Posted: 4/28/2008 6:50:56 AM EDT
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A radio DJ was talking about CCW in SC this morning. He said open carry is illegal in SC. That doesn't seem right. Anyone know. FWIW I don't open carry unless I am shooting at the range. |
I believe that open carry is only legal while hunting or fishing. Possibly in route to and from the above. Several years ago, a local newspaper guy put some fishing tackle in his pockets (line, lures etc..) and walked downtown Columbia on his way to go "fishing". He freaked out a couple of soccer moms or coffee house types. The cops did stop him. I can't recall if they actually arrested him or not. What he did was technically legal. It was also skirting the intent of the law. |
So open carry in public urban areas bad? |
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That was some idiot reporter from the Star newspaper or (whatever it's named). he walked through 5 points with an unloaded .380 and when folks freaked and called the cops he told them he was on his way to the river to go fishing. I don't recall the final outcome but I think they took his pistol and charged him with something retarded like scaring the public. You can open carry while en route to and from hunting or fishing but that's it- even then I wouldn't expect most police to know that and I can't see it being worth the hassle in most cases.  ETA- you can open carry on your own property of course. |
That was it. I couldn't remember the news rag. Now that I think about it, it was a hit piece against open carry. The guy did have some fishing supplies on him to make his argument legal. I thought he was up on main street "heading to the river". Same asshat though. |
+1, Open carry is nice and all, but I'd rather have mine concealed. And my permit is good for that too. |
The CWP is well worth it. Take the class and 90 days later the permit is in your mailbox. I carry regularly and nobody knows. They also don't need to call in background checks on you when you buy a new gun if you have your CWP. BTW, even if open carry was legal, I doubt I'd do it. If I was in line at a bank and a guy came in to rob it, open carry would say, "Shoot me first." I'd rather keep what I have available my own business. Nobody else needs to know, and I don't need to swagger around going, "Look at my gun! Ain't I a big man?" Nope. Low profile is the way to go. |
According to the fish and game rules, yes you can, but read them I seem to remember there is a clause as to what type of ammo you can have. |
The law was written in a time when fishing was usually done in the more wild. For snakes and such. I don't think the idea of doing so on Lake Murray would be so smart. It'd be legal, but why draw attention to yourself when you can CCW. |