H. 3594 as signed by the Governor on March 7, 2024, authorizes individuals who are not otherwise prohibited from possessing a firearm, to legally possess a firearm openly or concealed without training and without a concealed weapons permit issued by SLED..
Business owners can still restrict open and concealed carry on the premises of their business by placing the appropriate signage pursuant to South Carolina Code 23-31-235. Members of the Lake City Police Department command staff can assist business owners with the placement of appropriate signage and answer questions regarding the law. For details, contact 843-374-5411.
Under H.3594:
Who can carry:
- Allows anyone 18 years or older to carry a firearm in public without a concealed weapons permit, training or background check
Where you cannot carry
- courthouse, courtroom, or other publicly owned building, whether owned by the State, a county, a municipality, or other political subdivision, where court is held and during the time that court is in session;
- polling place on election days;
- office of or 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 preschool 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;
- hospital, medical clinic, doctor's office, or any other facility where medical services or procedures are performed, unless expressly authorized by the appropriate entity;
- residence or dwelling place of another person without the express permission of the owner or person in legal control or possession of the residence or dwelling place, as appropriate; or
- place clearly marked with a sign prohibiting the carrying of a concealable weapon on the premises in compliance with Section 23-31-235
Notice to those carrying
- Preserves current signage requirements in Section 23-31-235 to alert carriers they may not carry on the premises listed above
Carrying in establishments that serve alcohol
- Cannot knowingly carry into an establishment that sells alcohol unless you do not drink. If you’re not drinking, you can carry
Theft of a weapon
- Theft of a weapon must be reported to law enforcement within 30 days of discovery of the theft
Convicted felons cannot carry
- Prohibits convicted felons from possessing firearms with penalties up to 30 years for doing so
Carrying no reason to be stopped
- Merely carrying a weapon may not be used as cause by law enforcement to search, detain or arrest someone
Prior conviction can be expunged
- Anyone convicted of unlawful possession prior to enactment of this law may apply for expungement
CWP class for free
- SLED must contract with CWP instructors to provide CWP training twice each month in each county at no charge to trainees
- Anyone who does not have a CWP and is convicted of a crime involving a gun can face up to 3 additional years in prison. Anyone who has a CWP and is convicted of a crime involving a gun is not subject to the additional 3 years in prison
The bill H.3594 can be viewed at the South Carolina Legislature website by searching for 3594, or download a pdf copy.