Red Flag Law and Weapon Limits in South Carolina

Whether South Carolina has a red flag (extreme risk) law and any limits on assault weapons or magazine capacity.

Short answer: South Carolina has no state law that creates an extreme risk protection order. A separate provision makes it unlawful to sell or deliver a handgun to 'a person who by order of a circuit judge or county court judge of this State has been adjudged unfit to carry or possess a firearm, such… S.C. Code § 16-23-30(A)(4); S.C. Code tit. 16, ch. 23; tit. 23, ch. 31; tit. 20, ch. 4 (Protection from Domestic Abuse) (reviewed)

Red flag law	South Carolina has no state law that creates an extreme risk protection order. A separate provision makes it unlawful to sell or deliver a handgun to 'a person who by order of a circuit judge or county court judge of this State has been adjudged unfit to carry or possess a firearm, such adjudication to be made upon application by any police officer, or by any prosecuting officer of this State, or sua sponte, by the court', after reasonable notice and a proper hearing. The statute sets no duration for such an adjudication. Reviewed S.C. Code tit. 16 ch. 23, tit. 23 ch. 31 and tit. 20 ch. 4 on 2026-10-27; no extreme risk protection order procedure found. Source: S.C. Code § 16-23-30(A)(4); S.C. Code tit. 16, ch. 23; tit. 23, ch. 31; tit. 20, ch. 4 (Protection from Domestic Abuse) (reviewed)
Assault weapons and magazine limits	South Carolina has no state law that bans assault weapons or limits magazine capacity. Machine guns and 'military firearms' (military weapons made under federal contract, not including a pistol, rifle or shotgun that fires one shot per trigger pull) are regulated separately. Reviewed S.C. Code tit. 16, ch. 23 (Offenses Involving Weapons) and tit. 23, ch. 31 (Regulation of Pistols/Firearms), all sections on 2026-10-27; no provision found. Source: S.C. Code §§ 16-23-210, 16-23-230; S.C. Code tit. 16, ch. 23; tit. 23, ch. 31 (reviewed)

Red flag law

South Carolina has no state law that creates an extreme risk protection order. A separate provision makes it unlawful to sell or deliver a handgun to 'a person who by order of a circuit judge or county court judge of this State has been adjudged unfit to carry or possess a firearm, such adjudication to be made upon application by any police officer, or by any prosecuting officer of this State, or sua sponte, by the court', after reasonable notice and a proper hearing. The statute sets no duration for such an adjudication.

Reviewed S.C. Code tit. 16 ch. 23, tit. 23 ch. 31 and tit. 20 ch. 4 on 2026-10-27; no extreme risk protection order procedure found.

Source: S.C. Code § 16-23-30(A)(4); S.C. Code tit. 16, ch. 23; tit. 23, ch. 31; tit. 20, ch. 4 (Protection from Domestic Abuse) (reviewed)

Assault weapons and magazine limits

South Carolina has no state law that bans assault weapons or limits magazine capacity. Machine guns and 'military firearms' (military weapons made under federal contract, not including a pistol, rifle or shotgun that fires one shot per trigger pull) are regulated separately.

Reviewed S.C. Code tit. 16, ch. 23 (Offenses Involving Weapons) and tit. 23, ch. 31 (Regulation of Pistols/Firearms), all sections on 2026-10-27; no provision found.

Source: S.C. Code §§ 16-23-210, 16-23-230; S.C. Code tit. 16, ch. 23; tit. 23, ch. 31 (reviewed)

More South Carolina gun laws

FAQ

Does South Carolina have a red flag law?

Does South Carolina ban assault weapons or high-capacity magazines?

General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.