South Carolina Bureau Chief
AIKEN --- Gun Rack owner Chuck Scott said his phone lines have been busy the past few days with calls about rifles, handguns and other firearms that will be sold tax-free this weekend.
Rainier Ehrhardt/Staff
Owner Chuck Scott hopes for a spike in sales as he checks rifles for a caller to the Gun Rack in Aiken.
Rainier Ehrhardt/Staff
Salesperson Kristie White (left) helps Ginger Davis and her son, Brock, 13, examine handguns at the Gun Rack in Aiken.
For the sake of his small business, Mr. Scott said he hopes the Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday will go as well as the first one did last year.
"They were selling like gangbusters," he said. "I think there was a fear after the election last year, and we've been fighting to keep supply this whole year."
Those purchasing new or used firearms between 12:01 a.m. Friday and midnight Saturday will pay no taxes, according to the South Carolina Department of Revenue. Ammunition, carrying cases and other accessories are not included in the tax-free sale.
On Tuesday, Ginger Davis, of Edgefield, and her 13-year-old son, Brock, began window shopping for a light-weight handgun she plans to purchase this weekend. She said her family patronized Aiken County gun stores during last year's tax-free holiday.
"We saved between $50 and $150 on a .22 rifle and a 12-gauge (shotgun)," she said while browsing at the Gun Rack. "I have a family of avid hunters, so every little bit of money we can save helps."
The two-day tax holiday gave up less than $10,000 in taxes last year, said General Comptroller Richard Eckstrom. Though customers and gun merchants benefit from the weekend, the holiday was not created to boost the economy, Mr. Eckstrom said
"It's not to encourage gun sales," he said. "It's more a statement of principle. Legislators were trying to make the statement that they support the Second Amendment."
That statement of principle was struck down by the state Supreme Court earlier this year when legislators wanted to couple the weekend with the monthlong sales-tax holiday on energy efficient appliances. The high court deemed the original legislation unconstitutional because the two tax-free holidays were unrelated.
The state legislature reinstated the holiday as a one-time budget provision for this year.
David Byers, owner of Guns and Things in North Augusta, said he hopes the Legislature will approve the holiday for next year. Most gun merchants are small-business owners that can use the help.
"These are the types of place people buy their guns from," he said. "Last year, I saw about an 80 percent increase in business. It's going to be good for all of us on those two days."
Reach Stephanie Toone at (803) 648-1395, ext. 110, or stephanie.toone@augustachronicle.com.
SECOND AMENDMENT HOLIDAY
Items that can be purchased without tax between 12 a.m. Friday and 12 a.m. Sunday:
- Handguns
- Rifles
- Shotguns
Items not included:
- handguns generally recognized or classified as antique, curiosity, or collector's items
- handguns that do not fire fixed cartridges
- ammunition
- archery supplies
- black powder
- books
- carrying cases
- cleaning supplies
- gun barrels
- gun safes
- holsters
- hunting clothes
- knives
- lasers
- lights
- locks
- magazines
- range gear
- reloading supplies
- safety vests
- sights
- sporting clays
- stocks
- targets
- toy guns
FOR MORE information about the Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday, visit www.sctax.org.
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