What action is required by South Carolina law when a firearm is lost or stolen?

In South Carolina, when a firearm is lost or stolen, the law mandates that the individual must report the incident to the local police within a specified timeframe, which is 48 hours. This requirement serves several important purposes, including aiding law enforcement in recovering the stolen firearm and preventing it from being used in the commission of a crime. Reporting the loss also helps to establish a legal record of ownership and the circumstances surrounding the loss, which can be valuable if questions about the firearm arise in the future.

The other options do not align with South Carolina's laws. Filing a report with the FBI is not a requirement for lost or stolen firearms; the local police are the appropriate authority to manage such reports. Additionally, there is no legal obligation to register the loss with organizations like the NRA, and not taking any action could potentially lead to legal complications later on. Thus, properly reporting the loss within 48 hours to the local police is both a legal requirement and a responsible action to help ensure community safety.