Verified answer

NO. There is no federal law that prohibits this, however according to NRA summary of gun laws for SC:

"It is unlawful to transfer a handgun in any manner to a person who is

prohibited from possessing a handgun."

and

"It is unlawful for the following persons to possess a handgun:

....

• Any person under 21, but this does not apply to the temporary loan of a

handgun for instruction purposes when the minor is under the immediate

supervision of a parent or adult instructor, or members of the armed forces.

..."

So NO you cannot legally receive a handgun from a private individual.

Additionally, and gun given as a gift has to be a true gift. You can not pay them back in any way, else it is a straw purchase and illegal by Federal Law. I am not saying you would do that, but if you were thinking about trying to get around the laws that way, there is no legal loop hole there.

EDIT: Right from the SC web site:

SECTION 16-23-30. (A) It is unlawful for a person to knowingly sell, offer to sell, deliver, lease, rent, barter, exchange, or transport for sale into this State any handgun to:

....

(3) a person under the age of twenty one, but this shall not apply to the issue of handguns to members of the Armed Forces of the United States, active or reserve, National Guard, State Militia, or R. O. T. C., when on duty or training or the temporary loan of handguns for instructions under the immediate supervision of a parent or adult instructor; or

...

Under state law yes. It would be illegal under federal law...