North Dakota Gun Laws: Can Visitors Carry Their Firearm?

If the new proposed North Dakota gun laws are passed, they’ll become the law of the land for citizens of North Dakota. But what about visitors to North Dakota from other states? Do their local laws take precedent or must they conform to those of North Dakota?

There are several bills either recently passed, in committee or coming up for a vote in North Dakota, but the main one is HB 1241, which modifies a wide range of what gun owners can and cannot do. Many of these are in line with similar laws in other states while some are more or less restrictive on what is legal in North Dakota. In a previous version of the law, people from other states with a reciprocity agreement with North Dakota were excluded from the public gathering restriction, but HB 1241 proposes to strike that paragraph from the amendment.

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Barring specific restrictions such as above, however, any state with a reciprocity law with North Dakota is protected by the laws in their own state. In almost all cases of reciprocity, there is verbiage on one side or the other, which may limit what is legal, so knowing the laws in both the traveler's home state, the law in North Dakota, and the specific reciprocity rules is important. For instance, Alabama has a reciprocity law with North Dakota, but Alabama's law limits the mutual agreement to handguns only, according to Al.com.

In North Dakota, the law states that, "handguns inside the vehicle must be unloaded and in plain sight or cased and secured properly. You may only openly carry a loaded handgun without a permit if you are engaged in target shooting, hunting, or camping." The laws for people that have a carry permit contain many restrictions as to where guns can be carried.

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According to a list published on CheaperThanDirt.com, North Dakota recognizes the firearm permits issued in the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

This article does not constitute legal advice. Check the current gun laws before purchasing or traveling with a firearm.

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