North vs South Carolina

Status
Not open for further replies.
K

KAMAK

Member
Joined
Oct 9, 2010
Messages
93
Recently some family members moved to the Charleston area, and i am looking to locate from michigan to somewhere in one of the two states. Mostly looking at Greenville Sc or Charlotte nc. My question is which of the those states have the least strict gun laws. Also if anybody wants to chime in pros and cons for either, other than gun laws im all ears. Appreciate any advice.

also if this isnt the appropriate section can a mod move it for me.
 
i'm moving from ct to bluffton, sc in june--(closed on house there 3 weeks ago). chose sc for family reasons, low taxes, no more winter. handgun laws--both states are shall issue (http://www.handgunlaw.us/). also, no dumb preban for so called assault weapons. i also own several suppressors that will find a new home. there is an indoor range within 4 miles and an outdoor range (up to 300yds) less than 20 miles away. sc and nc honor permits. i will be only 20 miles from savannagh--they don't honor sc permits--go figure.:D
 
I recently traveled for work to North and South Carolina. The folks I was meeting with (Charlotte, NC) tried to live in SC and worked in NC due to the taxes.

Others will have to help you with the gun laws.....
 
SC does appear to presently be more pro gun than NC. Both states have some significant pro gun law changes proceeding through the state houses. SC doesn't have Open Carry and NC doesn't have any significant Castle Doctrine rights which I feel is possibly the most important right next to having the basic right to own a gun period. But SC's governor is very pro-gun and campaigned on many pro-gun platforms.

By the way, in both states, all northerns (especially north of the Mason Dixon line) are called Yankees (said with distaste). All Yankees that visit the states and decide to stay are called Damn Yankees.

The above is said in jest. Just don't come down and then start complaining about the confederate flag and how much better it is back north when we know it isn't true. Also we are a right to work state so don't go expressing your dissatisfaction with this because that is the way we like it down south.
 
Last edited:
If it makes you feel any better my heart has been in the south since i visited there as a child. But ill take my due hazing when i get there.
 
Gun laws in SC are decent. The reciprocity is poor but you can fix that with a FL or NH out of state CWP along with your SC CWP. There's a good Castle Doctrine law in place and most localities seem to bend over backwards to avoid causing legal grief for someone who uses a weapon to defend themselves against a criminal. We do have some rather restrictive rules about where a person can carry. No carry where alcohol is sold for consumption, even if it's something like a pizza place with a beer license. You must inform and get permission before entering a private residence while carrying. "Gunbuster" signage carries the force of law, it's not just a potential trespassing beef but there are very specific rules for "gunbuster" signage on retail establishments and I've never yet seen one posted that conforms to the rules that would make it legally binding.

My personal opinion is that Greenville is a prettier location than Charlotte and it seems to be less congested. Charlotte reminds me of Atlanta in 1974 as far as traffic and urban sprawl, it can get frustrating at times. Both states levy personal property taxes annually on vehicles, farm equipment, boats, RVs, utility trailers, etc. The tax rates vary by county, usually the more urban counties have higher tax rates.
 
You will like Greenville. I live in Spartanburg and go to school in Clemson and I know the whole state pretty well. If you have to transport a pistol in NC you have to have it out in the open on the passenger seat next to you. SC you just load up with the guns in the back and go. If you get pulled over in NC with your gun "hidden" its bad news bears. IF you are in NC with your SC concealed carry license you can keep the guns stored in the glove box, on you, etc. SC has reciprocity with NC so you would be covered there.
 
NC You can carry in your trunk etc...or locked case w/ ammo separate in NC - just not concealed within reach and loaded - unless you have a CC Permit. You can openly carry pretty much anything. New Castle Doc. passed the state senate - waiting on house approval!
 
sounds like south carolina is a better bet. Im from the Grand Rapids area of michigan and while its busy here its nowhere near as bad as Detroit. If Charlotte is anything like detroit ill pass. Also pics of greenville make it seem like a family friendly place. Any truth to that? I really appreciate all the advice from everyone. It makes my decisions easier.
 
I live just south of Charlotte in Rockhill (York county) SC, also a transplant from NW PA. The taxes are much lower especially if you own want acreage. In my case its considered farm property and the taxes are around a grand for just under 50 acres. There are decent areas in NC around Charlotte, but its getting pricey. Plus from friends experience that live in NC the CLEOs are not always very willing to play nice for sign offs when needed. Of course your experience may differ depending on the county. Several decent gun shops in the Rockhill area, Nichols, Vanwyck gun shop, Catawba tackle, The Sportsman, Aim Right. Theres a lot of deer, hogs, turkey, coyotes to hunt and very little of that crappy white stuff. I am temporarily working back in NW PA and I cant wait to get back south.
 
From what I know about SC and have read about NC, I'd take the SC gun laws, but the difference isn't enough to where it would be a driver in my decision on where to live. I grew up near Charlotte and visit frequently, and live near Greenville. Both are fine with me. Go where the job is, wherever that may be.
 
KAMAK said:
sounds like south carolina is a better bet. Im from the Grand Rapids area of michigan and while its busy here its nowhere near as bad as Detroit. If Charlotte is anything like detroit ill pass. Also pics of greenville make it seem like a family friendly place. Any truth to that? I really appreciate all the advice from everyone. It makes my decisions easier.
Click to expand...
I live in Michigan and I have spent a decent amout of time in both Detroit and Grand Rapids. I have also been to Charlotte, North Carolina several times the past few years. Based on my experiences in Charlotte traffic is closer to Grand Rapids than Deroit. In addition, Charlotte is also nicer in general.

I was recently down there in January and the only law that really didn't like was you couldn't take your firearm into any place that sold and you could consume the alcohol even the likes of an Applebees. If I remember correctly there was something restricting you from taking it into movie theaters as well. Another thing I can't remember is if a business has a no firearm policy posted is if you will automatically be charged or if the managers/owners ask you to leave first. Then if you don't leave you could be charged with trespassing?????
 
When SC legally, following the rights of state succession as listed in the constitution, succeeded, and then had the union blockade Charleston harbor which was viewed as an act of war against SC which was then a sovereign state of the Confederate States of America, the Confederate soldiers fired on Ft Sumpter, the Union enclave enforcing the blockade. This appears to me to be a defensive move against the aggressive blockade. The confederacy surely wasn't trying to starve out the North and block all trade with the North.

Do you realize that the Civil war never really ended and we will rise again?

Do you realize that this is all in jest?

Except for:

Do you know that SC as well as several other states (not all in the South) have recently been discussing succession in their state houses, again, as a (at least symbolic) way to express their displeasure with the way the Feds are slowly but surely invalidating states rights?
 
As stated previously, in SC the business has to be posted via a legal guns prohibited sign (which is very rarely seen). If no legal sign, you have to be asked to leave. Only if you then don't is when you are considered trespassing. You can Google SC gun laws to get the exact wording of the laws.
 
...Just a little bit farther south and you could live in GA...the gun laws really are better here. I hate to say it considering I'm a SC native and that they were the first to tell the Feds to shove it after their Yankee temper tantrum.

... and yes, beware that there are many SC folks who will educate you on how the SC succeeded completely legally and in accordance with Federal and State Laws, but then were the victims of an act of war by the Federal Government. And it is the truth. Do some research and you'll find it really was a War of Northern Aggression and in violation of state and federal Law.

Greenville is a family friendly place. At least in the daytime.
 
I was stationed recently in Fayetteville, NC and I know they make you have a permit to buy a handgun. Either that or a CC permit, but either way, they want you registered with the state. No permit required for long guns. As far as SC, well sorry, can't help you there. Take that for what it's worth.
 
Most of the gun topics have been covered already but I can say once you move down here you'll wonder why you lived in MI so long! My wife and I moved to NC from MI back in 2007 and absolutely love it down here :)
 
I live close to Columbia SC and have been here for 12+ years. Grew up an army brat moving every few years. My wife and I have been thinking of moving to a new state just for fun and something new. But every state we have looked at so far just can't compare to home. Greenville is nice, but you should look at Lexington... not nearly so crowded or built up, nice place to live.
 
Oh... not such an obsession with the War of Northern Aggression as many would have you believe either. On the legal side, as most others have said, we have the wonderful castle doctrine. Getting your CWP couldn't be any easier.... just takes about 8 hours consisting of a lecture on gun safety, laws, and a short shooting test. I found it to be fairly fun!
 
In my opinion North Carolina is more restrictive let’s say as an example Pennsylvania. It’s so much for the gun friendly South concept at least in regards to North Carolina. Since Shall Issue and the NC-CHP became law there have been improvements but there are rather unique restrictions to carry. As an example one is restricted from carry in places of paid attendance example would be a movie theater.

Purchasing permits (mainly used for handguns) are issued by the Sherriff’s department of your county of residence. In my county three personal references were required as part of the paper work process. With a NC-CHP this process is no longer required. The North Carolina State Rifle & Pistol Association stated that the purchasing permits and personal references were vestiges’ of the “Jim Crow” era.

There is a lot Gun Rights work which needs to be done here before I’d consider North Carolina “Gun Friendly”. That said it is improving but we’ve got a long way to go.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

C
  • Locked
North Carolina gun laws?
Replies
23
Views
2K
crashclint
C
W
  • Locked
Interstate rest stops in North and South Carolina?
Replies
12
Views
1K
Frandy
F
W
  • Locked
GRNC Update 08-28-03: Reciprocity with South Carolina Now Effective!
Replies
2
Views
350
Rick Daniel
R
E
  • Locked
Considering Moving to North or South Carolina.. Need Some Advice
2 3
Replies
67
Views
5K
wishin
W
L
  • Locked
South Carolina Reciprocity
Replies
5
Views
742
UFKAHR40
U
Back
Top