South Carolina allows permitless handgun carry in many situations, but the 2024 constitutional-carry law did not eliminate location restrictions or possession bans. If a Greenville arrest involves where a gun was carried or who possessed it, Beasley Tomlinson Law Firm’s gun charge defense lawyers can review the specific statute and facts before the first hearing.
South Carolina Permitless Carry Has Limits
A permit is no longer required to carry a handgun openly or concealed in a lawful manner. The change does not authorize possession by someone who is prohibited by state or federal law, and it does not override statutes that restrict firearms in particular places.
Places Where Handguns Are Still Restricted
Under South Carolina handgun law, you may not carry a handgun in several locations unless a specific exception applies. Examples include:
- Law enforcement, correctional, and detention facilities
- Courthouses and courtrooms while court is in session
- Polling places on election day
- Certain government offices and governing-body meetings
- School or college athletic events not related to firearms
- Daycare and preschool facilities
- Churches and other established religious sanctuaries without permission
- Hospitals, clinics, doctors’ offices, and other medical facilities without authorization
Private employers and property owners can also prohibit concealable weapons on their premises. South Carolina law sets specific rules for signs that give notice that concealable weapons are not allowed.
School Property Has Separate Firearm Rules
A separate statute governs school property. A firearm generally cannot be possessed on property owned, operated, or controlled by a school, college, university, technical college, or other post-secondary institution without authorization. One important vehicle exception allows a firearm to remain inside an attended or locked vehicle when it is secured in a closed glove compartment, console, trunk, or qualifying closed container.
People Who Are Prohibited From Possessing Firearms
Permitless carry only helps someone who is legally allowed to possess the firearm. State and federal law can prohibit possession based on circumstances such as certain felony or violent-crime convictions, qualifying domestic-violence convictions or protective orders, fugitive status, or unlawful use of controlled substances. The exact restriction depends on the person’s record and the applicable law.
Penalties Depend on the Statute Charged
A first violation of South Carolina’s unlawful-handgun-carry statute can be a misdemeanor carrying up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. Repeat violations carry higher penalties. A firearm offense on school property is a separate felony that can carry up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.
The firm also handles broader weapons charges involving firearm possession, use, transportation, and related allegations.
Have a Greenville Gun Defense Lawyer Review the Charge
Small details can decide a gun case, including the exact property line, signage, vehicle storage, and why police searched for the firearm. Call 864-775-5787 or contact the firm online to review the charge and the location where the firearm was found.