED IN THE MANUFACTURING OF FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION AND ACCESSORIES FOR FIREARMS TO CONSIDER LOCATING OR EXPANDING EXISTING OPERATIONS IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND TO GUARANTEE THAT SOUTH CAROLINA AND SOUTH CAROLINIANS WILL OFFER THEM A WARM WELCOME.

Whereas, South Carolina is a state that prides itself on a welcoming and hospitable attitude to businesses seeking to locate or expand operations in this State; and

Whereas, in recent times, some states and political subdivisions of state, by legislative enactments, regulatory structure, and political climate evidence that they do not share the welcoming and hospitable attitude of South Carolina and South Carolinians to businesses considering locating or expanding in this State, including businesses that manufacture firearms and the ammunition and accessories needed for firearms; and

Whereas, South Carolina offers a wide array of tax and other incentives to assist firms eager to locate or grow their business here, leading in recent decades to our becoming a home to a host of businesses previously unknown in this State, including tire, automobile, and aircraft manufacturing; and

Whereas, South Carolina is a "right to work" state with a trained and loyal workforce, eager to provide a "good day's work for a good day's pay"; and

Whereas, those businesses that manufacture firearms, ammunition, and firearms accessories, should understand that South Carolina and South Carolinians have over our history made clear our belief in the right to bear arms enshrined in the Constitution of the United States and of this State; and

Whereas, our belief in Second Amendment Rights in recent years has been evidenced by adding in our state constitution a right to hunt, by enacting the "Castle Doctrine", by providing that the state government has the sole legislative power to enact laws or regulations relating to firearms and ammunition, by our "Second Amendment Weekend" sales tax holiday on the sale of firearms, by favorable civil liability laws with respect to individual third party liability in firearms matters, by laws allowing "concealed carry" permits for eligible persons, and by a long history of a population for which hunting and sport shooting is a major pastime; and

Whereas, South Carolina and South Carolinians look with dismay at the actions of other states and political subdivisions of state that appear to be willing to marginalize the contributions made by the firearms and associated businesses and the people who work for them and those who patronize those businesses; and

Whereas, it is important for all to know that firearm manufacturers seeking to locate or expand their operations in this State will be welcome here, that South Carolina and South Carolinians will appreciate their contributions to the state and its people and that prospects need not fear legislative or regulatory actions that would make them feel unwelcome. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly invite out-of-state businesses involved in manufacturing of firearms and ammunition and accessories for firearms to consider locating or expanding their existing operations in South Carolina and to guarantee that South Carolina and South Carolinians will offer them a warm welcome.