South Carolina Open Carry Laws to Change

A newly-passed state law that will allow those with concealed carry permits to carry their firearms openly in South Carolina will go into effect Aug. 15, the State Law Enforcement Division said in a press release Tuesday afternoon.

With that new law come a few changes that gun owners should be aware of, SLED officials wrote.

For those seeking a concealed weapons permit or seeking to renew or replace one they already had, the new law waives the application fee. SLED will return any money orders attached to applications that are postmarked on or after Aug. 15.

However, if an application is postmarked before Aug. 15, SLED must require and accept fee payment.

“As these fees are set by law, SLED cannot waive them,” according to the statement from SLED.

Additionally, all concealed weapons permit applications postmarked or received on or after Aug. 15 must come with “proof of training,” according to the SLED statement.

That proof of training will consist of an “original document or certified copy of the document” given to an applicant certifying they have completed a basic or advanced handgun education course offered by law enforcement or a nationally recognized organization that promotes gun safety within the last three years. That course must include information on statutory and case law in South Carolina relating to handguns and use of deadly force, information on handgun use and safety, information on proper storage practices, the actual firing of at least 25 rounds with an instructor, properly securing a firearm in a holster, “cocked and locked” carrying, how to respond to a person who tries to take your firearm from you and de-escalation techniques and strategies.

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