State Gun Laws

Under South Dakota state law, it is illegal for someone to have or buy a gun for a certain amount of time if they were convicted of the following crimes:

1. 15 years after being discharged from prison, jail, probation, or parole if s/he was convicted of:
   
   1. a crime of violence in South Dakota or another state; or
   2. a felony drug crime under sections 22-42-2, 22-42-3, 22-42-4, 22-42-7, 22-42-8, 22-42-9, 22-42-10, or 22-42-19 of South Dakota law;¹ 
2. five years after being discharged from prison, jail, probation, or parole if s/he was convicted of:
   
   1. any felony drug crime listed in Chapter 22-42 of South Dakota law, other than the crimes included in #1b above; or
   2. an equivalent felony in another state;² or
3. one year after the date of conviction if s/he was convicted of a misdemeanor crime involving an act of domestic violence.³

Federal laws, which apply to all states, also restrict a person’s right to have a gun if s/he has been convicted of certain crimes. Go to Federal Gun Laws to get more information.

¹ SDCL § 22-14-15
² SDCL § 22-14-15.1
³ SDCL § 22-14-15.2