SC Citizens' Defense Act of 2023

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "SOUTH CAROLINA CITIZENS' DEFENSE ACT OF 2023"; BY AMENDING SECTION 12-36-2120, RELATING TO EXEMPTIONS FROM SALES TAX, SO AS TO ADD HOME PROTECTION WEEKEND TO THE SECOND AMENDMENT WEEKEND, AND TO ADD SALES ITEMS; BY ADDING SECTION 16-1-135 SO AS TO PROVIDE A GENERAL PENALTY FOR CRIMES AGAINST LAW ENFORCEMENT; BY AMENDING SECTION 23-31-510, RELATING TO THE REGULATION OF OWNERSHIP, TRANSFER, OR POSSESSION OF A FIREARM OR AMMUNITION, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT NO GOVERNING BODY MAY REGULATE THE TRANSFER, OWNERSHIP, POSSESSION, CARRYING, TRANSPORTATION, MANUFACTURE, ASSEMBLY, STORAGE, WAREHOUSING, DISTRIBUTION, OR SALE OF FIREARMS, AMMUNITION, COMPONENTS OF FIREARMS, HOMEMADE FIREARMS CREATED OR ASSEMBLED WITHOUT A SERIAL NUMBER, OR ANY COMBINATION OF THESE THINGS; BY AMENDING SECTION 23-31-220, RELATING TO THE RIGHT TO ALLOW OR PERMIT CONCEALABLE WEAPONS UPON A PREMISES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT ANY OWNER PROHIBITING A CONCEALABLE WEAPON UPON A PREMISES IS STRICTLY LIABLE FOR ANY INJURY SUSTAINED BY A CONCEALED WEAPON PERMIT HOLDER FROM THE PERPETRATOR OF A CRIME WHILE ON THE POSTED PREMISES, AND TO PROVIDE THAT A PREMISES OWNER IS CIVILLY LIABLE TO COMPENSATE THE PERMIT HOLDER FOR DAMAGES FROM INJURIES THAT ARE SUSTAINED AND ALL ATTORNEYS' FEES AND COSTS INCURRED IN ANY ACTION THE PERMIT HOLDER FILES AGAINST THE OWNER OR PERSON IN POSSESSION OF THE POSTED PREMISES; BY AMENDING SECTION 16-23-20, RELATING TO EXCEPTIONS TO THE UNLAWFUL CARRYING OF A HANDGUN SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS NOT UNLAWFUL FOR A PERSON EVACUATING PURSUANT TO A MANDATORY EVACUATION ORDER IN A STATE OF EMERGENCY TO CARRY ABOUT HIS PERSON ANY HANDGUN UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFICALLY PROHIBITED BY LAW; BY AMENDING SECTION 23-31-215, RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF CONCEALED WEAPON PERMITS, SO AS TO DELETE PROVISIONS RELATED TO PERMIT RENEWALS; BY AMENDING SECTION 23-31-216, RELATING TO THE COLLECTION AND RETENTION OF FEES, SO AS TO CREATE AND MAKE PROVISIONS FOR A CONFIRMED CARRY STATUS; BY AMENDING SECTION 23-31-217, RELATING TO THE EFFECT OF PROVISIONS RELATING TO CONCEALED WEAPON PERMITS ON EXCEPTIONS TO THE UNLAWFUL CARRYING OF A HANDGUN, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE COLLECTION OF FEES; BY AMENDING SECTION 23-31-215, RELATING TO OUT-OF-STATE PERMIT HOLDERS CARRYING CONCEALABLE WEAPONS, SO AS TO DELETE RECIPROCITY PROVISIONS; BY ADDING SECTION 23-31-218 SO AS TO CREATE AND PROVIDE FOR INSTITUTIONAL CONCEALED WEAPON PERMITS; AND BY ADDING SECTION 56-3-116 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES MAY ADD A NOTATION TO A PRIVATE PASSENGER-CARRYING MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION TO INDICATE THE VEHICLE OWNER MAY HAVE AN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER, ASPERGER SYNDROME, OR TOURETTE SYNDROME.