Gun Owners Should Remember Stephen Goldfinch’s Record on Constitutional Carry

For nearly a decade, South Carolina gun owners fought to restore a simple principle: law-abiding citizens should not have to ask the government for permission before exercising their right to bear arms.

That fight was long, difficult, and filled with obstacles.

One of those obstacles was Senator Stephen Goldfinch.

As South Carolina voters prepare to choose their next Attorney General, I believe it is important that gun owners have a clear understanding of Goldfinch’s record when Constitutional Carry was on the line.

In 2019, Constitutional Carry had a genuine opportunity to advance through the legislature. Grassroots activists across the state were engaged, momentum was building, and supporters were working tirelessly to move the bill forward.

At that critical moment, Senator Goldfinch was serving as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee.

Rather than allowing Constitutional Carry to move through the process, Goldfinch blocked the legislation from receiving a committee hearing.

Because the bill was prevented from advancing before the legislative crossover deadline, Constitutional Carry died without ever receiving a final vote on the Senate floor.

When supporters made one last effort to revive the legislation before the end of session, Goldfinch voted against bringing the bill back.

The result was unmistakable: Constitutional Carry was dead for another year.

For gun owners who had spent months fighting for the bill, procedural votes mattered little. The outcome was the same as any direct vote against the legislation. South Carolinians were denied the opportunity to see Constitutional Carry receive a full vote in the Senate.

Unfortunately, the story did not end there.

Five years later, in 2024, Constitutional Carry was once again moving through the General Assembly after years of sustained pressure from grassroots activists and organizations dedicated to protecting the Second Amendment.

At that point, Goldfinch did not simply support the bill as written.

Instead, he actively worked against it.

As GOA previously alerted, Senator Goldfinch supported another senator’s amendment that would have stripped Constitutional Carry entirely from the bill, leaving only increased penalties for gun crimes.

If that wasn’t bad enough, Goldfinch also proposed language that would have allowed businesses to prohibit carry by South Carolinians who did not hold a Concealed Weapons Permit. His proposals also would have increased the time and cost associated with obtaining a permit.

These changes would have created separate classes of gun owners, granting greater protections to permit holders while imposing additional burdens on those choosing to exercise their God-given rights without a permit.

Ultimately, Constitutional Carry became law only after years of relentless activism from gun owners who refused to back down. Thousands of citizens made phone calls, sent emails, attended events, and demanded action from their elected officials.

Eventually, Goldfinch voted for Constitutional Carry.

But voters should remember the full record that preceded that vote:

• They should remember that Goldfinch blocked Constitutional Carry in 2019 while he chaired the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee.
• They should remember that he voted against efforts to revive the legislation before it died that year.
• They should remember that he supported another senator’s amendment that would have eliminated Constitutional Carry entirely.
• And they should remember that in 2024 he sought amendments that would have changed the bill and altered its fundamental purpose.

Today, as Goldfinch seeks higher office, South Carolina gun owners deserve to evaluate his record based on actions—not campaign slogans, election-year messaging, or political rhetoric.

The fight for Constitutional Carry was won because gun owners stayed engaged, held elected officials accountable, and refused to accept excuses.

It was won … no thanks to Goldfinch.

That history should not be forgotten.