Current Status Bill Number:4195 Type of Legislation:General Bill GB Introducing Body:House Introduced Date:19970522 Primary Sponsor:J. Brown All Sponsors:J. Brown and M. Hines Drafted Document Number:kgh\15269cm.97 Residing Body:House Current Committee:Judiciary Committee 25 HJ Subject:Firearm ballistics test required before weapon delivered to purchaser, provisions for SLED; Law Enforcement, Weapons
Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved
______ ________ _______________________________________ _______ ____________
House 19970522 Introduced, read first time, 25 HJ
referred to Committee
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TO AMEND CHAPTER 31, TITLE 23, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO FIREARMS, BY ADDING ARTICLE 8 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A FIREARM RETAILER SHALL PERFORM A BALLISTICS TEST ON A FIREARM HE SELLS BEFORE IT IS DELIVERED TO THE PURCHASER AND SUBMIT TO THE STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION CERTAIN INFORMATION REGARDING THE TEST, TO PROVIDE THAT A FIREARM OWNER MUST NOTIFY THE STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION ONCE HE LOSES POSSESSION OF A FIREARM, AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THESE PROVISIONS.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Chapter 31, Title 23 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
Section 23-31-600. (A) Notwithstanding another provision of law, a retailer must perform a ballistics test on a firearm he sells before the firearm is delivered to the purchaser.
(B) The bullet discharged from the firearm during the ballistics test, the firearm's serial number, and the firearm purchaser's name must be filed with the State Law Enforcement Division and maintained in a ballistics record file to be used to assist in the identification of the owner of a legally purchased firearm that is used to commit a crime.
(C) A firearm retailer who fails to comply with the provisions contained in this section must be assessed a civil fine of not more than one thousand dollars for a first offense and not more than five thousand dollars and the suspension of his license to sell firearms for a subsequent offense.
(D) A firearm owner shall report to the State Law Enforcement Division the sale, transfer by gift, theft, loss, or destruction of a firearm. A firearm owner who fails to comply with this provision must be assessed a civil fine of not more than five hundred dollars if the firearm has not been used during the commission of a crime, or accessory before or after the fact, and a maximum fine of five thousand dollars if the weapon has been used to commit a crime."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.