South Carolina has some of the weakest gun laws in the country. State lawmakers must take immediate action to protect residents from gun violence.
Due to gaps in state law, minors can legally purchase assault weapons from private sellers in South Carolina with no parental oversight or background check. In 2023, South Carolina had the twelfth highest gun death rate among the states. In an average year, 1,081 people die from gun violence in the state. That means someone dies from gun violence every eight hours. Fifty-one percent of those deaths are gun suicides, and 46% are gun homicides. In South Carolina, the rate of gun deaths increased by 23% from 2014 to 2023, compared to a 33% increase nationwide.
What South Carolina Does Well
- Partial mental health record reporting
What South Carolina Is Missing
- Universal background checks
- Gun owner licensing
- Extreme risk protection orders
- Most domestic violence gun laws
- Assault weapon restrictions
- Large capacity magazine ban
- Waiting periods
- Strong concealed carry law
- Child access prevention laws
- Community violence intervention funding
- Open carry regulations
SPOTLIGHT
GUN LAW SCORECARD
The data is clear: States with stronger gun laws have less gun violence. See how your state compares in our annual ranking.
Read MoreEXPLORE SOUTH CAROLINA’S GUN LAWS
WHO CAN HAVE A GUN
OWNER RESPONSIBILITIES
CHILD & CONSUMER SAFETY
GUNS IN PUBLIC
HARDWARE & AMMUNITION
OTHER LAWS & POLICIES
SUPPORT GUN SAFETY
We’re in this together. To build a safer America—one where children and parents in every neighborhood can learn, play, work, and worship without fear of gun violence—we need you standing beside us in this fight.
