South Carolina Violence in the Workplace: What you need to know

Many states have passed laws for preventing violence in the workplace. South Carolina has enacted such a law.

The Protection of Persons and Property Act authorizes the use of deadly force under certain circumstances and in certain locations, including places of business. The Act authorizes the lawful use of deadly force against an intruder or attacker in a person’s dwelling, residence, or occupied vehicle. It provides that there is no duty to retreat if:

• The person is in a place where he has a right to be, including the person’s place of business,
• The person is not engaged in an unlawful activity, and
• The use of deadly force is necessary to prevent death, great bodily injury, or the commission of a violent crime.

A person who lawfully uses deadly force is immune from criminal prosecution and civil action, unless the person against whom deadly force was used is a law enforcement officer acting in the performance of his official duties and he identifies himself in accordance with applicable law, or the person using deadly force knows or reasonably should have known the person is a law enforcement officer.

Effective August 15, 2021, the South Carolina Open Carry with Training Act (formerly known as South Carolina House Bill 3094) (the Act) changes the way a concealable weapon permit (CPW) holder can carry a handgun in public in South Carolina. The law defines a concealable weapon as a firearm having a length of less than 12 inches along the firearm’s longest dimension. Additionally, the law allows that valid CWP holders can carry handguns openly or concealed on their person or in their vehicle if certain provisions are met.

Prohibition. Notably, the Act does not ...