I will try to keep current information on legislative actions on my web page Whatever! By Patrick D. Nolan “Dr No” or you can get email alerts about legislative action by completing a short form here.
Status of Gun Bills in the South Carolina House of Representatives and Senate as of August 10, 2017

S 0085 General Bill, By Bryant and Gambrell 
A bill to amend section 16-23-430(a) of the 1976 Code, relating to carrying weapons on school property, to enact Jacob Hall’s law to clarify that school personnel authorized by school officials may carry a weapon on school property in addition to law enforcement officers and personnel and to allow the school officials to require weapons training before authorizing school personnel to carry weapons on school property.

  • 12/13/16 Senate Prefiled
  • 12/13/16 Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary
  • 01/10/17 Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 52)
  • 01/10/17 Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary (Senate Journal-page 52)

S 0088 General Bill, By Verdin Similar (S 0432)
A bill to amend section 23-31-220 of the 1976 Code, relating to a public or private employer’s posting of a sign prohibiting the carrying of a concealed weapon on the employers’ premises, to create a cause of action for a concealed weapons permit holder who is injured while on the premises of an employer who has prohibited the concealed weapons permit holder from carrying a concealed weapon; to amend section 16-23-20 of the 1976 code, relating to the unlawful carrying of handguns and exceptions, to create an exception to allow anyone to carry a concealed weapon during a mandatory evacuation order declared by the governor and to place certain time periods on this exception; to amend article 4, chapter 31, title 23 of the 1976 code, relating to concealed weapons permits, by adding section 23-31-218, to create an institutional concealed weapons permit, to require the state law enforcement division to promulgate regulations relating the curriculum and training required to obtain an institutional concealed weapons permit, and to allow institutional concealed weapons permit holders to carry a concealable weapon in schools, daycares, churches, and hospitals; and to amend section 56-3-1230 of the 1976 code, relating to license plate specifications, to require the department of motor vehicles to issue a sticker to each concealed weapons permit holder who is a vehicle owner that must be affixed to the vehicle owner’s license plate to indicate the vehicle owner is a concealed weapons permit holder.

  • 12/13/16 Senate Prefiled
  • 12/13/16 Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary
  • 01/10/17 Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 53)
  • 01/10/17 Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary (Senate Journal-page 53)

S 0143 General Bill, By McLeod Similar (H 3180, H 3181, H 3328)
a bill to amend the code of laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding article 2 to chapter 31, title 23 entitled “firearms criminal background checks” so as to require that a national instant criminal background check must be completed and delivery of a firearm to a purchaser or transferee may not take place until the results of all required background checks are known and the purchaser or transferee is not prohibited from delivery of the firearm.

  • 12/13/16 Senate Prefiled
  • 12/13/16 Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary
  • 01/10/17 Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 82)
  • 01/10/17 Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary
  • (Senate Journal-page 82)

S 0158 General Bill, By Malloy Similar (S 0159)
A bill to amend chapter 23, title 16 of the 1976 Code, relating to offenses involving weapons, by adding article 9, to require that no gun transfer preceded by a criminal background check may proceed, unless the criminal background check has concluded that the sale may proceed, until at least twenty-eight days have passed from the initiation of the background check, and to provide for criminal penalties for violations of this article.

  • 12/13/16 Senate Prefiled
  • 12/13/16 Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary
  • 01/10/17 Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 86)
  • 01/10/17 Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary (Senate Journal-page 86)

S 0159 General Bill, By Malloy Similar (S 0158)
A bill to amend chapter 31, title 23 of the 1976 code, relating to firearms, by adding article 11, to require that no gun transfer preceded by a criminal background check may proceed, unless the criminal background check has concluded that the sale may proceed, until at least twenty-eight days have passed from the initiation of the background check, and to provide for criminal penalties for violations of this article.

  • 12/13/16 Senate Prefiled
  • 12/13/16 Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary
  • 01/10/17 Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 87)
  • 01/10/17 Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary (Senate Journal-page 87)
  • 04/04/17 Senate Referred to Subcommittee: Turner (Ch), Malloy, Kimpson, Climer, Goldfinch

S 0324 General Bill, By Peeler, Hutto and McElveen Similar (H 3205)
A bill to amend section 23-31-240, code of laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to persons allowed to carry a concealable weapon while on duty, so as to include persons who are retired from certain offices and clerks of court in the purview of the statute.

  • 01/31/17 Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 17)
  • 01/31/17 Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary (Senate Journal-page 17)
  • 02/13/17 Senate Referred to Subcommittee: Hutto (Ch), Timmons, Rice
  • 04/19/17 Senate Committee report: Favorable with amendment Judiciary (Senate Journal-page 8)
  • 04/20/17 Scrivener’s error corrected
  • 05/04/17 Senate Committee Amendment Amended (Senate Journal-page 24)
  • 05/05/17 Scrivener’s error corrected
  • 05/08/17 Senate Committee Amendment Adopted (Senate Journal-page 33)
  • 05/09/17 Scrivener’s error corrected

S 0430 General Bill, by Senn
A bill to amend chapter 31, title 23 of the 1976 code, relating to firearms, by adding article 3, to provide that any person who knowingly solicits, persuades, encourages, or entices a dealer or seller of firearms or ammunition to transfer a firearm or ammunition under circumstances that the person knows would violate the laws of this state or the united states is guilty of a felony and must be fined not more than three thousand dollars, imprisoned up to five years, or both; and to define necessary terms.

  • 02/16/17 Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 5)
  • 02/16/17 Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary
  • (Senate Journal-page 5)
  • 04/19/17 Senate Referred to Subcommittee: Malloy (Ch), Fanning, Goldfinch, Rice, Senn

S 0431 General Bill, By Senn
A bill to amend article 5, chapter 23, title 16 of the 1976 code, relating to miscellaneous offenses involving weapons, by adding section 16-23-540, to provide that it is unlawful for a person to threaten, solicit another to threaten, or conspire to threaten to cause damage, injury, or death or to cause damage to or destroy a building or other real or personal property by use of a firearm on any premises or property owned, operated, or controlled by a private or public school, college, university, technical college, or other post-secondary institution or in any publicly owned building; to provide that a person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor; to provide that a person who violates this section resulting in property damage is guilty of a misdemeanor; and to provide that a person who violates this section by causing injury or death is guilty of a felony.

  • 02/16/17 Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 5)
  • 02/16/17 Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary (Senate Journal-page 5)
  • 04/04/17 Senate Referred to Subcommittee: Turner (Ch), Malloy, Kimpson, Climer, Goldfinch

S 0432 General Bill, By Verdin Similar (S 0088) 

A bill to amend section 23-31-220 of the 1976 code, relating to a public or private employer’s posting of a sign prohibiting the carrying of a concealed weapon on the employers’ premises, to create a cause of action for a concealed weapons permit holder who is injured while on the premises of an employer who has prohibited the concealed weapons permit holder from carrying a concealed weapon; to amend section 16-23-20 of the 1976 code, relating to the unlawful carrying of handguns and exceptions, to create an exception to allow anyone to carry a concealed weapon during a mandatory evacuation order declared by the governor and to place certain time periods on this exception; and to amend article 4, chapter 31, title 23 of the 1976 code, relating to concealed weapons permits, by adding section 23-31-218, to create an institutional concealed weapons permit, to require the state law enforcement division to promulgate regulations relating the curriculum and training required to obtain an institutional concealed weapons permit, and to allow institutional concealed weapons permit holders to carry a concealable weapon in schools, daycares, churches, and hospitals.

  • 02/16/17 Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 6)
  • 02/16/17 Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary (Senate Journal-page 6)

S 0449 General Bill, By Martin, Corbin, Rice, Shealy, Verdin and Davis Similar (H 3700, H 3930)
A bill to amend the code of laws of South Carolina, 1976, by enacting the “South Carolina Constitutional Carry Act Of 2017”, to amend section 16-23-20 relating to the unlawful carrying of a firearm, to affirmatively assert that it is legal to carry a handgun in this state, unless otherwise prohibited, with location exceptions where firearms are prohibited; to amend 16-23-50(a)(2) to provide that a person who enters a premises with a sign prohibiting firearms while possessing a firearm must be charged with trespass; to amend sections 16-23-420 and 16-23-430, both relating to the possession of a firearm on school property, so as to delete references to concealed weapon permits, to delete the term “weapon” and replace it with the term “firearm”, and to provide that both sections do not apply to a person who lawfully is carrying a weapon secured in a motor vehicle; to delete section 16-23-460 related to the unlawful carrying of a concealed weapon; to amend section 16-23-465, relating to penalties for unlawfully carrying a firearm onto the premises of a business selling alcoholic liquor, beer, or wine for consumption on the premises, to delete a reference to a person carrying a concealable weapon pursuant to article 4, chapter 31, title 23, to provide that this section does not apply to a person lawfully carrying a weapon who does not consume alcoholic liquor, beer, or wine while carrying a weapon on the business premises and to remove reference to “concealable weapon” and replace with “weapon”; to amend section 23-31-215, relating to the issuance of a concealed weapon permit, to delete the provision that requires a permit holder to possess his permit identification when carrying a concealable weapon, the provision that requires a permit holder to inform a law enforcement officer that he is a permit holder and present the permit to the officer under certain circumstances and to make conforming changes; to amend sections 23-31-220, relating to a property owner’s right to allow a holder of a concealed weapons permit to carry a weapon onto his property, so as to make technical changes, to provide that this provision regulates both persons who possess and do not possess a concealable weapons permit; to delete sections 23-31-225 and 23-31-230 relating to the unlawful carrying of a concealed weapon into a residence and the carrying of a weapon between an automobile and an accommodation; to amend section 23-31-235 relating to the posting of signs prohibiting “concealed weapons” and replace with conforming language of “weapons”; and by amending section 10-11-320 related to the trespasses and ffenses of public buildings on capitol grounds, to delete the term “concealable weapons’ permit” and replace with the term “firearm”;

  • 02/21/17 Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 10)
  • 02/21/17 Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary (Senate Journal-page 10)
  • 04/19/17 Senate Referred to Subcommittee: Malloy (Ch), Fanning, Goldfinch, Rice, Senn

S 0516 General Bill, By Gregory and Kimpson
A bill to amend section 14-17-325 of the South Carolina code of laws, 1976, related to clerks of court, to require that every clerk of court shall report to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division within ten days, weekends and holidays excluded, the disposition of each case in general sessions, and to report within forty-eight hours the issuance of a restraining order, order of protection, order for the prevention of possession of a firearm, convictions or orders related to domestic violence, and convictions or orders related to stalking, intimidation, or harassment; to amend chapter 1, title 22, by adding section 22-1-200 to require magistrates to report to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division within ten days, weekends and holidays excluded, the disposition of each criminal case, and to report within forty-eight hours the issuance of a restraining order, order of protection, order for the prevention of possession of a firearm, convictions or orders related to domestic violence, and convictions or orders related to stalking, intimidation, or harassment; to amend article 1, chapter 25, title 14 by adding section 14-25-250 to require magistrates to report to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division within ten days, weekends and holidays excluded, the disposition of each criminal case, and to report within forty-eight hours the issuance of a restraining order, order of protection, order for the prevention of possession of a firearm, convictions or orders related to domestic violence, and convictions or orders related to stalking, intimidation, or harassment; to amend chapter 1, title 23 by adding section 23-1-250 to require each law enforcement agency to report to SLED within twenty-four hours, the filing of each incident report, order of protection, restraining order, any order or report relating to an incident of domestic violence, or any incident in which a person may be prohibited from obtaining or possessing a firearm by state or federal law; to amend title 14 by adding chapter 32 to create the Judicial Criminal Information Technology Committee, to establish membership, duties and responsibilities of the committee to include the study of, and to make recommendations for, the improvement of judicial and law enforcement information technology and reporting; to amend chapter 23, title 16, by adding article 9, to require that no gun transfer preceded by a criminal background check may proceed, unless the criminal background check has concluded that the sale may proceed, or until at least five days have passed from the initiation of the background check and the national instant criminal background check system has not reported that the sale would violate state or federal law, and to provide for criminal penalties for violations of this article; and to provide a sunset for the five-day background check provisions upon the full implementation of the reporting requirements of this act but not later than two years from the effective date of the act.

  • 03/08/17 Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 8)
  • 03/08/17 Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary (Senate Journal-page 8)
  • 04/04/17 Senate Referred to Subcommittee: Turner (Ch), Malloy, Kimpson, Climer, Goldfinch

S 0527 General Bill, By Hembree, Kimpson, Gregory and Campsen
A bill to amend article 1, chapter 23, title 16 of the 1976 code, by adding section 16-23-25, to provide that it is unlawful for a person to sell, offer to sell, deliver, lease, rent, barter, exchange, or transport for sale in this state any handgun to a person who is under the age of eighteen and to provide for exceptions; to amend section 16-23-30, relating to the unlawful carrying of a handgun, to delete the use of the term “handgun” and replace it with “firearm” or “firearm and ammunition,” to provide that it is unlawful for a person to sell, offer to sell, deliver, lease, rent, barter, exchange, transport for sale into this state, or otherwise dispose of any firearm or ammunition to a person knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that the person meets a certain category; to amend section 16-23-50, relating to penalties, disposition of fines, and the forfeiture and dispositions of handguns, to delete the use of the term “handgun” and replace it with “firearm” or “firearm and ammunition,” to provide for penalties for a person who violates the provisions of this article, except section 16-23-20, to provide that a law enforcement agency that receives a firearm pursuant to this section shall administratively release the firearm to an innocent owner under certain circumstances; to amend and add necessary terms to section 16-23-10; and to repeal sections 16-23-500 and 23-31-1040 of the 1976 code.

  • 03/09/17 Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 3)
  • 03/09/17 Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary (Senate Journal-page 3)

 H 3174 General Bill, By Allison, Elliott, Magnuson and B. Newton
A bill to amend section 23-31-240, code of laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to persons allowed to carry a concealable weapon while on duty, so as to include victim advocates employed by law enforcement agencies in the purview of the statute.

  • 12/15/16 House Prefiled
  • 12/15/16 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary
  • 01/10/17 House Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 102)
  • 01/10/17 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary (House Journal-page 102)

 H 3180 General Bill, By Cobb-Hunter Similar (S 0143, H 3181, H 3328)
A bill to amend the code of laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding article 2 to chapter 31, title 23 entitled “Firearms Criminal Background Checks” so as to require that a national instant criminal background check must be completed and delivery of a firearm to a purchaser or transferee may not take place until the results of all required background checks are known and the purchaser or transferee is not prohibited from delivery of the firearm.

  • 12/15/16 House Prefiled
  • 12/15/16 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary
  • 01/10/17 House Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 103)
  • 01/10/17 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary (House Journal-page 103)

 H 3181 General Bill, By Cobb-Hunter Similar (S 0143, H 3180, H 3328)
A bill to amend the code of laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding article 2 to chapter 31, title 23 so as to require a national instant criminal background check before any sale, exchange, or transfer of a firearm in the state and to provide procedures for the background checks; to require national instant criminal background checks at gun shows and to provide procedures for the background checks; and to exempt records kept from disclosure as a public record under the freedom of information act and to provide a penalty for a violation of the article.

  • 12/15/16 House Prefiled
  • 12/15/16 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary
  • 01/10/17 House Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 104)
  • 01/10/17 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary (House Journal-page 104)

H 3182 General Bill, By Crosby
A bill to amend section 16-23-50, code of laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to penalties for various offenses involving handguns, so as to increase the penalty for the unlawful carrying of a handgun from one year to five years and increase the fine for a violation.

  • 12/15/16 House Prefiled
  • 12/15/16 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary
  • 01/10/17 House Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 104)
  • 01/10/17 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary (House Journal-page 104)

 H 3183 General Bill, By Gilliard and Cobb-Hunter
A bill to amend section 16-23-50, code of laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to penalties for violations of certain offenses involving weapons, so as to include assault weapons in the purview of the statute and increase the penalties for a violation and create a two-tiered penalty scheme; to amend section 16-23-210, relating to definitions for purposes of the article, so as to define the term “assault weapon”; to amend sections 16-23-220, 16-23-230, and 16-23-240, relating to the unlawful transportation; storing, keeping, or possessing; and sale, rental, or giving away of machine guns, military firearms, sawed-off shotguns or rifles, respectively, so as to include assault weapons in the list of weapons banned by the provisions of the statutes; and by adding article 9 to chapter 31, title 23 so as to provide that it is unlawful to sell or give a firearm to a person whose name appears on the terrorist watch list and to provide a penalty for a person who violates this provision.

  • 12/15/16 House Prefiled
  • 12/15/16 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary
  • 01/10/17 House Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 104)
  • 01/10/17 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary (House Journal-page 104)

 H 3187 General Bill, By Burns, Chumley, Long, G.M. Smith, G.R. Smith, Magnuson and West
A bill to amend section 16-23-20, code of laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the unlawful carrying of handguns and exceptions to unlawful carrying, so as to add an additional exception for emergency medical service providers, firefighters, and other first responders during an emergency under certain delineated circumstances.

  • 12/15/16 House Prefiled
  • 12/15/16 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary
  • 01/10/17 House Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 105)
  • 01/10/17 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary (House Journal-page 105)

 H 3190 General Bill, By Gilliard
A bill to amend section 16-23-50, code of laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to penalties for offenses involving handguns, so as to restructure the penalty for the unlawful carrying of a handgun and to provide a tiered penalty structure for the offense.

  • 12/15/16 House Prefiled
  • 12/15/16 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary
  • 01/10/17 House Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 107)
  • 01/10/17 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary (House Journal-page 107)

 H 3191 General Bill, By Gilliard
A bill to amend section 16-23-50, code of laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the penalties imposed for the unlawful carrying of a handgun and the unlawful sale or delivery of a handgun, so as to create graduated penalties for subsequent offenses.

  • 12/15/16 House Prefiled
  • 12/15/16 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary
  • 01/10/17 House Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 107)
  • 01/10/17 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary (House Journal-page 107)

 H 3192 General Bill, By Gilliard
A bill to amend section 16-23-440, code of laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the offense of discharging firearms at or into dwellings, structures, enclosures, vehicles, or equipment, so as to expand the purview of the offense to include shopping malls, movie theaters, parking lots, and any other public gathering.

  • 12/15/16 House Prefiled
    12/15/16 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary
  • 01/10/17 House Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 107)
  • 01/10/17 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary (House Journal-page 107)

 H 3205 General Bill, By Pope, G.R. Smith, Elliott, Long, B. Newton, Thayer and Putnam Similar (S 0324)
A bill to amend section 23-31-240, code of laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to persons allowed to carry a concealable weapon while on duty, so as to include persons who are retired from certain offices and clerks of court in the purview of the statute.

  • 12/15/16 House Prefiled
  • 12/15/16 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary
  • 01/10/17 House Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 111)
  • 01/10/17 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary (House Journal-page 111)
  • 03/02/17 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Thayer, Putnam

 H 3217 General Bill, By Whipper
A bill to amend the code of laws of South Carolina, 1976, to enact “Lizzy’s Law” by adding section 16-23-540 so as to require an owner or other person lawfully in possession of a firearm, rifle, or shotgun to report the loss or theft of each such weapon, to require the appropriate law enforcement agency to collect certain information regarding a lost or stolen weapon, and to provide graduated penalties for the failure to report a lost or stolen weapon.

  • 12/15/16 House Prefiled
  • 12/15/16 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary
  • 01/10/17 House Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 115)
  • 01/10/17 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary (House Journal-page 115)

 H 3239 General Bill, By Chumley, Burns, Long, G.R. Smith and Magnuson
A bill to amend section 23-31-220, code of laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to a premises owner’s right to permit a concealed weapon permit holder to carry a weapon on his premises, so as to provide that a premises owner or a person in legal possession of a premises is liable for any injury sustained by a concealed weapon permit holder from the perpetrator of a crime while on a posted premises upon which a person may not carry a concealable weapon, and to provide civil liabilities associated with this provision.

  • 12/15/16 House Prefiled
  • 12/15/16 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary
  • 01/10/17 House Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 125)
  • 01/10/17 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary (House Journal-page 125)

H 3240 General Bill, By Clemmons, Lucas, Pope, Bannister, Rutherford, Delleney, White, Sandifer, Hiott, Allison, G.R. Smith, Bedingfield, W. Newton, Taylor, Yow, Murphy, Thayer, Finlay, D.C. Moss, Hayes, Crawford, Ryhal, Duckworth, Johnson, Fry, Hewitt, S. Rivers, Huggins, Chumley, Gagnon, Burns, Hill, Stringer, Loftis, Atwater, Clyburn, Elliott, Long, Magnuson, B. Newton, G.M. Smith, West, Whitmire, Hixon, Daning, Hamilton, Hardee, Crosby, Martin, V.S. Moss, Blackwell, Henderson, Herbkersman, Willis, Forrest and McCravy
A bill to amend section 23-31-215, as amended, code of laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the issuance of concealed weapons permits, so as to enact the “National Concealed Weapons Permit Reciprocity Act” by revising the conditions that allow a holder of an out-of-state weapons permit to carry a weapon in this state.

  • 12/15/16 House Prefiled
  • 12/15/16 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary
  • 01/10/17 House Introduced and read first time
  • 01/10/17 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary
  • 01/11/17 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Whitmire, Hixon, Daning (House Journal-page 125)
  • 01/12/17 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Hamilton (House Journal-page 46)
  • 01/17/17 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Hardee
  • 01/18/17 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Crosby
  • 01/25/17 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Martin
  • 01/26/17 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: V.S.Moss
  • 02/09/17 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Blackwell
  • 02/15/17 House Committee report: Favorable with amendment Judiciary (House Journal-page 3)
  • 02/21/17 House Requests for debate-Rep(s). Clemmons, JE Smith, White, Wheeler, Hewitt, Fry, Crawford, Yow, Hardee, Jefferson, Williams, King, Knight, Thigpen, Weeks, McEachern, Douglas, Ridgeway, Clary, Anderson, Pope, Hoitt, Hosey, Gilliard, McCoy, Hixon, B Newton, Martin, Brown, Clyburn, Mack, VS Moss, Bedingfield, GR Smith, Robinson-Simpson, Dilliard, Norrell (House Journal-page 32)
  • 02/23/17 House Debate adjourned until Tues., 2-28-17 (House Journal-page 21)
  • 02/28/17 House Debate adjourned until Wed., 3-1-17 (House Journal-page 19)
  • 03/01/17 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Henderson
  • 03/07/17 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Herbkersman
  • 03/09/17 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Willis
  • 03/22/17 House Debate adjourned until Thur., 3-23-17 (House Journal-page 61)
  • 03/29/17 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Forrest
  • 03/29/17 House Debate adjourned until Thur., 3-30-17 (House Journal-page 78)
  • 03/30/17 House Debate adjourned until Tues., 4-4-17 (House Journal-page 60)
  • 04/04/17 House Debate adjourned until Wed., 4-5-17 (House Journal-page 37)
  • 04/05/17 House Debate adjourned until Thur., 4-6-17 (House Journal-page 80)
  • 04/19/17 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: McCravy
  • 04/19/17 House Debate adjourned until Thur., 4-20-17 (House Journal-page 40)
  • 04/26/17 House Debate adjourned until Thur., 4-27-17 (House Journal-page 73)
  • 05/03/17 House Amended (House Journal-page 39)
  • 05/03/17 House Read second time (House Journal-page 39)
  • 05/03/17 House Roll call Yeas-85 Nays-23 (House Journal-page 92)
  • 05/04/17 House Read third time and sent to Senate (House Journal-page 58)
  • 05/08/17 Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 8)
  • 05/08/17 Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary (Senate Journal-page 8)

H 3248 General Bill, By Fry, Crawford, Thayer and Putnam Similar (H 3262)

A bill to amend section 16-23-420, code of laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the possession of a firearm on a post-secondary institution’s property so as to delete the restrictions placed on a holder of a concealed weapons permit on carrying a firearm on post-secondary school property under certain circumstances, and to provide that the governing body of the institution shall develop policies to implement the provisions that allow a holder of a concealed weapon permit to carry a firearm on the institution’s premises.

  • 12/15/16 House Prefiled
  • 12/15/16 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary
  • 01/10/17 House Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 131)
  • 01/10/17 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary (House Journal-page 131)
  • 03/02/17 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Thayer, Putnam

H 3252 General Bill, By Gilliard
A bill to amend the code of laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding section 16-23-525 so as to provide that it is unlawful for a person to use, transport, manufacture, possess, distribute, sell, or buy green tip ammunition, and to provide a penalty.

  • 12/15/16 House Prefiled
  • 12/15/16 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary
  • 01/10/17 House Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 132)
  • 01/10/17 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary (House Journal-page 132)

H 3262 General Bill, By Long, Burns, Chumley, Thayer and Putnam Similar (H 3248)
A bill to amend section 16-23-420, code of laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the possession of a firearm on a post-secondary institution’s property so as to delete the restrictions placed on a holder of a concealed weapons permit on carrying a firearm on post-secondary school property, and to make technical changes; and to amend section 23-31-215, as amended, relating to the issuance of concealed weapon permits, so as to delete the restriction placed on the carrying of a weapon into a college athletic event, and to delete an obsolete code reference, and to make technical changes.

  • 12/15/16 House Prefiled
  • 12/15/16 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary
  • 01/10/17 House Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 135)
  • 01/10/17 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary (House Journal-page 135)
  • 03/02/17 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Thayer, Putnam

H 3266 General Bill, By McKnight and Cobb-Hunter
A bill to amend the code of laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding article 9 to chapter 31, title 23 so as to provide that it is unlawful to sell or give a firearm to a person whose name appears on the terrorist watch list and to provide a penalty for a person who violates this provision.

  • 12/15/16 House Prefiled
  • 12/15/16 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary
  • 01/10/17 House Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 136)
  • 01/10/17 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary (House Journal-page 136)

H 3328 General Bill, By Bernstein Similar (S 0143, H 3180, H 3181)
A bill to amend the code of laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding article 2 to chapter 31, title 23 entitled “Firearms Criminal Background Checks” so as to require a twenty-eight day waiting period for purchasers or transferees of firearms under certain conditions. 12/15/16 house prefiled

  • 12/15/16 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary
  • 01/10/17 House Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 163)
  • 01/10/17 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary (House Journal-page 163)

H 3330 General Bill, By Hill
A bill to amend section 16-23-430, code of laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to carrying weapons on school property, so as to enact “Jacob Hall’s Law”, to provide that school personnel and concealed weapon permit holders authorized by school officials may carry a weapon on school property in addition to law enforcement officers, and to allow school officials to allow carrying of weapons on school property by school personnel or concealed weapon permit holders, require weapons training before authorizing school personnel or concealed weapon permit holders to carry weapons on school property, or prohibit school personnel or concealed weapon permit holders from carrying weapons on school property.

  • 12/15/16 House Prefiled
  • 12/15/16 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary
  • 01/10/17 House Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 164)
  • 01/10/17 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary (House Journal-page 164)

H 3429 (Rat #0104, Act #0069 of 2017) General Bill, By Clemmons and Norrell
An act to amend section 15-41-30, as amended, code of laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to property exempt from bankruptcy proceedings or attachment, levy, and sale, so as to revise exemptions in bankruptcy. – ratified title

  • 01/11/17 House Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 40)
  • 01/11/17 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary (House Journal-page 40)
  • 02/08/17 House Committee report: Favorable with amendment Judiciary (House Journal-page 17)
  • 02/14/17 House Amended (House Journal-page 7)
  • 02/14/17 House Read second time (House Journal-page 7)
  • 02/14/17 House Roll call Yeas-98 Nays-3 (House Journal-page 10)
  • 02/15/17 Scrivener’s error corrected
  • 02/16/17 House Read third time and sent to Senate (House Journal-page 28)
  • 02/21/17 Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 14)
  • 02/21/17 Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary (Senate Journal-page 14)
  • 04/04/17 Senate Referred to Subcommittee: Turner (Ch), Malloy, Kimpson, Climer, Goldfinch
  • 05/03/17 Senate Committee report: Favorable with amendment Judiciary (Senate Journal-page 15)
  • 05/05/17 Scrivener’s error corrected
  • 05/09/17 Senate Committee Amendment Adopted (Senate Journal-page 49)
  • 05/09/17 Senate Read second time (Senate Journal-page 49)
  • 05/09/17 Senate Roll call Ayes-35 Nays-3 (Senate Journal-page 49)
  • 05/10/17 Scrivener’s error corrected
  • 05/10/17 Senate Read third time and returned to House with amendments (Senate Journal-page 40)
  • 05/10/17 House Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled (House Journal-page 87)
  • 05/10/17 House Roll call Yeas-100 Nays-0 (House Journal-page 87)
  • 05/15/17 Ratified R 104
  • 05/19/17 Signed By Governor
  • 05/25/17 Effective date 5/19/17

H 3566 General Bill, By Lowe, Pitts, Jordan, White and Putnam
A bill to amend the code of laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding section 23-23-150 so as to provide that the law enforcement training council shall develop guidelines for a one-week training program offered by the Criminal Justice Academy to school first responders that certifies them to possess firearms on school premises, and to provide the conditions upon which school first responders may possess firearms on school premises, and to provide funding to create this program.

  • 01/24/17 House Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 28)
  • 01/24/17 House Referred to Committee on Ways and Means (House Journal-page 28)
  • 03/29/17 House Committee report: Favorable with amendment Ways and Means (House Journal-page 47)
  • 03/30/17 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Putnam
  • 04/04/17 House Debate adjourned until Wed., 4-5-17 (House Journal-page 73)
  • 04/05/17 House Requests for debate-Rep(s). JE Smith, Cobb-Hunter, Hill, Norrell, Hart, McEachern, Thigpen, Clary, Anderson, Brown, Tallon, Dilliard, Mitchell, Loftis, Hamilton, Lowe, Henegan, Knight, Jordon (House Journal-page 9)
  • 04/05/17 House Amended (House Journal-page 140)
  • 04/05/17 House Read second time (House Journal-page 140)
  • 04/05/17 House Roll call Yeas-80 Nays-8 (House Journal-page 145)
  • 04/06/17 House Read third time and sent to Senate (House Journal-page 26)
  • 04/06/17 House Roll call Yeas-101 Nays-0 (House Journal-page 27)
  • 04/11/17 Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 5)
  • 04/11/17 Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary (Senate Journal-page 5)

H 3700 General Bill, By Hill, Putnam, Magnuson, Bedingfield, Long, Burns, Chumley, Thayer, Forrest, Gagnon, Quinn, Toole, Martin, Huggins, Atwater, Yow, G.R. Smith, Clemmons, McCravy and Willis Similar (S 0449, H 3930) 
A bill to amend the code of laws of South Carolina, 1976, so as to enact the “South Carolina Constitutional Carry Act of 2017”; to amend section 10-11-320, relating to carrying or discharging of a firearm, so as to delete the term “concealable weapons permit” and replace it with the term “firearm”; to amend section 16-23-20, relating to the unlawful carrying of a handgun, so as to delete references to a concealed weapons permit issued to a person, to revise the provision that allows a handgun to be carried by a person in a vehicle, and to provide that a person who is not prohibited from possessing firearms under state law may carry a handgun under certain circumstances; to amend sections 16-23-420 and 16-23-430, both relating to the possession of a firearm on school property, so as to delete references to concealed weapon permits, to delete the term “weapon” and replace it with the term “firearm”, and to provide that both sections do not apply to a person who lawfully is carrying a weapon secured in a motor vehicle; to amend section 16-23-460, relating to carrying concealed weapons, so as to delete a reference to article 4, chapter 31, title 23, to provide that this section does not apply to a person lawfully carrying a concealable weapon, and to provide that this section does not apply to handguns; to amend section 51-3-145, as amended, relating to certain acts that are unlawful in a state park, so as to make technical changes; to amend section 23-31-210, as amended, relating to certain terms and their definitions relating to the issuance of concealable weapon permits, so as to revise the definition of the term “concealable weapon”; to amend section 16-23-465, as amended, relating to penalties for unlawfully carrying a firearm onto the premises of a business selling alcoholic liquor, beer, or wine for consumption on the premises, so as to delete a reference to a person carrying a concealable weapon pursuant to article 4, chapter 31, title 23, and to provide that this section does not apply to a person lawfully carrying a concealable weapon who does not consume alcoholic liquor, beer, or wine while carrying a weapon on the business premises; to amend section 23-31-215, as amended, relating to the issuance of a concealed weapon permit, so as to delete the provision that requires a permit holder to possess his permit identification when carrying a concealable weapon, the provision that requires a permit holder to inform a law enforcement officer that he is a permit holder and present the permit to the officer under certain circumstances, and the penalty associated with this provision, to provide an exception to the provision that prohibits the carrying of a concealable weapon onto certain premises, to delete the provision that provides for the revocation of a person’s permit when he violates certain provisions contained in this section, to provide that valid out-of-state permits to carry concealable weapons by a resident of another state must be honored by the state, to revise the provision that allows certain persons to carry a concealable weapon without a permit, and to delete the term “reciprocal state” and replace it with the term “another state”; to amend sections 23-31-220 and 23-31-225, both relating to a property owner’s right to allow a holder of a concealed weapons permit to carry a weapon onto his property, so as to make technical changes, to provide that this provision regulates both persons who possess and do not possess a concealable weapons permit, to delete the provision that requires the revocation of a permit for a violation of certain provisions of law, and to delete a reference to the provision that provides for the issuance of concealed weapon permits; and to amend section 23-31-240, relating to persons who are allowed to carry a concealed weapon while on duty, so as to delete the provision that requires these persons to possess a concealed weapon permit.

  • 02/08/17 House Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 27)
  • 02/08/17 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary (House Journal-page 27)
  • 02/14/17 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Martin, Huggins
  • 02/21/17 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Atwater
  • 02/23/17 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Yow, G.R.Smith
  • 03/02/17 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Clemmons, McCravy
  • 03/09/17 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Willis

H 3930 General Bill, By Pitts, Delleney, Clemmons, McCravy, Bennett, Forrest, Crawford, Lowe, Jordan, Duckworth, White, Henderson, Loftis, Burns, Chumley, Long, G.R. Smith, Bedingfield, Stringer, Bannister, Fry, Elliott, Hixon, Thayer, Collins, Yow, West, S. Rivers, V.S. Moss, Pope, Simrill, Martin, Sandifer, Gagnon, Taylor, Whitmire, Hamilton, Forrester, Huggins, D.C. Moss, Hiott, G.M. Smith, Spires, Putnam, Toole, Bradley, W. Newton, Erickson, Arrington, Lucas, Atwater, Magnuson and Murphy Similar (S 0449, H 3700)
A bill to amend the code of laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding section 16-23-510 so as to prohibit a person from carrying a handgun into certain places without permission of the owner or a person in control of the premises; to amend section 16-23-20, relating to the unlawful carrying of a handgun, so as to revise the provisions that provide when a person may lawfully carry a handgun; to amend section 16-23-420, relating to the possession of a firearm on school property, so as to revise the provisions regarding the lawful possession of a firearm on school property; to amend section 16-23-430, relating to the carrying of a weapon on school property, so as to revise the circumstances when it is lawful to carry a weapon on school property; to amend section 16-23-460, relating to carrying a deadly concealed weapon, so as to require an element of intent; to amend section 16-23-465, relating to penalties for unlawfully carrying a weapon onto premises that sell alcoholic beverages, so as to revise the elements of the offense; to amend section 23-31-215, as amended, relating to the issuance of concealable weapon permits, so as to revise the provisions relating to the issuance of permits; to amend section 23-31-220, relating to the rights of a property owner to allow or permit a person carrying a concealed weapon on his property, so as to make a conforming change; to amend section 23-31-225, relating to a person carrying a concealable weapon into the residence or dwelling place of another person, so as to provide additional circumstances when certain persons who carry a concealable weapon must leave or remove the weapon from the premises and to make a conforming change; and to provide that this act applies only to individuals who legally may purchase a firearm from a properly licensed and certified firearms dealer.

  • 03/07/17 House Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 79)
  • 03/07/17 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary (House Journal-page 79)
  • 03/08/17 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Bennett, Forrest
  • 03/09/17 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Crawford, Lowe, Jordan, Duckworth
  • 03/13/17 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: White, Henderson, Loftis, Burns, Chumley, Long, G.R.Smith, Bedingfield, Stringer, Bannister, Fry, Elliott, Hixon, Thayer, Collins, Yow, West, S.Rivers
  • 03/14/17 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: V.S.Moss, Pope, Simrill, Martin, Atwater
  • 03/22/17 House Committee report: Favorable with amendment Judiciary (House Journal-page 45)
  • 03/23/17 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Sandifer, Gagnon, Taylor, Whitmire, Hamilton, Forrester, Huggins, D.C.Moss, Hiott, G.M.Smith, Spires, Putnam, Toole, Bradley, W.Newton, Erickson, Arrington, Lucas
  • 03/23/17 House Requests for debate-Rep(s). Pitts, Delleney, Clemmons, McCravy, Bennett, Forrest, Crawford, Lowe, Jordan, Duckworth, White, Henderson, Loftis, Burns, Chumley, Long, GR Smith, Bedingfield, Stringer, Bannister, Fry, Elliott, Hixon, Thayer, Collins, Yow, West, S Rivers, VS Moss, Pope, Simrill, Martin, Sandifer, Gagnon, Taylor, Whitmire, Hamilton, Forrester, Huggins, DC Moss, Hiott, GM Smith, Spires, Putnam, Toole, Bradley, W Newton, Erickson, Arrington, Lucas (House Journal-page 40)
  • 03/29/17 House Debate interrupted (House Journal-page 112)
  • 03/30/17 House Debate adjourned until Tues., 4-4-17 (House Journal-page 59)
  • 04/04/17 House Debate adjourned until Wed., 4-5-17 (House Journal-page 38)
  • 04/05/17 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Magnuson, Murphy
  • 04/05/17 House Amended (House Journal-page 81)
  • 04/05/17 House Read second time (House Journal-page 81)
  • 04/05/17 House Roll call Yeas-64 Nays-46 (House Journal-page 113)
  • 04/06/17 House Read third time and sent to Senate (House Journal-page 25)
  • 04/11/17 Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 6)
  • 04/11/17 Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary (Senate Journal-page 6)
April 10, 2017
We are safe for the moment! The legislature is not in session!

The legislative cross-over deadline for this year is today, April 10, 2017, but since they went on leave last Friday, 4/6/2017, only bills that received a favorable 3rd reading by that date have the possibility of being enacted this year. Two bills made the cross-over deadline: H3566, H3930 (see below).
To see the full text of a bill go to

Notable movement occurred in the following bills:
S159 No sale or transfer without a completed background check. Referred to subcommittee 4/4/17
S430 No transfer of firearms or ammo if one knows the receiver is a prohibited person. Referred to subcommittee 3/31/17
S431 Make it unlawful to threaten on school property with a firearm. Referred to subcommittee 3/31/17
S432 Create a cause of action if injured and employer posted against CWP, allow carry if Governor issues mandatory evacuation order, and create an “institutional” CWP for carry in schools, daycares and churches. Referred to Judiciary 2/21/17/
S449 (similar to H3700 and H3930) “Constitutional Carry.” Referred to subcommittee 4/4/17
S516 Allow retired judges and clerks to carry concealed. Referred to Judiciary 3/8/17
S527 Specifies categories of people it is unlawful to transfer a firearm to. 3/9/17
H3240 “National Reciprocity” (really “recognition”). Is stalled in debate, but see H3930 below.
H3566 Training for first responders to carry in schools. Passed 3rd reading 101-0 on 4/6/17 and sent to Senate.
H3930 (similar to S449 and H3700) “Constitutional Carry” Passed 3rd reading 64-46 and sent to Senate.  In addition to “permit-less” concealed and open carry it also:
1.  Would have SC honor All out-of-state Permits of those 21 and older.
2.  Concealed carry on school-owned property would be unlawful only if the person knowingly did so.
3.  SLED no longer would have to find a “favorable” report, rather a permit could only be withheld if there was disqualifying information.
4.  Make unlawful to carry concealed if one intends to harm another, but intention cannot be inferred simply from carry.