TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 16-23-540 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL TO SELL AN ASSAULT RIFLE TO A PERSON LESS THAN TWENTY YEARS OF AGE, TO PROVIDE A PENALTY, AND TO DEFINE THE TERM "ASSAULT RIFLE".

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1.    Article 5, Chapter 23, Title 16 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

    "Section 16-23-540.    (A)    Notwithstanding another provision of law, it is unlawful for a person to knowingly sell, or offer to sell, an assault rifle to a person less than twenty years of age. A person violating this provision is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both.

    (B)    As contained in this section, 'assault rifle' means a rapid-fire, magazine-fed semiautomatic rifle designed for military use."

SECTION    2.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.