Citation(s) from the GunPolicy.org literature library
Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. 2024 ‘Location Restrictions in South Carolina.’ Guns in Public. San Francisco, CA: Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. 19 April
Relevant contents
Other Location Restrictions in South Carolina
No person, even a concealed weapons permit holder, may possess any firearm in or on:
- The grounds of the South Carolina state capitol or within the capitol building (concealable weapons permit holders are exempt from bringing a handgun onto capitol grounds, but must leave their gun within a locked vehicle not readily accessible on the capitol grounds);
- Any publicly-owned building or property, without the express permission of the authorities in charge of the premises or property; or
- A business which sells alcoholic liquor, beer or wine for consumption on the premises.
Persons are prohibited from possessing a firearm at any park or facility under the jurisdiction of the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism ("Department"), except:
- Anyone in an area specifically designated by the Department for the use of firearms;
- A person carrying a concealable weapon pursuant to state permit; or
- A licensed hunter with an unloaded firearm in a case or the trunk of a vehicle.
An inmate of a state correctional facility or local detention facility is prohibited from carrying a firearm on his or her person or willfully concealing a firearm within any Department of Corrections facility or other place of confinement.
An innkeeper may refuse or deny any accommodations, facilities, or privileges of a lodging establishment to a person whom the innkeeper reasonably believes is bringing in firearms, and may eject such a person from the lodging establishment.
A permit to carry a concealable weapon does not authorize a permit holder to carry a concealable weapon into any:
- Police, sheriff, or highway patrol station or any other law enforcement office or facility;
- Detention facility, prison, jail or any other correctional facility or office;
Courthouse or courtroom;
- Polling place on election days;
- Office of or the business meeting of the governing body of a county, public school district, municipality, or special purpose district;
- School or college athletic event not related to firearms;
- Daycare facility or pre-school facility;
- Place where the carrying of firearms is prohibited by federal law;
- Church or other established religious sanctuary unless express permission is given by the appropriate church official or governing body; or
- Hospital, medical clinic, doctor's office, or any other facility where medical services or procedures are performed unless expressly authorized by the employer.
A person violating these location restrictions is not only criminally liable for a misdemeanor, but may also have his or her permit revoked for five years.
Notwithstanding the aforementioned location restrictions, public and private employers retain the right to prohibit a person with a concealable weapons permit from carrying a concealable weapon upon the premises of the business or work place, or while using any machinery, vehicle, or equipment owned or operated by the business. Moreover, private property owners or persons in legal possession or control of private property have the right to allow or prohibit the carrying of a concealable weapon upon their premises. The posting of a sign stating "No Concealable Weapons Allowed" by the employer, owner, or person in legal possession or control of the property constitutes notice to a permit holder that the employer, owner, or person in legal possession or control requests that concealable weapons not be brought upon the premises or into the work place.
Concealable weapons permit holders may not carry a concealable weapon into the residence or dwelling place of another person without the express permission of the owner or person in legal control or possession of the property.
A holder of a concealable weapons permit who carries a firearm into a business which sells alcoholic liquor, beer, or wine for consumption on the premises will have his or her permit revoked, in addition to other penalties.
Permit holders are allowed to possess a firearm at an interstate highway rest area facility…
[Editor's note: The Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence regularly updates its webpages with new data as US gun regulation evolves state by state. For the most up-to-date information on US gun laws, please refer to the Giffords URL below]