Download This Bill in Microsoft Word format
Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
S. 265
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Senators McConnell and Ford
Document Path: l:\s-jud\bills\mcconnell\jud0055.jjg.docx
Introduced in the Senate on January 11, 2011
Currently residing in the Senate Committee on Judiciary
Summary: Firearm
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date Body Action Description with journal page number
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12/15/2010 Senate Prefiled
12/15/2010 Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary
1/11/2011 Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 121)
1/11/2011 Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary
(Senate Journal-page 121)
1/9/2012 Senate Referred to Subcommittee: Knotts (ch), Massey, Coleman
View the latest legislative information at the LPITS web site
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
TO AMEND ARTICLE 3, CHAPTER 53, TITLE 44 OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 44-53-595, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IF A PERSON IS IN POSSESSION OF A FIREARM DURING THE COMMISSION OR ATTEMPTED COMMISSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE OFFENSE, EXCEPT A POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE OFFENSE, AND THE PERSON IS CONVICTED OF COMMITTING OR ATTEMPTING TO COMMIT THE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE OFFENSE, THE PERSON MUST BE IMPRISONED FOR FIVE YEARS IN ADDITION TO THE PUNISHMENT FOR THE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE OFFENSE.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Article 3, Chapter 53, Title 44 of the 1976 Code of Laws is amended by adding:
"Section 44-53-595. (A) For purposes of this section:
(1) 'firearm' means a machine gun, automatic rifle, revolver, pistol, or any weapon which will, is designed to, or may readily be converted to expel a projectile; and
(2) 'in possession' means on the person or reasonably accessible to the person.
(B) If a person is in possession of a firearm during the commission or attempted commission of a controlled substance offense, except a possession of a controlled substance offense, and the person is convicted of committing or attempting to commit the controlled substance offense, the person must be imprisoned for five years in addition to the punishment provided for the controlled substance offense.
(C) The five-year sentence is mandatory, may not be suspended, nor may probation be granted. The five-year sentence must run consecutively to the sentence imposed for the controlled substance offense. A person sentenced pursuant to this section is not eligible for work release or extended work release during the five-year term of imprisonment. The person may not complete their term of imprisonment in less than five years pursuant to good time credits or work credits, but may earn credits during this period.
(D) The five-year sentence must not be imposed unless the indictment alleged as a separate count that the person was in possession of a firearm during the commission or attempted commission of a controlled substance offense, except a possession of a controlled substance offense, and the person was convicted of committing or attempting to commit the controlled substance offense."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
This web page was last updated on Tuesday, December 10, 2013 at 10:00 A.M.