How To Register To Carry A Gun In Sc

Equally a criminal defense chaser in Mt Pleasant and Charleston, SC, we know that gun laws tin can exist confusing. Violations of gun laws, even innocent ones, can pb to jail time, fines, and the loss of the weapon. Considering these laws vary from state to state, when y'all travel between states, information technology is difficult to know what is legal.

Recently, nosotros represented a client who was traveling from some other state to South Carolina who was stopped for a traffic violation. Although he had a concealed weapons permit (CWP) from another state, law enforcement confiscated his handgun because it was loaded and in a side pocket of his car. We don't want this to happen to you lot, so we wrote this article on the laws on handguns in S Carolina to hopefully assist South Carolina residents or people passing through this state in determining what they tin and tin't do when carrying their firearms.

This commodity is written for common citizens who have not been granted special privileges, but it as well covers laws for concealed weapons let (CWP) holders. In this commodity, nosotros examine many issues such as where you can comport a concealed weapon, possessing a weapon at your business, transporting a weapon, selling a gun, finding a gun, and much more.

Do I Need a Permit to Own a Weapon in South Carolina?

Although this article examines concealed weapons permits, we've been asked whether a person needs a permit to Ain a handgun, a rifle, or a shotgun in Due south Carolina. The answer is no; no permit is required for ownership.

Is Southward Carolina an "Open Conduct" State?

Aye. South Carolina allows concealed weapons permit (CWP) holders to openly carry a concealable weapon on them or in their vehicle. The law also eliminates the $50 fee for a CWP. Regarding the weapon, South Carolina police allows open carry of a gun "having a length of less than 12 inches measured along its greatest dimension that may exist carried openly on one's person or in a manner that is subconscious from public view in normal habiliment of clothing except when needed for self-defence, defense of others, and the protection of real or personal property."

Where Can't a Concealed Weapon Holder Carry a Gun in S Carolina?

A CWP holder may not carry a gun in the post-obit places:

Restaurants that serve alcohol for on-bounds consumption UNLESS you don't consume any alcohol.
Police force stations, Sheriff's departments, or other law enforcement facilities.
Jails or detention centers.
Courthouses/courtrooms.
Polling places on election days.
Offices or coming together places of governmental entities such equally counties, cities, and schoolhouse districts.
School or college athletic events not related to firearms. Regarding schools, church building officials who hold a CWP to acquit a handgun openly or curtained on school grounds when the holding is leased by the church building and simply during services or other official church activities.
Daycares or preschools.
Places where the conveying of firearms is prohibited past federal constabulary.
Churches or religious sanctuaries unless permission is given past the head of the facility.
Hospitals, medical clinics, medico's offices, or other places where medical services are rendered unless permission is given past the head of the facility.
Businesses or other establishments that post "No Concealed Weapons Immune" signs or that otherwise limited that they do not desire curtained weapons on their premises.
Homes, apartments, or other dwellings unless you accept the express permission of the person living at the residence.
If y'all bring the gun to a school or college of any kind, don't behave the gun on you. It must be in a closed glove compartment, closed console, closed body, or in a airtight container secured by an integral fastener and transported in the luggage compartment of the vehicle.

Any person may carry a concealable weapon from their motorcar to a hotel room that person has rented.

If I Practise Have a Curtained Weapons Allow, Where Can I Carry a Handgun in My Vehicle?

CWP holders can bear a weapon openly in their vehicle.

If I DON'T Accept a CWP, Where Tin I Carry a Handgun in My Vehicle?

You lot may carry a handgun in a vehicle is secured in a airtight glove compartment, closed console, airtight torso, or in a closed container secured past an integral fastener and transported in the luggage compartment of the vehicle. The exception is that y'all can't bring a gun to a schoolhouse or college of whatsoever kind.

Information technology is a piffling unclear what the South Carolina legislature meant when they used the term "integral fastener," and then to be safety, we suggest that any container used to transport a handgun be something that is lockable and that snaps or latches closed. A shoebox wouldn't qualify.

The term "luggage compartment" is tricky as well, only the police force provides definitions. It ways the torso if the car has a trunk. If the auto doesn't have a trunk, information technology means "the surface area of the motor vehicle in which the manufacturer designed that baggage be carried or to the expanse of the motor vehicle in which luggage is customarily carried." In a station wagon, van, hatchback vehicle, or sport utility vehicle, the term "luggage compartment" refers to the expanse backside, simply not under, the rearmost seat. In a truck, the term baggage compartment refers to the surface area backside the rearmost seat, but not under the forepart seat.

If you're riding a motorcycle, you lot must secure the handgun in a airtight saddlebag or other similar closed accompaniment containers.

Under no circumstance can you deport the gun nether the seat, in your pocket, or anywhere not specifically mentioned above.

Does South Carolina Have Reciprocity with Other States Regarding CWP holders?

Reciprocity refers to an agreement between two states to recognize each other's laws. S Carolina has reciprocity with certain states regarding concealed weapons permits. This means that if y'all agree a CWP in South Carolina, various other states volition recognize it, but you lot still have to comply with that state'due south laws when carrying it. The Southward Carolina Police Enforcement Sectionalisation (SLED) has a map on its website that shows the reciprocity between states.

How Do I Proceed Curtained Weapons Out of My Business?

You must post a sign that is conspicuously visible from the exterior of the building. It must be at least 8 inches wide and at least 12 inches tall. Information technology must state "NO CONCEALABLE WEAPONS Allowed" in black one-inch tall upper-case letter messages at the bottom of the sign and centered between the lateral edges of the sign. It must evidence a black silhouette of a handgun within a circle vii inches in bore with a diagonal line that runs from the lower left to the upper right at a 40-five-degree bending (call up Ghostbusters). It must be placed between 40 and 60 inches from the bottom of the building's entrance door. If the place does not have doors, and so bank check with a lawyer to make sure the size and other requirements are met.

A person who brings a concealable weapon onto the bounds or workplace that properly posts a "NO CONCEALABLE WEAPONS ALLOWED" sign may be charged with a violation of Section sixteen-eleven-620 (criminal trespass) for a first offense resulting in a $200 fine or thirty days in jail. Additionally, a second or a third criminal offense may result in having the person's allow revoked for a period of 1 year.

When Am I Prohibited from Owning a Gun in South Carolina?

If you've been convicted of a felony, a violent crime, a crime of criminal domestic violence, or are under a domestic order of protection (a/g/a restraining guild in family court), then y'all may non possess a firearm or armament at any time.
If you lot're a drug aficionado or user, an illegal alien, an conflicting under a non-immigrant visa, a dishonorably discharged veteran, or a fugitive from justice, so you lot may not possess a firearm or armament at any time.
If you lot aren't a felon but are awaiting trial on felony charges, yous may not receive a firearm.
If your domestic gild of protection has expired, you might be able to get your gun rights dorsum. If you lot were convicted of CDV but had it expunged, y'all might be able to get your gun rights back.
If yous are on probation or parole.
If a courtroom has declared yous mentally incompetent by a courtroom of law.
If a court has ordered y'all to surrender your firearms.

Tin I Go along a Handgun at my Business in South Carolina?

If you are a business owner or the person in command of a business organisation, you may bear a handgun at your business organisation. If you are an employee, you may practice so But IF you have a concealed weapons permit AND you have the permission of the owner.

What if I Am Hunting in Due south Carolina?

Licensed hunters or fishermen who're engaged in hunting or fishing or going to or from their places of hunting or line-fishing, while in a vehicle or on human foot, may comport a handgun.

May I Bring a Handgun into a Friend's House?

Y'all may carry a handgun in your home or another person's home Merely IF you lot take the permission of the owner or the person in legal possession of the property.

How Do I Get a Handgun From One Place to Some other?

The handgun must be unloaded and in a secure wrapper and you must get directly from the building to your car or from your motorcar to the edifice.

Can I Sell My Handgun in South Carolina?

You may not sell, offer to sell, deliver, lease, rent, barter, exchange, or ship for sale into this State any handgun to people convicted of violent crimes, fugitives from justice, habitual drunkards, drug addicts, or people who have been adjudicated incompetent, a person who is a member of a subversive organization, people under the historic period of eighteen (with certain exceptions including members of the Military or R.O.T.C.), people who by club of a excursion judge or canton court judge has been adjudged unfit to carry or possess a firearm, and illegal aliens. Likewise, it is illegal for the in a higher place-described people to carry or possess a handgun.

Finally, if the original series number has been removed or obliterated, you cannot buy, sell, own, or carry the handgun, and yous should probably contact a criminal lawyer to decide how to dispose of it.

If you are the seller of a handgun, it is recommended that you retain a lawyer to draft a Nib of Sale so that the transfer is documented. This way, if the gun is later used in a crime, you tin show that the gun legally left your possession and went to someone else.

What Should I Do if I Observe a Handgun?

Call the police and plow it over to them. They will then try to determine whether the gun is stolen or if it was used in the committee of a crime, and they may be able to locate the rightful owner. They are required to publish the being of the gun in the newspaper. If the gun is cleared and the owner does not turn up, then y'all may be able to go along the gun after 90 days get by if yous laissez passer an application check and pay the advertizing costs, such as the cost of running the ad in the newspaper.

What Are Some other Weapons Offenses in South Carolina?

There are many weapons laws in Due south Carolina, and if yous take any specific questions, you should consult with an attorney. However, some offenses are more ordinarily seen than others. Y'all tin can't ain or handle an automated weapon, sawed-off burglarize, or sawed-off shotgun. You lot can't bring to a school any weapon, which includes a knife with over a two-inch blade, a blackjack, a metallic pipe or pole, firearms, or any other blazon of weapon, device, or object which may be used to inflict bodily injury or expiry. The exception is that a concealed weapons permit holder may deport the weapon inside an attended or locked motor vehicle and is secured in a closed glove compartment, airtight panel, closed trunk, or in a closed container secured by an integral fastener and transported in the luggage compartment of the vehicle.

Also, this is hopefully obvious, but you can't point a firearm at some other person. You can't discharge a firearm at or into a building or any structure that can be occupied by people. You can't belch a weapon at a automobile, boat, or aircraft.

City and county ordinances may regulate the careless or negligent belch or brandishing (displaying) of firearms. Check your local laws before handling or discharging firearms.

Departing Thoughts on Handgun Laws in Due south Carolina

Numerous citizens own guns and use them for self-defense, target shooting, hunting, and other lawful purposes. If you're a gun possessor or thinking nearly purchasing a gun, yous should familiarize yourself with the laws on guns and so that you don't go caught accidentally violating a law. Curtained weapons permit classes to provide good teaching on both gun laws and gun rubber, and then consider taking ane. Accidental discharges are all besides common and can result in death, terrible injury, and criminal prosecution. The number 1 and ii rules when handling guns are (i) always pretend they are loaded, even if you are sure in your mind they aren't, and (two) never betoken the gun at someone fifty-fifty if you believe it isn't loaded.

Download Our Free Book on Gun Laws in South Carolina

Stephan Futeral's and Thomas Nelson'due south Book, "Gun Laws in South Carolina – Piecing Information technology All Together," is available forFREEon the iTunes® Bookstore or as a PDF. Based on over 30 years of their combined experience, Stephan and Thomas wrote this volume in easy-to-understand terms to explain the laws and your rights in Southward Carolina when you own, carry, or use a firearm. If you lot own a weapon such as a handgun or if y'all have a Concealed Weapons Permit, so this book is aMUST READ.

DOWNLOAD HERE