South Carolina General Assembly
119th Session, 2011-2012

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S. 122

STATUS INFORMATION

General Bill
Sponsors: Senators Campsen, McConnell, Rose and Fair
Document Path: l:\council\bills\swb\5013cm11.docx

Introduced in the Senate on January 11, 2011
Last Amended on February 16, 2011
Currently residing in the Senate

Summary: Self defense against big game animals

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS 

     Date      Body   Action Description with journal page number
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   12/1/2010  Senate  Prefiled
   12/1/2010  Senate  Referred to Committee on Fish, Game and Forestry
   1/11/2011  Senate  Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 58)
   1/11/2011  Senate  Referred to Committee on Fish, Game and Forestry 
                        (Senate Journal-page 58)
    2/2/2011  Senate  Committee report: Favorable with amendment Fish, Game 
                        and Forestry (Senate Journal-page 15)
   2/16/2011  Senate  Committee Amendment Adopted (Senate Journal-page 21)
   2/17/2011          Scrivener's error corrected

View the latest legislative information at the LPITS web site

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

12/1/2010
2/2/2011
2/16/2011
2/17/2011

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ADOPTED

February 16, 2011

S. 122

Introduced by Senators Campsen, McConnell, Rose and Fair

S. Printed 2/16/11--S.    [SEC 2/17/11 11:50 AM]

Read the first time January 11, 2011.

            

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 50-11-108 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON MAY USE A FIREARM TO KILL OR ATTEMPT TO KILL ANY ANIMAL DURING ANY SEASON IN SELF-DEFENSE, DEFENSE OF ANOTHER, OR DEFENSE OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS, AND TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON WHO USES DEADLY FORCE AGAINST A BIG GAME ANIMAL OR ALLIGATOR MUST REPORT THE INCIDENT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, TO PROVIDE THAT CERTAIN ANIMAL CARCASSES TAKEN PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION MAY NOT BE RETAINED, AND TO PROVIDE A PENALTY FOR FAILURE TO REPORT THE INCIDENT OR SURRENDER THE CARCASS.

Amend Title To Conform

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1.    Article 1, Chapter 11, Title 50 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 50-11-108.    (A)    A person may use a firearm if he is not prohibited by law from possessing a firearm, or may use any other deadly weapon at any time and during any season to kill or attempt to kill any animal if the person reasonably concludes it is necessary for the purpose of:

(1)    self-defense;

(2)    defense of another person; or

(3)    defense of domestic animals.

(B)    Any person who uses deadly force against a big game animal or alligator in defense of persons or domestic animals as provided for in this section immediately must report the incident to the Department of Natural Resources. No big game animal or alligator taken as provided for in this section may be retained, by the person or persons taking the big game animal or alligator. The big game animal or alligator carcass must be surrendered to the Department of Natural Resources. Failure to report the incident or surrender the carcass is a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, may be fined up to two thousand dollars or imprisoned for up to one year, or both. Notwithstanding this section, all other laws protecting and regulating taking of big game and alligators shall apply."

SECTION    2.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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