If you see someone walking down the frozen food aisle with a revolver on their belt, don’t be alarmed. It is completely legal in the state of South Carolina.
Anyone in South Carolina who has a concealed weapons permit (CWP) can legally carry a pistol beginning in 2021.
In March 2024, the Constitutional Carry Guidance in South Carolina changed and now specifies that it is permissible to openly or concealed carry a firearm with a length of “less than 12 inches” in South Carolina, regardless of whether you have a valid CWP or not.
What is a Concealed Weapons Permit and do I still need one in SC?
Permits now have little value in South Carolina, because to changes in the Constitutional Carry Guidance.
According to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), the modifications under the current handgun regulations in South Carolina are:
- There are no limitations on weapons inside cars. Guns can be stored within the car, either openly or hidden.
- Possession of a firearm is not sufficient justification to stop an individual. To stop, there must be a reasonable suspicion that a crime has occurred. Law enforcement officials cannot conduct a stop just because a firearm is visible.
- It allows those 18 and older to carry weapons openly or hidden without a permit.
- A CWP holder or anyone carrying a handgun without a permit under this statute is not required to alert a law enforcement officer that they are carrying a firearm.
- In the event that a CWP is no longer required, a CWP holder is not obligated to carry it or declare his or her status as a CWP holder to a law enforcement officer.
Even if CWPs have lost part of their value in the state of South Carolina, obtaining one is still beneficial for a few reasons:
- If interstate travel with your firearm is crucial to you, lawyers recommend that you obtain or renew an existing permit.
- Having a CWP makes buying a handgun easier.
According to the United States Concealed Carry Association, there are now 675,000 permits issued in South Carolina.
Where is open carry forbidden in SC?
Despite these advancements, weapons are still outlawed in some areas. According to South Carolina Law Enforcement, these forbidden sites are:
- Police stations, sheriff’s offices, and other law enforcement buildings.
- Jails and detention centers.
- Courthouses/courtrooms.
- Polling stations on election days.
- Government offices or meeting venues, such as those for counties, cities, and school districts.
- School or college athletic events unrelated to weapons.
- Church personnel with a CWP may carry a pistol openly or hidden on school grounds if the land is leased by the church, but only during services or other official church activities. In some cases, this may also apply to a school on church premises.
- Daycare centers or preschools.
- Places where carrying a handgun is prohibited by federal law.
- Churches or religious sanctuaries, unless the facility’s leader grants permission.
- Hospitals, medical clinics, doctor’s offices, and other locations where medical services are provided unless authorization is granted by the facility’s administrator.
- Businesses, restaurants, or other venues that display “No Concealed Weapons Allowed” signs or otherwise indicate that concealed weapons are not permitted on their grounds.
- You may not enter homes, apartments, or other dwellings unless you have the specific authorization of the resident.
- If you bring a pistol to a school or college, you should not carry it with you. It must be kept in a closed glove compartment, closed console, closed trunk, or a closed container fastened with an inbuilt fastener and transported in the vehicle’s luggage compartment.
Can I carry a handgun in my car?
South Carolina law allows you to carry a pistol in your car. It is legal to store or carry a pistol in your car, whether occupied or not.
What if I’m a business owner? Do I get a say?
If you own a business or have influence over it, you have the right to carry a pistol on the premises.
If you are an employee, you may do so with the owner’s approval under South Carolina law.
What if I find a handgun? What should I do?
If you find a firearm sitting anyplace unattended or in someone’s vehicle, you can contact the police and turn it over to them.
Once reported, they will investigate if the gun was stolen or used in a crime, and they may be able to locate the legal owner.
Who is not allowed to own a gun in South Carolina?
A person who has been convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year in jail may not possess a firearm or ammunition.
South Carolina’s firearm regulations prohibit the following people from owning a gun:
- Persons convicted of a felony, a serious offense, a crime involving criminal domestic abuse, or a misdemeanor punishable by more than two years in jail. However, if you have the charges dropped, you will regain your gun rights.
- Persons subject to a domestic order of protection (such as a restraining order in family court) may not possess a handgun or ammunition at any time. If your domestic order of protection has expired, you may be eligible to regain your firearms rights.
- People who are not felons but are awaiting trial on felony charges may not be granted access to firearms.
- Persons on probation or parole.
- People who have been pronounced mentally unable by a court of law.
- Persons ordered by a court to relinquish their firearms.
What are offenses with open carry laws?
If the terms of Section 16-23-20 are broken, the accused party may be found guilty of the following, depending on the type of offense:
A misdemeanor punishable by a $1,000 fine and up to a year in prison (first offense).
A misdemeanor punishable by up to three years in jail (second offense).
A crime that, if convicted, might result in up to five years in jail. (3rd offense).
A person convicted of committing or attempting to conduct a crime with a concealable firearm, as defined in Section 23-31-210(5) of South Carolina law, faces up to three years in prison.
Are there any other weapon offenses in South Carolina?
South Carolina has a few weapon-related charges and legislation. Some of the most common are:
- You cannot own or operate an automatic weapon, sawed-off rifle, or sawed-off shotgun.
- You are not permitted to bring any weapon to school, including a knife with a blade longer than two inches, a blackjack, a metal pipe or pole, firearms, or any other form of weapon, gadget, or anything capable of causing physical injury or death.
- You cannot point a firearm at another person.
- You cannot fire a firearm toward or into any building or structure that may be populated by persons.
- Weapons cannot be discharged from a car, boat, or aircraft.
Local ordinances
City and county ordinances frequently govern the discharge or usage of weapons.
Staff Sergeant Herlong of the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office remarked, “Beaufort County follows all of the same carry laws as the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.”
However, different sections in Beaufort County have their own regulations governing firearm discharge. This is what they say about the City of Beaufort, Bluffton, and Hilton Head.
Beaufort
It is illegal to discharge any firearm, air gun, spring-loaded gun, crossbow, bow and arrow, or other device that fires a projectile, arrow, or rocket within the municipal limits of Beaufort.
This legislation prohibits law enforcement personnel, gun range use, and people from properly defending themselves with a handgun when they are in fear of their life or the serious bodily harm of another. In approved regions, hunting with a gun is permissible.
Bluffton
In the City of Bluffton, it is illegal to intentionally, carelessly, or negligently discharge or cause to be discharged any loaded or unloaded handgun.
You may not discharge an air gun, pellet rifle, slingshot, or other device within the city’s corporate lines with the intent to hurt someone or property.
This ordinance prohibits forms of self-defense, officers, gun ranges, and other regulated establishments.
Hilton Head
Firearms are not permitted to be discharged within Hilton Head.
This ordinance exempts police personnel, security officials, hunters, and sites designated by the town manager for practice ranges and sport shooting.
