Download This Bill in Microsoft Word format

Bill 3196

                    Current Status

Bill Number:                      3196
Type of Legislation:              General Bill GB
Introducing Body:                 House
Introduced Date:                  19990112
Primary Sponsor:                  J. Brown
All Sponsors:                     J. Brown
Drafted Document Number:          l:\council\bills\psd\7115cm99.doc
Residing Body:                    House
Current Committee:                Judiciary Committee 25 HJ
Subject:                          Firearm ballistics tests, retailer to 
                                  perform test on weapon; State Law Enforcement 
                                  Division, Weapons


                        History

Body    Date      Action Description                     Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  ______________________________________ _______ ____________
House   19990112  Introduced, read first time,           25 HJ
                  referred to Committee
House   19990106  Prefiled, referred to Committee        25 HJ


                             Versions of This Bill

TO AMEND CHAPTER 31, TITLE 23, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO FIREARMS, BY ADDING ARTICLE 8 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A FIREARM RETAILER SHALL PERFORM A BALLISTICS TEST ON A FIREARM HE SELLS BEFORE IT IS DELIVERED TO THE PURCHASER AND SUBMIT TO THE STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION CERTAIN INFORMATION REGARDING THE TEST, TO PROVIDE THAT A FIREARM OWNER MUST NOTIFY THE STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION ONCE HE LOSES POSSESSION OF A FIREARM, AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THESE PROVISIONS.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 31, Title 23 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

Section 23-31-600. (A) Notwithstanding another provision of law, a retailer must perform a ballistics test on a firearm he sells before the firearm is delivered to the purchaser.

(B) The bullet discharged from the firearm during the ballistics test, the firearm's serial number, and the firearm purchaser's name must be filed with the State Law Enforcement Division and maintained in a ballistics record file to be used to assist in the identification of the owner of a legally purchased firearm that is used to commit a crime.

(C) A firearm retailer who fails to comply with the provisions contained in this section must be assessed a civil fine of not more than one thousand dollars for a first offense and not more than five thousand dollars and the suspension of his license to sell firearms for a subsequent offense.

(D) A firearm owner shall report to the State Law Enforcement Division the sale, transfer by gift, theft, loss, or destruction of a firearm. A firearm owner who fails to comply with this provision must be assessed a civil fine of not more than five hundred dollars if the firearm has not been used during the commission of a crime, or accessory before or after the fact, and a maximum civil fine of five thousand dollars if the weapon has been used to commit a crime."

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

This web page was last updated on Wednesday, December 9, 2009 at 9:13 A.M.