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Legal Information: North Dakota

State Gun Laws

Laws current as of December 5, 2024

I do not have a protection order against the abuser, and s/he has not been convicted of a crime. Can s/he have a gun?

It depends. Even if the abuser was never convicted of a crime and you do not have a protection order against him/her, North Dakota state law prohibits the possession of any firearm under any of these other circumstances:

  1. if s/he has ever been:
    • diagnosed as:
    • confined or committed to a hospital or other institution (in any state) by a court;1 or
  2. if s/he is under the age of eighteen (unless it’s for hunting, target shooting, etc., and under the direct supervision of an adult).2

In addition, if the abuser applies for a concealed weapons license in North Dakota, s/he should be denied the license if s/he falls into either of the categories listed above; or a court has declared him/her to be mentally incompetent.3

If none of these situations apply, you can still make a plan for your safety. See our Safety Planning page for more information. You can also contact your local domestic violence organization for additional help. You may want to talk to them about whether leaving the area - either long term or for a little while - might help improve your safety. See our ND Advocates and Shelters page to find a local domestic violence organization near you.

For additional information on gun laws in North Dakota, you can go to the Giffords Law Center website.

Also, federal laws, which apply to all states, restrict an abuser’s right to have a gun under other circumstances. Go to Federal Gun Laws to get more information.

1 N.D. Cent. Code § 62.1-02-01(1)(c)
2 N.D. Cent. Code § 62.1-02-01(1)(d)
3 N.D. Cent. Code § 62.1-04-03(1)(c)