South Carolina Gun Violence Statistics & Prevention
How can we measure the impact of gun violence in South Carolina, and what can employers and facility managers realistically do to keep their people safe?
At Omnilert, we specialize in AI security software and emergency notification systems. We work with organizations all across South Carolina—from Charleston’s historic businesses and hospitality venues to Myrtle Beach’s tourism sector, manufacturing facilities, educational institutions, and corporate offices throughout the upstate—to help solve for the worst case security scenarios – especially active shooter events.
Here, we provide objective information about gun violence in South Carolina and offer our insight on the limitations of traditional security systems for preventing casualty events. We’ll also look at how our own AI security technology can help keep people safer.
Where Does South Carolina Rank in Gun Violence?
The CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics conducts an annual survey of firearm mortality by state. So where does South Carolina rank for gun violence amongst all fifty states?
Gun Related Deaths: #18
1,019 fatalities in 2023, ranking them number 18 of 50.
Population-Based Death Rate: #12
19.1 gun-related deaths per 100,000 people.
Top 5 Most Dangerous Cities in South Carolina
- North Charleston
- Charleston
- Greenville
- Rock Hill
- Columbia
Top 5 Safest Cities in South Carolina
- Lexington
- Fort Mill
- Tega Cay
- Lyman
- Bluffton
Significant Mass Shooting Events in South Carolina’s Recent History
Whether in urban centers like Charleston, coastal tourism destinations, or manufacturing hubs across the state, South Carolina organizations must reckon with the reality of potential mass casualty events from gun violence. A mass shooting event, as defined by the Gun Violence Archive, describes an incident in which four or more people are injured by a firearm in one location around the same time.
Saint Helena Island Shooting (2025)
Four people were killed and 15 others were injured, four critically, in a shooting at a bar on Saint Helena Island in the early morning hours. The shooting happened during an informal Battery Creek High School alumni gathering at the bar.
Townville Elementary School Shooting (2016)
A fourteen-year-old shot and killed his father before driving to the local elementary school and injuring three students and a teacher. One of the students died 3 days later from his injuries.
Charleston Church Shooting (2015)
A white supremacist killed nine black people during a prayer service at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, wounding one other.
South Carolina’s Approach to Limiting Gun Violence
South Carolina has some of the weakest gun laws in the nation, ranking 31st in gun law strength and experiencing one of the highest rates of gun homicides in the country. The state’s regulatory approach emphasizes gun rights over restrictions, with minimal intervention in firearm ownership and carrying.
- Constitutional Carry: No permit or training required to carry firearms openly or concealed (effective March 2024)
- No “Charleston Loophole” Fix: Despite the 2015 Mother Emanuel AME Church massacre, the state hasn’t closed the federal background check gap that allowed that tragedy
- Limited Restrictions: No universal background checks, no red flag laws, no waiting periods, and minors can legally purchase assault weapons from private sellers
- Preemption Laws: State law prevents cities and towns from enacting their own local gun safety regulations
- Stand Your Ground: Broad self-defense laws with no duty to retreat in public spaces where individuals have a legal right to be
South Carolina’s gun death rate is 53% higher than the national average, with approximately 1,081 people dying from gun violence annually. The state’s gun death rate increased by 23% from 2014 to 2023.
Why South Carolina Needs Help Why South Carolina Facilities Need Better Security Solutions to Prevent Gun Violence
Most security systems today operate with inherent limitations that make them less practical for preventing a determined active shooter. On that front, these systems are better at documenting incidents than they are at actually preventing violence.
Limitations of traditional security systems for shooter prevention:
- Surveillance cameras only help with investigations after incidents occur
- Gunshot detection waits until someone’s already shooting
- Manual monitoring fails because humans can’t watch dozens of feeds effectively
- Emergency response protocols depend on someone being available to activate them
In other words, by the time traditional systems kick in, it’s often too late.
How Omnilert Can Help Using Military-Grade AI Technology to Detect Firearms Before Shots are Fired
When seconds matter most, AI visual gun detection can identify firearms before shots are fired. Military-grade technology like Omnilert’s can integrate with your existing cameras to protect your facility and enact an automated emergency response if a threat is detected.
By themselves, security cameras can’t prevent what they can’t predict. Omnilert brings gun detection technology to facilities across the United States to transform your existing surveillance into an active threat prevention system. Instead of documenting incidents after they happen, AI-powered visual detection spots firearms the moment they appear and triggers immediate response protocols.
Benefits of Omnilert Engaging a Full-Scale Emergency Response to Active Shooters
If an active threat is confirmed at your South Carolina facility, there’s no time to waste. The situation calls for an immediate and complete emergency response. Facilities that use Omnilert initiate an automated response across multiple technologies to help protect as many lives as possible.
Instant Notifications
Multi-channel emergency notifications instantly alert staff, security, and law enforcement.
Automated Response
Automated response workflows that trigger lockdown procedures, activate alarms, and more.
Mobile Alerts
Mobile applications that keep staff informed and connected during emergencies.
Alarm Activation
Use audio and video systems to sound alarms and deliver clear safety instructions.
Access Control
Lock or unlock doors to contain threats, secure exits, and protect vulnerable areas.
Custom Response
Engage a fully-custom response using your existing security technology.
Law Enforcement
Notify local police of an active threat or verified security incident.
Liability Protection
Omnilert’s DHS SAFETY Act designation offers liability protection.
Protecting Spaces Everywhere What Types of South Carolina Industries Are Vulnerable to Gun Violence?
We provide our security platform to all kinds of industries in South Carolina. Each environment has its own security challenges, but the core need remains the same: early threat detection.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Common Questions About South Carolina Gun Violence Statistics
How many people die from gun violence in South Carolina each year?
In an average year, 1,081 people die from gun violence in South Carolina, which means someone dies from gun violence every eight hours. Fifty-one percent of those deaths are gun suicides, and 46% are gun homicides.
How does South Carolina’s gun death rate compare to other states?
South Carolina had the 7th highest age-adjusted gun homicide rate in the country in 2023. According to Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions, the overall gun death rate increased by 60% from 2014 to 2023.
Are certain communities disproportionately affected by gun violence in South Carolina?
Yes. Black males aged 15-34 have a firearm homicide rate more than 9 times higher than White males of the same age group. While the overall rate of firearm homicide in 2020 was 22 per 1,000 residents, the rate of gun-related deaths among Black South Carolinians that year was 35.4—twice the rate among white South Carolinians.
What is the economic cost of gun violence in South Carolina?
Gun violence costs South Carolina $14.0 billion each year, which amounts to approximately $2,291 per person in the state. That cost is approximately 38% higher than the national average of $1,663 per person.
Which areas of South Carolina have the highest rates of gun violence?
The highest event rates of firearm-related violence per 100,000 occurred in rural counties, with Orangeburg, Beaufort, and Cherokee counties having some of the most noteworthy high frequencies of gun violence in the state. Among South Carolina counties, Colleton County had the highest gun death rate, followed by Jasper County and Barnwell County.
Sources (as of December 23, 2025)
- https://everytownresearch.org/report/city-data/
- https://www.safewise.com/blog/safest-cities-south-carolina/
- https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/mass-shooting-at-south-carolina-bar-leaves-4-people-dead-more-than-20-injured
- https://abcnews4.com/news/local/man-charged-with-4-counts-of-murder-in-mass-shooting-at-south-carolina-bar-crime-news
- https://giffords.org/lawcenter/gun-laws/states/south-carolina/
- https://www.cbsnews.com/news/south-carolina-shooting-st-helena-bar/
- https://publichealth.jhu.edu/center-for-gun-violence-solutions
- https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/mass-shooting-at-south-carolina-bar-leaves-4-people-dead-more-than-20-injured
- https://abcnews.go.com/US/4-killed-20-hurt-bar-shooting-st-helena/story?id=126447488
- https://www.newsweek.com/4-dead-20-injured-in-mass-shooting-at-south-carolina-bar-sheriff-says-10866524
- https://preventfirearmsuicide.efsgv.org/
- https://www.kff.org/
- https://www.live5news.com/2025/11/14/beaufort-county-sheriff-update-probe-into-deadly-october-mass-shooting/
- https://medica-musc.researchcommons.org/theses/
- https://medica-musc.researchcommons.org/theses/
