State Gun Laws

Even if you do not have an order of protection against the abuser, and s/he has not been convicted of a crime, South Carolina laws make it illegal to have a handgun in the following circumstances:

• s/he is a drug addict or an alcoholic;
• s/he has been declared mentally incompetent by a judge;
• s/he is under 18 years old, with some exceptions for members of the Armed Forces or for those under the immediate supervision of a parent or adult instructor;
• s/he has been declared unfit to carry or possess a gun by a circuit court or county court judge in South Carolina; or
• s/he is a member of a “subversive organization.”¹

If none of these situations apply, you can still make a plan for your safety. See our Safety Planning page for more information. You can also contact your local domestic violence organization for additional help. You may want to talk to them about whether leaving the area - either long term or for a little while - might help improve your safety. See our SC Advocates and Shelters page to find a local domestic violence organization near you.

For additional information on gun laws in South Carolina, you can go to the Giffords Law Center website.

Also, federal laws, which apply to all states, restrict an abuser’s right to have a gun under other circumstances. Go to Federal Gun Laws to get more information.

¹ S.C. Code §§ 16-23-30(A)(1), (B); 16-23-10(3), (4)