South Carolina is a "shall issue" concealed carry permit state. No permit is required to purchase rifles, shotguns, or handguns. South Carolina also has "Castle Doctrine" legal protection of the use of deadly force against intruders into one's home, business, or car. It is unlawful to carry a firearm onto private or public school property or into any publicly owned building without express permission. Open carry is not allowed, but no permit is required to carry a loaded handgun in the console or glove compartment of a car. As of September 12, 2008, states with which South Carolina has reciprocity are: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.[203][204]
South Carolina law also now supports a "stand your ground" philosophy under the "Protection of Persons and Property Act" SECTION 16-11-440(C) with the following language. The act was apparently ruled non-retroactive in State v. Dickey.[205]
A person who is not engaged in an unlawful activity and who is attacked in another place where he has a right to be, including, but not limited to, his place of business, has no duty to retreat and has the right to stand his ground and meet force with force, including deadly force, if he reasonably believes it is necessary to prevent death or great bodily injury to himself or another person or to prevent the commission of a violent crime as defined in Section 16-1-60.
South Carolina also has the "Make My Day" law. Giving a person to right to become a person's "alter ego" and use deadly force to protect another person if said person has the right to use deadly force himself but not the means.
State Legal Statute Source:
SECTION 23-31-205
State Department Locations:
South Carolina Law Enforcement Division
Attn: Regulatory Services Unit
P.O. Box 21398
Columbia, South Carolina 29221
Phone: 803-896-7014
Attorney General
Box 11549
Columbia, South Carolina 29211
Phone: (803) 734-3970
Fax: (803) 253-6283
http://www.scattorneygeneral.org
Permit Costs & Info:
$50 4 years
Issuing Authority: S.C. Law Enforcement Division
On line Renual information.
Click Here for CCW Permit Form
States that Honor South Carolina's CCW Permit:
Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida*, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas*, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan*, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont*, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming* Honors RESIDENTIAL South Carolina permits only.
State CCW Permits that South Carolina Honors:
Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming,
