The bill S. 18 aims to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by introducing Section 16-23-540, which establishes the offense of criminally negligent storage of a firearm. It defines key terms such as "child," "criminal negligence," and "secure," and outlines the responsibilities of firearm owners to prevent children from accessing readily dischargeable firearms. A person is guilty of this offense if a child gains access to a firearm due to the owner's failure to secure it or if the firearm is left in a location where the owner should have known a child could access it.

Penalties for violations include a misdemeanor charge with fines up to $1,000 or imprisonment for up to one year. If a child discharges the firearm and causes death or serious bodily injury, the penalties increase to fines up to $2,000 or imprisonment for up to three years. Additionally, the bill mandates that firearm retailers post warnings about the legal responsibilities regarding firearm storage and provide written copies of these warnings to purchasers. The bill will take effect upon the Governor's approval.

Statutes affected:
12/11/2024: 16-23-540
Latest Version: 16-23-540