Bill History - H. 3464

A chronological history of GrassRoots activities concerning H. 3464

H. 3464: Entitled “South Carolina Firearms Freedom Act”, this bill recites the 2nd, 9th and 10th Amendments to the United States Constitution and Article 1, Section 20 of the South Carolina Constitution. H. 3464 declares all firearms and firearms accessories manufactured and remaining in South Carolina are exempt from regulation under the Commerce Clause. H. 3464 excepts certain items such as crew operated weapons, exploding rounds, bore diameters larger than one and one half inches, and a firearm that discharges more than one round with a single pull of the trigger.
Principles Involved: While the relative powers of the federal and state governments is an issue that needs to be addressed, the 2nd Amendment is as far as any analysis needed to go to find federal regulation of firearms is unconstitutional. The 2nd Amendment declares “the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.” While the Commerce Clause contained in the body of the Constitution gives the federal government the power to regulate commerce, such powers are subordinate to the 2nd Amendment because amendments to the Constitution are superior to everything in the Constitution prior to the amendment. Thus, regulation of firearms under the powers of the Commerce Clause is an unconstitutional infringement upon our 2nd Amendment rights.
GrassRoots Position: Unfortunately, H. 3464 appears to support the concept that the Commerce Clause contained in the body of the Constitution is superior to the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution. While GrassRoots supports this bill, there is no principled reason to except firearms that discharge more than one round with a single pull of the trigger. Therefore, GrassRoots wants the bill amended to also except such firearms.
Current Status: In House Judiciary committee.
Primary Sponsor: M. A. Pitts
Full Text: http://www.scstatehouse.net/sess117_2007-2008/bills/3464.htm

Feb 7, 2007: Introduced in House and read first time.
Feb 7, 2007: Referred to House Judiciary Committee.
Feb 14, 2007: Referred to General Laws Subcommittee.
Feb. 14, 2007 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Crawford
Feb 21, 2007: General Laws Subcommittee hearing scheduled. Meeting cancelled to be rescheduled at a later date.
Feb 28, 2007: General Laws Subcommittee hearing scheduled.

March 21st, 2007:

GrassRoots spoke at the House Judiciary General Laws Subcommittee concerning H.3464.

February 28th, 2007:

GrassRoots spoke at the House Judiciary General Laws Subcommittee about H. 3464. GrassRoots leaders met with Rep. Mike Pitts in his office regarding H. 3464 immediately afterwards.

February 21st, 2007:

The SC House Judiciary General Laws subcommittee was scheduled to meet to discuss H. 3464. GrassRoots faxed this letter to the members of the subcommittee to express our support for H. 3464. After receiving our letter, the subcommittee rescheduled this meeting for Wednesday, February 28th, 2007.