South Carolina Gun Laws in Plain English
In South Carolina, you can carry a handgun openly or concealed without a permit if you are at least 18 and legally allowed to own a gun. You do not need to register your firearms or wait to buy them. However, you must be careful about where you carry; churches, doctor's offices, and other people's homes are off-limits unless you have specific permission. While you don't need a permit to carry in the state, getting one is still useful for travel to other states and for carrying within 1,000 feet of schools.
Critical: South Carolina Gun Law Gotchas
These are the most important things to know that could get you arrested or charged with a crime:
- #1The federal 1,000-foot Gun-Free School Zone (18 U.S.C. § 922(q)) applies - constitutional carry does NOT exempt you; you need a physical SC CWP.
- #2You cannot carry into a church or religious sanctuary unless you have express permission from the church leadership (S.C. Code § 23-31-232(M)).
- #3You cannot carry into a doctor's office, hospital, or medical clinic unless you have express permission (S.C. Code § 23-31-232(M)).
- #4You cannot carry into another person's private residence unless you have express permission from the owner (S.C. Code § 23-31-232(M)).
- #5If you carry in a vehicle and the gun is NOT on your person, it MUST be secured in a closed glove box, closed console, or closed trunk. It cannot be loose under the seat (S.C. Code § 16-23-20(9)).
- #6Signs stating 'No Concealable Weapons Allowed' have the force of law if they meet specific size and font requirements (S.C. Code § 23-31-235).
- #7You cannot carry while consuming alcohol or while under the influence of alcohol or drugs (S.C. Code § 16-23-465).
- #8You can carry in a restaurant that serves alcohol ONLY if you do not consume alcohol (S.C. Code § 23-31-232(M)).
- #9While you can buy a handgun in a private sale at 18, federal law prohibits FFLs from selling handguns to anyone under 21.
- #10Constitutional carry does not grant reciprocity in all other states; you may still need a CWP for travel.
- #11Carrying past a compliant 'No Concealable Weapons' sign is a criminal violation, not just trespassing.
- #12You cannot carry in a detention facility, prison, or jail (S.C. Code § 23-31-232(M)).
- #13You cannot carry in a polling place on election day (S.C. Code § 23-31-232(M)).
Read these carefully - they cover common mistakes that lead to felony charges.