A group of House Republicans in South Carolina introduced legislation that would allow the state to consider secession should the federal government violate the Second Amendment.
Reps. Mike Pitts, Jonathon Hill and Ashley Trathman quietly introduced the bill Thursday amid a national debate over gun safety and firearm bans.
It states “the general assembly shall convene to consider whether to secede from the United States based on the federal government’s unconstitutional violation of the Second Amendment to the United Sates Constitution if the federal government confiscates legally purchased firearms.”
Pitts acknowledged the bill has no chance at passage. He said he’s long been considering the measure, which he intends to use as a means to shine a light on the issues of gun rights.
“I see a lot of stuff where people even talk about totally repealing the Second Amendment, which separates us from the entire rest of the world,” Pitts said.
The country remains deadlocked on issues of gun control after 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz killed 17 students and teachers during a February shooting a Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
The survivors of the deadly attack have become advocates for firearm legislation, organizing national walkouts and marches to protest gun violence.
South Carolina in 1860 was the first state to secede from the Union — a move that ultimately sparked the Civil War.
With News Wire Services
