South Carolina Gun Laws
Gun Laws Overview
RIFLES & SHOTGUNS | HANDGUNS | |
---|---|---|
Permit to Purchase | No | No |
Registration of Firearms | No | No |
Licensing of Owners | No | No |
Permit to Carry | No | Yes |
The list and map below are included as a tool to assist you in validating your information. We have made every effort to report the information correctly, however reciprocity and recognition agreements are subject to frequent change. The information is not intended as legal advice or a restatement of law and does not include: restrictions that may be placed on non-resident permits, individuals under the age of 21, qualifying permit classes, and/or any other factor which may limit reciprocity and/or recognition. For any particular situation, a licensed local attorney must be consulted for an accurate interpretation. YOU MUST ABIDE WITH ALL LAWS: STATE, FEDERAL AND LOCAL. RECIPROCITY NOTES: South Carolina does not recognize other states' non-resident permits or licenses. South Carolina honors only the ENHANCED permits for these states: Idaho, Mississippi, North Dakota (Class 1), and South Dakota. West Virginia permits are honored by South Carolina if the permittee is 21 years of age and older; http://www.sled.sc.gov/Reciprocity1.aspx?MenuID=CWP. Michigan and Florida recognize only South Carolina RESIDENT permits. |
STATE STATUS | |
---|---|
Castle Doctrine | Enacted |
No-Net Loss | No Legislation |
Right to Carry Confidentiality | Provisions Enacted |
Right to Carry in Restaurants | Legal |
Right To Carry Laws | Shall Issue |
Right To Carry Reciprocity and Recognition | Conditional Recognition |
Right to Keep & Bear Arms State Constitutional Provisions | With Provisions |
Laws on Purchase, Possession and Carrying of Firearms
Purchase
No state permit is required to purchase a rifle, shotgun, or handgun. MORE |
Possession
No state permit is required to possess a rifle, shotgun, or handgun. MORE |
Carrying
It is generally unlawful to carry about the person any handgun, concealed or not, without a concealed weapons permit. S.C. Code § 16-23-20. MORE |
Assault Weapons, Machine Guns, Magazines, Ammunition.
There are no state laws regulating “assault weapons,” “large capacity magazines,” or “bump stocks.”* South Carolina regulates “machine guns,” “sawed-off shotguns,” “sawed-off rifles” and “military firearms.” MORE |
Antiques and Replicas
The statutory definition of a “handgun” does not include any firearm generally recognized or classified as an antique, curiosity, or collector’s item, or that does not fire fixed cartridges. S.C. Code § 16-23-10(1). MORE |
Preemption
S.C. Code § 23-31-510(1) prohibits local governments from enacting laws regulating the transfer, ownership, possession, carrying, or transportation of firearms, ammunition, components of firearms, except as specifically provided by state law. MORE |
Restoration of Firearm Rights
South Carolina has mechanisms through which some persons who are subject to a firearm disability (prohibited from shipping, transporting, possessing, or receiving a firearm or ammunition) may have their firearm rights restored. MORE |
Range Protection
Pursuant to the “South Carolina Shooting Range Protection Act of 2000,” a county, municipal, or state noise control ordinance, rule, or regulation may not be applied to a shooting range: (1) that was in existence prior to the enactment of a noise control ordinance, rule, or regulation, provided there is no substantial change in the use of the range, or (2) that was in compliance with a noise control ordinance as of the date of its establishment, provided there is no substantial change in the use of the range subsequent to its initial compliance. A “substantial change” in use means that the current primary use of the range no longer represents the activity previously engaged in at the range. Further, a county, municipal, or state noise control ordinance, rule, or regulation cannot be applied so as to require a shooting range to limit or eliminate shooting activities that have occurred on a regular basis before January 1, 2000. S.C. Code §§ 31-18-40, 31-18-20(3) (definitions of “shooting range,” “substantial change”). MORE |
Miscellaneous
It is a crime to point a loaded or unloaded firearm at another person, with the exception of defensive use or as part of theatricals or like performances. S.C. Code § 16-23-410. MORE |
Thursday, April 3, 2008
People as young as 18 can now own handguns in South Carolina. Gov. Mark Sanford signed a bill ...
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
All eyes are on Gov. Mark Sanford to see if he’ll approve a bill making a list of ...
Monday, March 31, 2008
Gov. Mark Sanford has not yet decided what he'll do with a bill awaiting his signature that lowers ...
Friday, March 28, 2008
Several bills impacting your right to self-defense and hunting heritage are in various stages of the legislative process ...
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
The public would not have access to the names of people who can carry concealed weapons in South ...
Monday, March 24, 2008
South Carolina is poised to become the 28th state to keep secret the list of residents allowed to ...
Friday, March 21, 2008
Several bills impacting your right to self-defense and hunting heritage are in various stages of the legislative process ...
Friday, March 14, 2008
Several bills impacting your right to self-defense and hunting heritage are in various stages of the legislative process ...
Friday, March 7, 2008
Two pro-gun bills (H 3528 and H 3212) need your immediate action. H 3528 would restrict the release ...
Friday, February 29, 2008
Two pro-gun bills (H 3528 and H 3212) have been placed on the South Carolina Senate Calendar. H ...