South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster rejected three bills on Tuesday that aimed to clear the criminal records of individuals convicted of specific offenses involving guns, fraudulent checks, and underage alcohol sales.
These vetoes mark the governor’s only rejections out of more than 130 bills passed by the General Assembly this year.
In his messages to lawmakers explaining the vetoes, McMaster emphasized that while second chances should be granted to those who have served their sentences, criminal history, like all history, should not be erased.
As a former federal prosecutor, McMaster encouraged employers to consider an applicant’s criminal history instructive rather than solely disqualifying, urging them to seek more information and context.
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (Via Josh Baker/Shutterstock)
The General Assembly has the option to override these vetoes with a two-thirds majority when they reconvene in June for a special session lasting a few days.
One of the bills vetoed would have allowed individuals convicted of unlawful handgun possession before the state’s recent open-carry law was enacted to have their records expunged. Supporters argued that since open carrying is now legal, it would be fair to clear the records of those convicted just before the law changed.
However, McMaster argued that committing such actions was illegal at the time, emphasizing that disobeying the law can lead to consequences, including potential criminal prosecution, regardless of personal beliefs about changing laws.
