H 3734 General Bill, By Knotts, Whatley, Harvin, Hayes, Askins, Chellis, 
Gourdine, J. Hines, Hosey, Limehouse, Littlejohn, Martin, McCraw, McGee, 
Meacham-Richardson, Phillips, Rhoad, Rice, Rutherford, Simrill, Snow, Weeks and 
Whipper
 A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 16-23-20, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
 1976, RELATING TO PERSONS WHO MAY LAWFULLY CARRY A PISTOL, SO AS TO PROVIDE
 THAT A RETIRED, PREVIOUSLY-COMMISSIONED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER LAWFULLY MAY
 CARRY A PISTOL, TO DELETE THE PROVISION THAT ALLOWS RETIRED COMMISSIONED LAW
 ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS EMPLOYED AS PRIVATE DETECTIVES OR PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS
 TO CARRY A PISTOL, TO ALLOW CERTAIN PERSONS TO CARRY A PISTOL ANYWHERE WITHIN
 THE STATE, TO MAKE CERTAIN TECHNICAL CHANGES, AND TO PROVIDE THAT A CERTIFIED
 LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHO COMPLIES WITH HIS EMPLOYING
 AGENCY'S FIREARMS POLICY MAY CARRY FIREARMS WHILE OFF DUTY ANYWHERE IN THE
 STATE.

   03/20/01  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-5
   03/20/01  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-6

TO AMEND SECTION 16-23-20, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO PERSONS WHO MAY LAWFULLY CARRY A PISTOL, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A RETIRED, PREVIOUSLY-COMMISSIONED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER LAWFULLY MAY CARRY A PISTOL, TO DELETE THE PROVISION THAT ALLOWS RETIRED COMMISSIONED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS EMPLOYED AS PRIVATE DETECTIVES OR PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS TO CARRY A PISTOL, TO ALLOW CERTAIN PERSONS TO CARRY A PISTOL ANYWHERE WITHIN THE STATE, TO MAKE CERTAIN TECHNICAL CHANGES, AND TO PROVIDE THAT A CERTIFIED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHO COMPLIES WITH HIS EMPLOYING AGENCY'S FIREARMS POLICY MAY CARRY FIREARMS WHILE OFF DUTY ANYWHERE IN THE STATE.

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

SECTION    1.    Section 16-23-20 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 464 of 1996, is further amended to read:

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

        (1)    regular, salaried law enforcement officers and reserve police officers of 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 previously-commissioned law enforcement officers employed as private detectives or private investigators anywhere within the State.;

        (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 a 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 of the United States.;

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

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

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

        (10)    Any a 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 his residence or the changing or moving of his fixed place of business.;

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

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

        (13)    a certified law enforcement officer from any jurisdiction who complies with his employing agency's firearms policy may carry one or more firearms while off duty 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.