Current Status Introducing Body:House Bill Number:4430 Primary Sponsor:Sharpe Committee Number:25 Type of Legislation:GB Subject:Firearm, discharge of; provisions Residing Body:House Current Committee:Judiciary Computer Document Number:JIC/6171.HC Introduced Date:Feb 19, 1992 Last History Body:House Last History Date:Feb 19, 1992 Last History Type:Introduced, read first time, referred to Committee Scope of Legislation:Statewide All Sponsors:Sharpe Smith Huff Corning Stone Tucker Rudnick Wilder Bennett Type of Legislation:General Bill
Bill Body Date Action Description CMN
---- ------ ------------ ------------------------------ ---
4430 House Feb 19, 1992 Introduced, read first time, 25
referred to Committee
View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.
TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 16-23-520 SO AS TO MAKE IT UNLAWFUL TO DISCHARGE A FIREARM IN A MANNER LIKELY TO CAUSE BODILY INJURY OR DEATH OF PERSONS OR DOMESTIC ANIMALS OR DAMAGE TO OR DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY, TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS, AND TO PROVIDE A PENALTY FOR VIOLATIONS.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Article 5, Chapter 23, Title 16 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 16-23-520. (A) It is unlawful for any person intentionally, negligently, or carelessly to discharge a firearm in a manner likely to cause bodily injury or death to persons or domestic animals or damage to or destruction of property.
(B) Subsection (A) of this section does not apply to:
(1) A rifle, pistol, skeet, or trap range operated by a recognized gun club meeting standards recommended by the National Rifle Association or any equivalent nationally recognized firearms safety authority for the type and caliber of firearms being fired;
(2) A person target shooting on his own property or on the property of another with the written permission of the owner of the property, exhibiting reasonable regard for the safety of persons or property if the person is using a backstop meeting standards recommended by the National Rifle Association or an equivalent nationally recognized firearms safety organization for the type and caliber of firearm being fired;
(3) A person hunting on his own property or on the property of another with the permission of the owner of the property, exhibiting reasonable regard for the safety of persons and property;
(4) Law enforcement officers or members of the armed forces discharging firearms in the line of duty;
(5) A person discharging a firearm in self-defense.
(C) A person violating any provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be punished by a fine not to exceed two hundred dollars or imprisonment of not more than thirty days."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.