Introduction
Over 1.2 million South Carolina residents experience intimate partner violence in their lifetimes. Fortunately, many victims survive these traumatic events; however, South Carolina reported 42 domestic violence homicides in 2019, 78.6% of whom died by firearms. An abuser’s access to firearms can determine a victim’s chances of survival; domestic violence firearm prohibitions and removal laws save lives.
South Carolina prohibits purchase and possession of firearms and ammunition by persons convicted of misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence and persons subject to an ex parte or final domestic abuse order of protection if certain criteria are met. South Carolina does not require removal of firearms from persons subject to domestic abuse orders of protection.
