South Carolina car carry with permit

[Marswolf]

I had an interesting talk today with a guy whose residence is in Tennessee but he works in Charlotte, North Carolina. As you probably know, Charlotte is virtually on the South Carolina line.

This guy has a Tennessee Carry Permit.

He says one of the folks he works with got into trouble in South Carolina for carrying his handgun, with a permit, in his glove compartment. The cop who took him in said that the permit let the guy carry his handgun on his person, but not in the glove compartment.

Looking at SC regulatios at http://www.scstatehouse.net/code/t16c023.htm, the pertinant clause seems to be:

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

It is unlawful for anyone to carry about the person any handgun, whether concealed or not, except as follows, unless otherwise specifically prohibited by law:

...

(9) a person in a vehicle if the handgun is:

(a) secured in a closed glove compartment, closed console, closed trunk, or in a closed container secured by an integral fastener and transported in the luggage compartment of the vehicle; however, this item is not violated if the glove compartment, console, or trunk is opened in the presence of a law enforcement officer for the sole purpose of retrieving a driver's license, registration, or proof of insurance; or

(concealed on or about his person, and he has a valid concealed weapons permit pursuant to the provisions of Article 4, Chapter 31, Title 23;

In short, it sounds like you can have the handgun on you and a permit, or the gun must be locked in the glove compartment. My car has no lock on the glove compartment.

As I understand it, the guy was hauled in but eventually released.

Pure speculation is that the guy gave the cop a hard time and the cop knows his law.

Anyway, this is an invitation to comment if you have any insight, and a warning to keep your gun concealed on your person if traveling through SC. Oh yes, you must notify the officer that you are carrying once he identifies himself.

[Guest bkelm18]

Just another good example of why you should be very aware of all laws regarding carrying a firearm for every state you plan on carrying in.

[Marswolf]

Just another good example of why you should be very aware of all laws regarding carrying a firearm for every state you plan on carrying in.

Very true. You really need to research the little minutia of the state law when you go through there with a gun.

This also came up with the guy I was taking to. He said it would be good if all the state laws were the same.

My thought is that yes it would - if we go by the most lenient state. Think that would happen?

[Guest clutepc]

When I traveled through those states I printed the laws for carrying out so I would have them with me..

A lot of paperwork to carry for all the states I was traveling through, but each one seemed to be different about one thing or another.

Gave me something to read when the wife drove..

[Guest nraforlife]

More pure BS. Laws need to be standardized somehow. As it stands right now we are traveling bullseyes.

[Guest bkelm18]

Standardizing the laws would make HCPs/CCPs/CCLs a federal gov't issue. I'd rather just leave it to the states. I don't trust the gov't with my money and certainly don't trust it with protecting my life.

[Fallguy]

At the very least I always check the off-limits places of any state, plus whatever else I can find.

Also another reason I usually just keep it on my person in the vehicle.

[Guest nraforlife]

Jesus, IF driving regulations were setup the same way as HCP regulations we could solve the gasoline crisis as NOBODY would frickin drive out of State

[Guest racr28]

Just proves legislators never use comon sense.