As the South Carolina legislature returns for the start of the 2022 legislative session today, lawmakers will once again have the opportunity to pass common-sense gun safety bills. 2021 was marked by staggering levels of gun violence fueled by the gun lobby’s “guns everywhere” agenda. Across the nation, we saw historic levels of gunfire on school grounds and record homicide numbers in some cities. Shootings across the states underscored the deadly effects of America’s lax gun legislation, and the high profile trials of Ahmaud Arbery’s murderers and Kyle Rittenhouse highlighted the dangers of open carry and ‘Stand Your Ground’ or ‘Shoot First’ laws. As the stress and rippling effects of the COVID-19
pandemic extend into the new year, meaningful action on gun safety remains more critical than ever. Last year, the South Carolina General Assembly passed HB 3094 — a bill allowing the open carry of handguns in public — ignoring vocal opposition from medical professionals, business and faith leaders, law enforcement, and members of the public, and putting South Carolinians at risk. To
minimize the potential consequences of this dangerous bill, local leaders like former Mayor Steve Benjamin of Columbia, a member of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, had to step up to keep their constituents safe by prohibiting open carry at permitted events in their cities. This year, lawmakers should protect South Carolinians by rejecting dangerous legislation that would weaken our gun laws
and, instead, support gun safety bills that would reduce gun deaths and save lives, starting with opposing permitless carry legislation and funding violence intervention programs. What to know about permitless carry in South Carolina:
What to know about Violence Intervention Programs in South Carolina:
What to know about gun violence in South Carolina:
Statistics about gun violence in South Carolina are available here, and Everytown’s Gun Law Navigator — which shows how South Carolina gun laws compare to those of other states — is available here. If you have questions, or to request an interview with a volunteer from South Carolina Moms Demand Action, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Location of South Carolina in the United States Gun laws in South Carolina regulate the sale, possession, and use of firearms and ammunition in the state of South Carolina in the United States.[1][2] Summary table[edit]
South Carolina gun laws[edit]South Carolina is a "shall issue" concealed carry permit state. No permit is required to purchase rifles, shotguns, or handguns. South Carolina also has "Castle Doctrine" legal protection of the use of deadly force against intruders into one's home, business, or car.[3] It is unlawful to carry a firearm onto private or public school property or into any publicly owned building except interstate rest areas without express permission. Open carry of a handgun will be allowed as of August 18 (open carry of long guns is still lawful), but no permit is required to carry a loaded handgun in the console or glove compartment of a car. As of 3 June 2016, states with which South Carolina has reciprocity are: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho (enhanced permit only), Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota (enhanced permit only), Texas, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.[4][5][6] South Carolina only recognizes resident permits from the states with which it has reciprocity; non-resident permits from those states will not be honored. South Carolina does issue a CCW permit to a non-resident from a non-reciprocal state only if the non-resident owns real property in South Carolina as per Title 23 Chapter 31 Article 4 Section 23-31-210[7] South Carolina law also now supports a "stand your ground" philosophy under the "Protection of Persons and Property Act" SECTION 16-11-440(C) with the following language. The act was apparently ruled non-retroactive in State v. Dickey.[8]
South Carolina also has the "alter-ego" clause with respect to the defense of others, under which a person who uses deadly force to defend a friend, relative or bystander will be allowed the benefit of the plea of self-defense if that plea would have been available to the person requiring assistance if they had been the one who used deadly force. In other words, the person intervening is deemed to "stand in the shoes" of the person on whose behalf he is intervening. If that individual "had the right to defend himself, then the intervening party is also protected by that right. To claim self-defense, a person has to be in a place they have a legal right to be, not be involved in any illegal activity, must not have started the confrontation, and must be in imminent danger of death or serious bodily harm. Some counties have adopted Second Amendment sanctuary resolutions.[9] A statewide sanctuary law was also passed.[10] References[edit]
Can I carry a gun without a permit in South Carolina?The minimum age is 21 years old. Residents must have a South Carolina Concealed Weapons Permits (CWP) in order to carry in the state.
Is South Carolina an open carry state 2022?Open Carry is legal but you must have a permit South Carolina Issues or Honors. 16-23-20. Unlawful Carrying of Handgun; Exceptions. 23-31-520.
Can I travel through South Carolina with a gun?You may carry a handgun in a vehicle is secured in a closed glove compartment, closed console, closed trunk, or in a closed container secured by an integral fastener and transported in the luggage compartment of the vehicle. The exception is that you can't bring a gun to a school or college of any kind.
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