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H. 4158
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Reps. R. Williams and Brawley
Document Path: l:\council\bills\bh\7442ahb21.docx
Introduced in the House on April 6, 2021
Currently residing in the House Committee on Judiciary
Summary: Firearms - Reporting of Lost or Stolen Firearms
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date Body Action Description with journal page number
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4/6/2021 House Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 120)
4/6/2021 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary
(House Journal-page 120)
4/7/2021 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Brawley
View the latest legislative information at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 16-23-540 SO AS TO REQUIRE AN OWNER OR OTHER PERSON LAWFULLY IN POSSESSION OF A FIREARM, RIFLE, OR SHOTGUN TO REPORT THE LOSS OR THEFT OF EACH SUCH WEAPON, TO REQUIRE THE APPROPRIATE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY TO COLLECT CERTAIN INFORMATION REGARDING A LOST OR STOLEN WEAPON, AND TO PROVIDE GRADUATED PENALTIES FOR THE FAILURE TO REPORT A LOST OR STOLEN WEAPON.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Article 5, Chapter 23, Title 16 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 16-23-540. (A) An owner or other person who is lawfully in possession of a firearm, rifle, or shotgun in this State who suffers the loss or theft of such weapon shall report, within twenty-four hours of discovery, the loss or theft of each weapon to the appropriate local law enforcement agency, whether local police department or county sheriff's office, which would have appropriate jurisdiction where the weapon is located. In addition, the facts and circumstances of the loss or theft also must be reported to the appropriate law enforcement agency to which the report is made.
(B) The law enforcement agency which received the report of the loss or theft pursuant to the provisions of subsection (A) shall collect all pertinent information including, but not limited to, the weapon's serial number, make, model, caliber, and any distinguishing marks or numbers. The law enforcement agency shall notify all other local, state, or federal law enforcement agencies, as appropriate, of the loss or theft of the weapon. Reports of lost or stolen weapons must be recorded on the standard incident form used by the agency and stored in the normal manner used for incident reports.
(C) A person who violates the provisions of subsection (A):
(1) for a first offense, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than one hundred dollars;
(2) for a second offense, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than two hundred dollars; and
(3) for a third or subsequent offense, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than five hundred dollars but not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned for not more than three years. A person who is convicted of a third or subsequent violation of the provisions of this item is prohibited from owning such weapons for a period of three years from the date of conviction.
(D) Only those violations which occurred within a period of five years including and immediately preceding the date of the last violation constitute prior violations within the meaning of this section."
SECTION 2. The repeal or amendment by this act of any law, whether temporary or permanent or civil or criminal, does not affect pending actions, rights, duties, or liabilities founded thereon, or alter, discharge, release or extinguish any penalty, forfeiture, or liability incurred under the repealed or amended law, unless the repealed or amended provision shall so expressly provide. After the effective date of this act, all laws repealed or amended by this act must be taken and treated as remaining in full force and effect for the purpose of sustaining any pending or vested right, civil action, special proceeding, criminal prosecution, or appeal existing as of the effective date of this act, and for the enforcement of rights, duties, penalties, forfeitures, and liabilities as they stood under the repealed or amended laws.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
This web page was last updated on
April 7, 2021 at 11:43 AM