State lawmakers expected to begin debates on open-carry law VIDEO: State lawmakers expected to begin debates on open-carry law By Adam Mintzer | March 10, 2021 at 4:39 PM EST - Updated March 10 at 7:46 PM COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCSC) - South Carolina lawmakers are slated to debate a bill that could change when and where people can carry guns. Some of them say they expect hours of heated debate on the Open Carry with Training Act. The bill would allow handguns to be carried openly if the gun owner has a concealed weapons permit. But by the end of the day’s debates, the bill could look very different.