South Dakota State Law Summary

Last updated April 1, 2011

In its publication Gun Laws Matter: A Comparison of State Firearms Laws and Statistics, LCAV ranked each state based on a review of state laws in 25 different firearms-related policy areas.  South Dakota ranked 35th out of 50 – having enacted few gun violence prevention laws.  Among other things, South Dakota law does not:

• Require a background check prior to the transfer of a firearm between unlicensed individuals;

• Require firearms dealers to obtain a state license;

• Regulate the transfer or possession of assault weapons, 50 caliber rifles, or large capacity ammunition magazines;

• Limit the number of firearms that may be purchased at one time; or

• Regulate unsafe handguns (“junk guns” or “Saturday night specials”).

In addition, in 2009, South Dakota repealed the state’s 48-hour waiting period for handgun purchases.

Local governments in South Dakota generally lack authority to regulate firearms or ammunition, and local law enforcement must issue a concealed handgun permit to any applicant who meets basic qualifications.

South Dakota ranks 42nd among the states in terms of the number of gun deaths per capita.  However, even this relatively low ranking means that in 2007, 52 people died from firearm-related injuries in South Dakota. In 2009, South Dakota had the 7th highest ratio of crime gun exports to imports, and supplied three times more crime guns to other states per capita that it imported from other states.

For details about specific firearms laws in South Dakota, choose a topic below.

Overview State "Right to Bear Arms" Statistics Local Authority to Regulate Firearms
State Firearms Policies Persons Prohibited from Firearm Possession Prohibited Purchasers Generally Minimum Age to Purchase / Possess Domestic Violence & Firearms Disarming Prohibited Persons Sales & Transfers Background Checks Mental Health Reporting Multiple Purchases / Sales of Firearms Retention of Sales / Background Check Records Waiting Periods Gun Dealers & Other Sellers Dealer Regulations Private Sales Gun Shows Immunity Statutes Gun Owner Responsibilities Licensing of Gun Owners / Purchasers Registration of Firearms Reporting Lost or Stolen Firearms	Firearms in Public Places Concealed Weapons Permitting Open Carrying Location Restrictions Guns in Vehicles Guns in Schools Other Location Restrictions Consumer & Child Safety Design Safety Standards for Handguns Locking Devices Personalized / Owner-Authorized Firearms Child Access Prevention Classes of Weapons / Ammunition Assault Weapons Large Capacity Ammunition Magazines Fifty Caliber Rifles Machine Guns / Automatic Firearms Non-Powder Guns Ammunition Regulation Investigating Gun Crimes Microstamping / Ballistic Identification Trafficking
State Links