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TO AMEND ARTICLE 1, CHAPTER 11, TITLE 50 OF THE 1976 CODE, BY ADDING SECTION 50-11-108 TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON MAY USE A FIREARM TO KILL OR ATTEMPT TO KILL ANY ANIMAL DURING ANY SEASON IN SELF-DEFENSE, DEFENSE OF ANOTHER, OR DEFENSE OF PROPERTY, AND TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Article 1, Chapter 11, Title 50 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 50-11-108. (A) A person may use a firearm if he or she is not prohibited by law from possessing a firearm, or may use any other deadly weapon at any time and during any season to kill or attempt to kill any animal if the person reasonably concludes it is necessary for the purpose of:
(1) self-defense;
(2) defense of another person; or
(3) defense of property.
(B) Subsection (A)(3) shall not apply to the killing, wounding, or other prohibited act relating to specific wildlife which are protected by the federal Endangered Species Act or the federal Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.
(C) This section does not apply to a person who kills or attempts to kill an animal as punishment for past trespass, or if trespass could have been avoided by fencing or other reasonable methods."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
This web page was last updated on March 11, 2010 at 11:20 AM