South Carolina State Law Summary

Last updated November 2, 2010

In the publication Gun Laws Matter: A Comparison of State Firearms Laws and Statistics, LCAV ranked each state based on a review of state laws in 25 firearm-related policy areas. South Carolina ranked 31st out of 50 – having enacted few gun violence prevention laws. Among other things, South Carolina:

Imposes a minimum age for persons to possess or acquire a handgun;

Requires retail firearms dealers selling handguns to obtain a state license; and

Imposes design safety standards for handguns.

South Carolina does not, however:

Require a background check prior to the transfer of a firearm between private parties;

Prohibit the transfer or possession of assault weapons, 50 caliber rifles, or large capacity ammunition magazines;

Limit the number of firearms that may be purchased at one time; or

Impose a waiting period on firearm purchases.

Local governments in South Carolina generally lack authority to regulate firearms or ammunition, and South Carolina requires local law enforcement to issue a concealed handgun permit to any applicant who meets certain basic qualifications.

South Carolina ranks 14th in number of gun deaths per capita. In 2007, 592 people died from firearm-related injuries in South Carolina. South Carolina supplied the sixth highest number of crime guns to other states per capita in 2009, and exports far more crime guns than it imports.

For details about specific firearms laws in South Carolina, choose a topic below.

Overview

State "Right to Bear Arms"

Statistics

Local Authority to Regulate Firearms

State Firearms Policies