CCWing -- South Carolina, Georgia and Florida ???

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David

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I expect to take a trip next week to Georgia and South Carolina from Florida.

I have a Florida resident CCW license, and I think I'm going to CCW a 9mm auto in my pocket.

Any tips about the "does and don'ts" about CCWing in Georgia and South Carolina?

Also, I expect to visit Fort Sumter in SC -- can I CCW at Fort Sumter as it's a federal park?

Any info would be appreciated -- thanks
 
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Biggest differences between Florida and SC is the already-mentioned "duty to notify" any LEO with which you come into contact (if such LEO requests identification), and that carry is prohibited in any restaraunt that serves alcohol, even if there is no bar inside. These provisions do not apply in Florida. Also, church carry is prohibited in GA and SC.
I just completed a trip from Florida into Georgia and North Carolina, and found pretty much the same differences. I was futher to the west, and did not enter South Carolina.
As an aside, open-carry is permitted in Georgia and NC, but not in SC.
While your Florida license is also good for other types of weapons, it is only good for firearms in those states. Laws governing concealed carry of knives, chemical weapons, electric weapons, etc., may differ.
 
As an aside, open-carry is permitted in Georgia and NC, not sure yet about SC.
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Open carry is mostly prohibited in SC. The only times you can do it is while hunting or fishing and you must have a valid SC hunting/fishing license at that time.

Even then during the hunting part on government/WMA lands it gets hairy as you're not supposed to have any weapon/ammo in your possession that isn't legal to hunt *something* with. So open carry during deer season is ok since handgun hunting is legal and there are no caliber restrictions. During turkey season though the handgun is not a legal weapon for turkey and you could get into trouble there (though you legally could get away with carrying a judge or other shotgun revolver since a shotgun is a legal weapon for those).

For the most part I just don't bother with open carrying. While fishing I might opt for an OWB holster that is a little more comfortable than my normal IWB rig, but I still hide it behind an ubuttoned shirt and just figure if I print or it gets exposed briefly I don't care as much since open carrying is legal at that time.

The most aggravating thing about SC carry law is that alcohol provision. It affects restaurants that serve alcohol in ANY capacity. Pizza Hut sells beer so no carry there. The local Japanese express steak house doesn't have a bar, but you can buy sake there so no carry. Except for the most basic of fast food places (McDonalds, Burger King, KFC, etc), restaurants are pretty much a no-carry zone here.

As a note in regards to vehicle storage - in SC you're legal to keep a handgun loaded and ready in any latched compartment in the vehicle (glove box, center console, etc). I can't remember the specifics but I know that changes in GA (it has to be on the seat - can't remember if it needs to be holsters and unloaded vs loaded).
 
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As a note in regards to vehicle storage - in SC you're legal to keep a handgun loaded and ready in any latched compartment in the vehicle (glove box, center console, etc). I can't remember the specifics but I know that changes in GA (it has to be on the seat - can't remember if it needs to be holsters and unloaded vs loaded).
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I don't think these are concerns for those licensed to carry a concealed firearm. Good info for those not so licensed, though.
Yeah, the alcohol thing would bother me if I were spending time in either of the Carolinas on a regular basis. In Florida, bars, or the "bar portion" of a restaurant are off limits, but one can sit in the dining section of any restaurant with a bar and be fine. In fact, there is no prohibition on even enjoying a beer or other alcoholic drink with your meal. The only prohibition on firearms involving alcohol is against the "use of a firearm while under the influence of alcohol." It should be taken into consideration that, though the purpose of that prohibition is primarily to prevent reckless "gunplay", there is no exception for lawful self-defense. So, stay "above" the influence.
 
As a note in regards to vehicle storage - in SC you're legal to keep a handgun loaded and ready in any latched compartment in the vehicle (glove box, center console, etc). I can't remember the specifics but I know that changes in GA (it has to be on the seat - can't remember if it needs to be holsters and unloaded vs loaded).
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At one time in GA the law did require an unlicensed person to have their firearm laid on the seat in plain sight. That changed I just can't remember exactly when. Here is a link to the statute http://www.georgiapacking.org/GaCode/?title=16&chapter=11&section=126

I cut & pasted this from the handgunlaw.us site referencing the above statute.
(d) Any person who is not prohibited by law from possessing a handgun or long gun who is eligible for a weapons carry license may transport a handgun or long gun in any private passenger motor vehicle; provided, however, that private property owners or persons in legal control of property through a lease, rental agreement, licensing agreement, contract, or any other agreement to control access to such property shall have the right to forbid possession of a weapon or long gun on their property, except as provided in Code Section 16-11-135. No Permit License Is needed to carry the firearm inside your Motor Vehicle either openly or concealed.
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The handgunlaw.us site someone else posted a link to is an excellent resource to use when travelling out of state. Here is a link to a pretty good breakdown of Georgia's firearms laws also. http://www.georgiapacking.org/law.php

It is really annoying that Georgia & South Carolina can't seem to get it together for us to have a reciprocal agreement. Especially since we are neighbors.
 
It is really annoying that Georgia & South Carolina can't seem to get it together for us to have a reciprocal agreement. Especially since we are neighbors.
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Indeed. I carry in Georgia only by means of my Arizona CWP, but it would be nice if I could just get the SC one.

My understanding is that its mostly our fault. SC requires an 8-hour course to get a permit while GA has no training requirement. We will only honor permits from states that have training requirements equal to our own, so we won't honor a GA permit. GA from my understanding in turn won't offer reciprocity with any state that doesn't do so in turn, so SC isn't valid in GA either.

To make matters worse, as mentioned as a SC resident I can carry in Georgia with my Arizona permit, but SC itself doesn't honor any non-resident permits. As such if you're from Georgia you're pretty much SOL when it comes to carrying here :(.
 
I went to SC for work about a year and a half ago. I stopped before I crossed the line & put my pistol away. I took it back out when I crossed back into Georgia.
 
During turkey season though the handgun is not a legal weapon for turkey and you could get into trouble there (though you legally could get away with carrying a judge or other shotgun revolver since a shotgun is a legal weapon for those).
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Since you can only hunt hogs at night with a handgun you could also argue that you plan to continue hunting past the end of turkey into the night and switch to handgun/hogs. It's a stretch but if you find yourself in that scenario it may just work.
 
The only prohibition on firearms involving alcohol is against the "use of a firearm while under the influence of alcohol." It should be taken into consideration that, though the purpose of that prohibition is primarily to prevent reckless "gunplay", there is no exception for lawful self-defense. So, stay "above" the influence.
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Actually, s. 790.151(5) does provide an exception for lawful self-defense or defense of one's property.
 
Thanks for the info.

In Georgia, is it okay to drive with my gun in the glove compartment?

If so, does it need to be secured in a gun case or a holster with a strap?

Thank you
 
I live in Alabama and I cannot carry in SC. I can carry in FL and GA but SC does not reciprocate because Bama does not require a training course. SC is the only state that I ever drive to that does not reciprocate. AL, FL ,GA, MS, TN, LA, NC all are okay.
 
I grew up on the GA/SC border. I'm a GA resident, my mom lives here and my dad lives in SC. Trust me, there are no easy ways around it.

As has already been covered:

SC law requires other state CCWs to have similar license requirements (such as a course) to be valid in state. GA has no course requirements so a GA license is not valid in SC. Also, GA will not honor CCWs from states that won't honor theirs. So a SC license is a no-go in GA also.

And SC does not honor non-resident permits from any state, so if you're a GA resident you can't just get a non-resident license from Utah or FL and call it good.

I can now carry in SC and GA after jumping through some hoops, but it wasn't easy.
 
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Thanks for the info.

I also like to carry a Spyderco clipped to my pocket -- is that okay in Georgia and South Carolina?

Also, is it okay to carry my 9mm auto into a restaurant in Georgia that serves beer, wine, etc. (I won't be drinking myself)?

If I store my gun in a glove compartment in Georgia, does it have to be secured in any specific way?

Thank you
 
I carry in GA all the time. No state laws about carry in restaurants but a "bar" is different. i don't go to bars and Chili's/etc are not considered to be bars just because they have a bar. No requirements for storing a gun in a vehicle.
 
Another quick question --

A relative, who is retired law enforcement, may come along on this drive through Georgia and South Carolina.

As such, he will carry his gun under HR 218 as retired law enforcement.

My question is if he carries his firearm under HR 218 as retired law enforcement, is it okay for him to carry his gun in South Carolina businesses, such as restaurants, that serve beer, wine, etc.?

Any tips for his carry under HR 218 as retired law enforcement would be appreciated.

Thank you
 
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