State residents can buy firearms free of sales tax

COLUMBIA — TVs and laptops aren't the only hot items in South Carolina during this busy shopping weekend. The state is offering an unusual perk to shoppers: no sales tax on handguns, rifles and shotguns.

The so-called "Second Amendment Weekend" is thanks to a little-debated amendment legislators tacked on this summer to a tax break for energy-efficient appliances.

The energy-efficiency measure doesn't go into effect until next year. But today, gun buyers don't have to pay state and local sales taxes that can total 8 percent. Taxes still apply to ammunition and accessories.

"We are a gun-owning-tradition state, a hunting-tradition state," said Republican state Rep. Mike Pitts, a retired police officer who introduced the proposal and has promoted other pro-gun legislation.

"Quite often people will buy their pop or grandpop a shotgun or rifle to hunt with for Christmas," he said in an interview by cell phone while out hunting.

The tax-free weekend is expected to attract record crowds today to the Land of the Sky Gun and Knife Show at the fairgrounds in Ladson. Dealers will have 300 tables of guns, knives, ammo and other items available at the show, which will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today. The show also will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

While stores that sell guns are hoping for a boost in business, some opponents called it a gimmick that plays politics by tinkering with the state's tax code.

Legislators approved the holiday in June over the objection of Republican Gov. Mark Sanford, also an avid hunter and gun supporter. He called it a stunt that only affects the timing of a gun purchase, without effectively promoting gun ownership or demand.

"Regardless of what the sales tax holiday is for, we think it's gimmicky and a bad idea," spokesman Joel Sawyer said.

The cost impact is negligible; state economic officials estimate it will cost about $15,000 at a time that South Carolina had to cut annual spending by $488 million.

South Carolina is the only state offering any kind of tax break to shoppers over Thanksgiving weekend, said Joe Henchman, counsel for the Washington-based Tax Foundation, a nonpartisan tax research group.

The National Rifle Association said no other states are considering a tax-free holiday on gun sales, though the group thinks they should.

"Everyone is faced with tough times, and we believe, in addition to helping hunters and shooting sports enthusiasts, this will also help the local economy and merchants," NRA spokesman Andrew Arulanandam said.