Skip to main content

NUMBER: 12-1-6 APPROVED DATE: 08-07-2001

LEGAL AUTHORITY: S.C. Code Ann. ยง16-23-420 (1976)

BASED ON POLICY NUMBER AND TITLE: 12-1-0 PUBLIC SAFETY

PURPOSE:  To provide procedures for having Weapons on Trident Technical College's Campuses and Sites. 

The Public Safety Department strives to provide a safe and secure environment for all members of the campus community.

The carrying of firearms, concealed, or otherwise, on Trident Technical College properties is prohibited under the South Carolina Code of Law, except as provided in the code.

“16-23-420. Possession of firearm on school property; concealed weapons.

(A) It is unlawful for a person to possess a firearm of any kind on any  premises  or  property  owned,  operated,  or  controlled  by  a private or public school, college, university, technical college, other post-secondary  institution,  or  in  any  publicly  owned  building, without the express permission of the authorities in charge of the premises or property. The provisions of this subsection related to any  premises  or  property  owned,  operated,  or  controlled  by  a private  or  public  school,  college,  university,  technical  college,  or other post-secondary institution, do not apply to a person who is authorized to carry a concealed weapon pursuant to Article 4, Chapter 31, Title 23 when the weapon remains inside an attended or locked motor vehicle and is secured in a closed glove compartment, closed console, closed trunk, or in a closed container secured by an integral fastener and transported in the luggage compartment of the vehicle.

(B) It is unlawful for a person to enter the premises or property described in subsection (A) and to display, brandish, or threaten others with a firearm. 

(C) A person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than five years, or both. 

(D) This section does not apply to a guard, law enforcement officer, or member of the armed forces, or student of military science. A married student residing in an apartment provided by the private or public school whose presence with a weapon in or around a particular building is authorized by persons legally responsible for the security of the buildings is also exempted from the provisions of this section. 

(E) For purposes of this section, the terms "premises" and "property" do not include state or locally owned or maintained roads, streets, or rights-of-way of them, running through or adjacent to premises or property owned, operated, or controlled by a private or public school, college, university, technical college, or other post-secondary institution, which are open full time to public vehicular traffic. 

(F)  This  section  does  not  apply  to  a  person  who  is  authorized  to  carry concealed weapons pursuant to Article 4, Chapter 31 of Title 23 when upon any premises, property, or building that is part of an interstate highway rest area facility. Law enforcement officers, active duty or reserve military or National Guard personnel on duty having authorization to carry such firearms or weapons are exempt from this procedure.”

Updated: 11-02-2007

Reviewed: 10-22-2012

Reviewed: 06-02-2017

Updated: 07-09-2018