South Dakota Gun Laws and How They Compare Nationally

Gun laws in South Dakota's are considered weak by some pro-gun control organizations, but such rankings are considered positive by organizations like the NRA.

In 2013, the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence released an assessment of nationwide state gun laws titled "2013 State Scorecard: Why Gun Laws Matter." All states were ranked based on 30 policy methods of controlling firearms and ammunition, including background checks, reporting lost or stolen weapons, and forbidding risky people from buying guns.

South Dakota earned an F rating, along with nearby states, Montana, Wyoming, and North Dakota. Other neighboring states, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Iowa, earned a D, C, and C-minus, respectively.

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At the other end of the spectrum, California earned the highest ranking, an A-minus, followed by Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Delaware, and Maryland — all of which passed stricter gun laws in 2013.

Almost every state places some constraints on where concealed weapons may be taken, including restrictions in bars, schools, and hospitals, and at public sports events.

Every state also allow people to carry concealed weapons in some way. Forty-six states require a state-issued permit to carry concealed weapons in public, including South Dakota.

Nine states have "may issue" laws, which give the secretary of state, or another agency, wide responsibility to deny a concealed weapons permit to a claimant if,  say, the agency considers the applicant lacking in character or a solid reason for carrying the gun in the open.

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The other 37 states have "shall issue" gun laws, which compel the issuing agency to grant most concealed weapons permit applications. "Shall issue" laws can be further subdivided between 17 states that offer no flexibility to the issuing agency, and 20 states which give that agency a limited amount of caution.

South Dakota is in the former category, along with four of its neighbors — Iowa, Montana, Minnesota, and North Dakota, according to the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence.

The last four states — Alaska, Arizona, Vermont, and Wyoming — tolerate the carrying of concealed weapons without a license.

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

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