South Carolina Code of Laws
Chapter 31 - Firearms
Section 23-31-320. Exceptions to application of article.

The provisions of this article shall not apply to the Army, Navy, or Air Force of the United States, the National Guard, and organizations authorized by law to purchase or receive machine guns, military firearms, or sawed-off shotguns or sawed-off rifles, from the United States or from this State and the members of such organizations. Any peace officer of the State or of any county or other political subdivision thereof, state constable, member of the highway patrol, railway policeman or warden, superintendent, head keeper or deputy of any state prison, penitentiary, workhouse, county jail, city jail, or other institution for the detention of persons convicted or accused of crime or held as witnesses in criminal cases or person on duty in the postal service of the United States or any common carrier while transporting direct to any police department, military, or naval organization or person authorized by law to possess or use a machine gun, or sawed-off shotgun or sawed-off rifle, may possess machine guns, or sawed-off shotguns or sawed-off rifles, when required in the performance of their duties. Nor shall the provisions hereof be construed to apply to machine guns, or sawed-off shotguns or sawed-off rifles, kept for display as relics and which are rendered harmless and not usable.
The provisions of this article shall not apply to any manufacturer of machine guns or military firearms licensed pursuant to the provisions of 18 U. S. C. Section 921 et seq., nor to any common or contract carrier transporting or shipping any machine guns or military firearms to or from such manufacturer if the transportation or shipment is not prohibited by federal law. Any such manufacturer shall furnish to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division the serial numbers of all machine guns or military firearms manufactured by it within thirty days of such manufacture and shall be subject to the penalties provided in Section 23-31-340 for noncompliance.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 16-125; 1952 Code Section 16-125; 1942 Code Section 1258-1; 1934 (38) 1288; 1975 (59) 135; 1978 Act No. 541, Section 4; 1990 Act No. 564, Section 2.

Structure South Carolina Code of Laws

South Carolina Code of Laws

Title 23 - Law Enforcement and Public Safety

Chapter 31 - Firearms

Section 23-31-10. Purchase of rifle or shotgun in another state.

Section 23-31-20. Purchase of rifle or shotgun in this State by resident of any state.

Section 23-31-110 to 23-31-200. Repealed by 2012 Act No. 285, Section 2, eff June 29, 2012.

Section 23-31-205. Name.

Section 23-31-210. Definitions.

Section 23-31-215. Issuance of permits.

Section 23-31-216. Collection and retention of fees.

Section 23-31-217. Effect on Section 16-23-20.

Section 23-31-220. Right to allow or permit concealed weapons upon premises; signs.

Section 23-31-225. Carrying concealed weapons into residences or dwellings.

Section 23-31-230. Carrying concealed weapons between automobile and accommodation.

Section 23-31-232. Carrying concealable weapons on premises of certain schools leased by churches.

Section 23-31-235. Sign requirements.

Section 23-31-240. Persons allowed to carry concealable weapons within the State.

Section 23-31-250. State cannot be compelled by federal government to take any action that limits carrying concealable weapons; evaluation of federal laws by Attorney General.

Section 23-31-310. Definitions.

Section 23-31-320. Exceptions to application of article.

Section 23-31-330. Application and registration of person allowed to possess machine gun or sawed-off shotgun or rifle.

Section 23-31-340. Penalties.

Section 23-31-350. Article not applicable to antique firearms.

Section 23-31-360. Unregistered possession of machine guns or military firearms by licensed manufacturer.

Section 23-31-370. Special limited license for possession, transportation, and sale of machine guns; violations and penalties.

Section 23-31-400. Definitions; unlawful use of firearm; violations.

Section 23-31-410. Blood and urine testing.

Section 23-31-415. Testing following death or serious personal injury; effect of refusal; evidentiary use.

Section 23-31-420. Presumptions.

Section 23-31-510. Regulation of ownership, transfer, or possession of firearm or ammunition; discharge on landowner's own property.

Section 23-31-520. Temporary restriction of lawful open carrying of a firearm on public property during certain events; notice; confiscation of firearms or ammunition.

Section 23-31-600. Retired personnel; identification cards; qualification for carrying concealed weapon.

Section 23-31-1010. Definitions.

Section 23-31-1020. Collection and submission of information of persons adjudicated as a mental defective or committed to a mental institution.

Section 23-31-1030. Petition to remove prohibition from shipping, transporting, possessing, or receiving a firearm or ammunition.

Section 23-31-1040. Unlawful for a person adjudicated as a mental defective or committed to a mental institution to ship, transport, possess, or receive a firearm or ammunition; penalty; confiscation.

Section 23-31-1050. Definitions for Sections 23-31-1030 and 23-31-1040.

Section 23-31-1060. Hearing on fitness to stand trial.