S 0568 General Bill, By Knotts, Verdin, Kuhn, Thomas, Courson, Peeler, Grooms, 
Leatherman, Giese, Branton, Gregory, McConnell, Fair, Waldrep and Mescher
 A BILL TO AMEND CHAPTER 23, TITLE 16, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976,
 RELATING TO THE EXCEPTIONS FOR CARRYING A CONCEALED WEAPON, SO AS TO PROVIDE
 THAT RETIRED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND OFFICERS CERTIFIED IN OTHER STATES
 WHO SUBSEQUENTLY BECOME RESIDENTS OF THIS STATE MAY CARRY A CONCEALED WEAPON
 IF THEY COMPLETE AN INITIAL STATE CONSTABLE COURSE AND ARE RE-CERTIFIED
 ANNUALLY.

   04/08/03  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-27
   04/08/03  Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary SJ-27

TO AMEND CHAPTER 23, TITLE 16, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE EXCEPTIONS FOR CARRYING A CONCEALED WEAPON, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT RETIRED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND OFFICERS CERTIFIED IN OTHER STATES WHO SUBSEQUENTLY BECOME RESIDENTS OF THIS STATE MAY CARRY A CONCEALED WEAPON IF THEY COMPLETE AN INITIAL STATE CONSTABLE COURSE AND ARE RE-CERTIFIED ANNUALLY.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1.    Section 16-23-20 of the 1976 Code is amended read:

"Section 16-23-20.    It is unlawful for anyone to carry about the person any pistol, whether concealed or not, except as follows:

(1)    Regular, salaried Certified law enforcement officers and reserve police officers of the State, a municipality, or county of the State, uncompensated Governor's constables, law enforcement officers of the federal government or other states when they are carrying out official duties while in this State, deputy enforcement officers of the Natural Resources Enforcement Division of the Department of Natural Resources, and retired commissioned law enforcement officers employed as private detectives or private investigators.

(2)    Members of the Armed Forces of the United States or of the National Guard, organized reserves, or the State Militia when on duty.

(3)    Members of organizations authorized by law to purchase or receive firearms from the United States or this State, or regularly enrolled members of clubs organized for the purpose of target shooting or collecting modern and antique firearms while these members are at or going to or from their places of target practice or their shows and exhibits.

(4)    Licensed hunters or fishermen while engaged in hunting or fishing or going to or from their places of hunting or fishing.

(5)    Any person regularly engaged in the business of manufacturing, repairing, repossession, or dealing in firearms, or the agent or representative of this person while possessing, using, or carrying a pistol in the usual or ordinary course of the business.

(6)    Guards engaged in protection of property of the United States or any agency thereof.

(7)    Any authorized military or civil organizations while parading or the members thereof when going to and from the places of meeting of their respective organizations.

(8)    Any person in his home, or upon his real property, or fixed place of business.

(9)    Any person in a vehicle where the pistol is secured in a closed glove compartment, closed console, or closed trunk.

(10)    Any person carrying a pistol unloaded and in a secure wrapper from the place of purchase to his home or a fixed place of business or while in the process of the changing or moving of one's residence or the changing or moving of his fixed place of business.

(11)    Any prison guard while engaged in his official duties.

(12)    Any person who is granted a permit under provision of law by the State Law Enforcement Division to carry a pistol about his person, under conditions set forth in the permit.

(13)    A retired law enforcement officer employed or formerly employed by this State or another state, or a county or municipality of this State or another state, as long as the retired law enforcement officer successfully completes an initial state constable course of instruction in this State and thereafter annually completes the re-certification requirements for state constables. The fee for the initial state constable course and annual re-certification must be waived for retired law enforcement officers.

(14)    A law enforcement officer formerly employed by another state, or a county or municipality of another state, who becomes a resident of this State, as long as he successfully completes an initial state constable course of instruction in this State and thereafter annually completes the re-certification requirements for state constables.

(15)    A law enforcement officer of the federal government or another state when he is carrying out official duties in this State.

Persons authorized to carry weapons pursuant to items (6) and (12) of this section may exercise this privilege only after acquiring a permit from the State Law Enforcement Division as provided for in Article 4 of Chapter 31 of Title 23."

SECTION    2.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.