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

(A) Nothing contained in this article shall in any way be construed to limit, diminish, or otherwise infringe upon: (1) the right of a public or private employer to prohibit a person who is otherwise not prohibited by law from possessing a handgun from carrying a concealable weapon, whether concealed or openly carried, upon the premises of the business or workplace or while using any machinery, vehicle, or equipment owned or operated by the business; or (2) the right of a private property owner or person in legal possession or control to allow or prohibit the carrying of a concealable weapon, whether concealed or openly carried, upon his premises. (B) The posting by the employer, owner, or person in legal possession or control of a sign stating "NO CONCEALABLE WEAPONS ALLOWED" shall constitute notice to a person that the employer, owner, or person in legal possession or control requests that concealable weapons, whether concealed or openly carried, not be brought upon the premises or into the workplace. A person who knowingly brings a concealable weapon, whether concealed or openly carried, onto the premises or workplace in violation of the provisions of this paragraph may be charged with a violation of Section 16-11-620. In addition to the penalties provided in Section 16-11-620, a person convicted of a second or subsequent violation of the provisions of this subsection must have his permit revoked for a period of one year. The prohibition contained in this section does not apply to persons specified in Section 16-23-20(B)(1). (C) In addition to the provisions of subsection (B), a public or private employer or the owner of a business may post a sign regarding the prohibition or allowance on those premises of concealable weapons, whether concealed or openly carried, which may be unique to that business. (D) This section must not be construed to limit an individual from carrying a concealable weapon pursuant to Section 51-3-145(G).

Legislative History

HISTORY: 1996 Act No. 464, SECTION 8; 2021 Act No. 66 (H.3094), SECTION 4, eff August 15, 2021; 2024 Act No. 111 (H.3594), SECTION 10, eff March 7, 2024. Editor's Note 2021 Act No. 66, SECTION 1, provides as follows: "SECTION 1. This act may be cited as the 'Open Carry With Training Act'." 2024 Act No. 111, SECTIONS 1 and 24, provide as follows: "SECTION 1. This act may be cited as the 'South Carolina Constitutional Carry/Second Amendment Preservation Act of 2024'." "SECTION 24. No provision in this act should be construed as the General Assembly discouraging responsible gun ownership; and the General Assembly, in fact, encourages all gun owners to pursue and receive appropriate gun safety training before carrying a firearm or weapon." Effect of Amendment 2021 Act No. 66, SECTION 4, inserted the (A) and (B) designators; in (A), in (1), inserted ", whether concealed or openly carried," following "concealable weapon", and in (2), inserted ", whether concealed or openly carried," following "concealable weapon"; in (B), in the first sentence, inserted ", whether concealed or openly carried," following "concealable weapons", and in the second sentence, inserted ", whether concealed or openly carried," following "concealable weapon"; and added (C). 2024 Act No. 111, SECTION 10, in (A)(1), substituted "otherwise not prohibited by law from possessing a handgun from carrying" for "licensed under this article from carrying" and made nonsubstantive changes; in (B), in the first sentence, deleted "holding a permit issued pursuant to this article" following "notice to a person", in the second sentence, inserted "knowingly" following "A person who", and made nonsubstantive changes; and added (D).