South Carolina Code of Laws
Chapter 23 - Offenses Involving Weapons
Section 16-23-10. Definitions.

When used in this article:
(1) "Handgun" means any firearm designed to expel a projectile and designed to be fired from the hand, but shall not include any firearm generally recognized or classified as an antique, curiosity, or collector's item, or any that does not fire fixed cartridges.
(2) "Dealer" means any person engaged in the business of selling firearms at retail or any person who is a pawnbroker.
(3) "Crime of violence" means murder, manslaughter (except negligent manslaughter arising out of traffic accidents), rape, mayhem, kidnapping, burglary, robbery, housebreaking, assault with intent to kill, commit rape, or rob, assault with a dangerous weapon, or assault with intent to commit any offense punishable by imprisonment for more than one year.
(4) "Fugitive from justice" means any person who has fled from or is fleeing from any law enforcement officer to avoid prosecution or imprisonment for a crime of violence.
(5) "Subversive organization" means any group, committee, club, league, society, association, or combination of individuals the purpose of which, or one of the purposes of which, is the establishment, control, conduct, seizure, or overthrow of the government of the United States or any state or political subdivision thereof, by the use of force, violence, espionage, sabotage, or threats or attempts of any of the foregoing.
(6) "Conviction"' as used herein shall include pleas of guilty, pleas of nolo contendere, and forfeiture of bail.
(7) "Division" means the State Law Enforcement Division.
(8) "Purchase" or "sell" means to knowingly buy, offer to buy, receive, lease, rent, barter, exchange, pawn or accept in pawn.
(9) "Person" means any individual, corporation, company, association, firm, partnership, society, or joint stock company.
(10) "Luggage compartment" means the trunk of a motor vehicle which has a trunk; however, with respect to a motor vehicle which does not have a trunk, the term "luggage compartment" refers to the area of the motor vehicle in which the manufacturer designed that luggage be carried or to the area of the motor vehicle in which luggage is customarily carried. In a station wagon, van, hatchback vehicle, truck, or sport utility vehicle, the term "luggage compartment" refers to the area behind the rearmost seat.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 16-129; 1965 (54) 578; 1975 (59) 582; 1976 Act No. 685 Sections 1-3; 2004 Act No. 294, Section 1, eff August 16, 2004; 2014 Act No. 123 (S.308), Section 2.D, eff February 11, 2014.

Editor's Note
2010 Act No. 273, Section 7.B, provides:
"The common law offenses of assault and battery with intent to kill, assault with intent to kill, assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, simple assault and battery, assault of a high and aggravated nature, aggravated assault, and simple assault are abolished for offenses occurring on or after the effective date of this act [June 2, 2010]."
2010 Act No. 277, Section 5, provides:
"The requirements of Section 56-1-80 of the 1976 Code, as amended by Section 3 of this act, must be met upon the renewal of an existing driver's license or special identification card of a person convicted of a crime of violence as defined in Section 16-23-10(3) in this State on or after July 1, 2011."

Structure South Carolina Code of Laws

South Carolina Code of Laws

Title 16 - Crimes and Offenses

Chapter 23 - Offenses Involving Weapons

Section 16-23-10. Definitions.

Section 16-23-20. Unlawful carrying of handgun; exceptions.

Section 16-23-30. Sale or delivery of handgun to and possession by certain persons unlawful; stolen handguns.

Section 16-23-50. Penalties; disposition of fines; forfeiture and disposition of handguns.

Section 16-23-55. Procedure for returning found handgun.

Section 16-23-60. Construction.

Section 16-23-210. Definitions.

Section 16-23-220. Unlawful transportation of machine gun, military firearm, or sawed-off shotgun or rifle within State.

Section 16-23-230. Unlawful storing, keeping, or possessing of machine gun, military firearm, or sawed-off shotgun or rifle.

Section 16-23-240. Unlawful sale, rental, or giving away of machine gun, military firearm, or sawed-off shotgun or rifle; exceptions.

Section 16-23-250. Exceptions to application of article.

Section 16-23-260. Penalties.

Section 16-23-270. Article not applicable to antique firearms.

Section 16-23-280. Manufacture and sale of machine guns by licensed manufacturer.

Section 16-23-405. Definition of "weapon"; confiscation and disposition of weapons used in commission or in furtherance of crime.

Section 16-23-410. Pointing firearm at another person.

Section 16-23-415. Taking firearm or other weapon from law enforcement officer.

Section 16-23-420. Possession of firearm on school property; concealed weapons.

Section 16-23-430. Carrying weapon on school property; concealed weapons.

Section 16-23-440. Discharging firearms at or into dwellings, structures, enclosures, vehicles or equipment; penalties.

Section 16-23-450. Placing loaded trap gun, spring gun or like device.

Section 16-23-460. Carrying concealed weapons; forfeiture of weapons.

Section 16-23-465. Additional penalty for unlawfully carrying pistol or firearm onto premises of business selling alcoholic liquor, beer or wine for on-premises consumption; exceptions.

Section 16-23-470. Illegal possession of tear-gas gun or ammunition.

Section 16-23-480. Manufacture or possession of article designed to cause damage by fire or other means.

Section 16-23-490. Additional punishment for possession of firearm or knife during commission of, or attempt to commit, violent crime.

Section 16-23-500. Unlawful possession of a firearm by a person convicted of violent offense; confiscation; return of firearm to innocent owner.

Section 16-23-520. Use, transportation, manufacture, possession, purchase, or sale of teflon-coated ammunition.

Section 16-23-530. Firearms; possession by or sale to unlawful alien; penalties.

Section 16-23-710. Definitions.

Section 16-23-715. Possession, threatened or attempted use of weapon of mass destruction for act of terrorism; penalty.

Section 16-23-720. Use, counseling or soliciting others to use, possessing, or threatening to use destructive device; harboring terrorist.

Section 16-23-730. Hoax device or replica of destructive device or detonator; manufacture, possession or transport; threat to use; penalties.

Section 16-23-740. Hindering explosive ordinance technician or law enforcement official while detecting or disarming destructive device; penalty.

Section 16-23-750. Conveying false information regarding attempted use of a destructive device; aiding or conspiring; penalty.

Section 16-23-760. Admissibility of photographic evidence of destructive devices; custody of inert devices introduced into evidence.

Section 16-23-770. Forfeiture of property used or intended for use in violation of article; storage and destruction; exceptions.

Section 16-23-780. Reporting existence and location of destructive device or weapon of mass destruction.