Shopping weekend starts with tax-free gun holiday

Gun enthusiasts can buy their guns tax-free in South Carolina on Friday and Saturday.

The state is kicking off the Christmas shopping season with a holiday from state and local sales taxes on handguns, rifles and shotguns.

Taxes still apply to gun accessories and ammunition.

The nonpartisan Tax Foundation research group said South Carolina is the first state to offer shoppers a tax break specifically on guns, and the only one to offer a tax holiday over the Thanksgiving weekend.

Legislators this year approved the so-called Second Amendment Weekend over the objection of Gov. Mark Sanford.

The tax break was tacked on to a bill giving a monthlong sales tax holiday on energy efficient products, which starts next October.