State Gun Laws

It depends. North Dakota state law prohibits the possession of any firearm under the following circumstances:

1. A person who was convicted of a felony involving violence or intimidation that comes under any of the following sections of the North Dakota criminal law, or a similar felony in another state, cannot possess a firearm for 10 years from the date of conviction or the date of release from incarceration, parole, or probation, whichever is latest:
   • Chapter 12.1–16. Homicide
   • Chapter 12.1–17. Assaults—threats—coercion—harassment
   • Chapter 12.1–17.1. Offenses against unborn children
   • Chapter 12.1–18. Kidnapping
   • Chapter 12.1–20. Sex offenses
   • Chapter 12.1–21. Damaging property or public services
   • Chapter 12.1–21.1. Animal research facility damage
   • Chapter 12.1–22. Robbery—breaking and entering offenses
   • Chapter 12.1–23. Theft and related offenses
   • Chapter 12.1–23.1. Theft of cable television
   • Chapter 12.1–24. Forgery and counterfeiting
   • Chapter 12.1–25. Riot;¹
2. A person who was convicted of a felony, in North Dakota or in another state, that does not fall under the categories listed in #1 cannot possess a firearm for five years from the date of the conviction or the date of release from incarceration, parole, or probation, whichever is latest; and
3. A person who was convicted of a class A misdemeanor involving violence or intimidation that comes under any of the sections of the North Dakota criminal law listed in #1 (or a similar class A misdemeanor in another state) cannot possess a firearm for five years from the date of conviction or the date of release from incarceration, parole, or probation, whichever is latest – however, and s/he must have used or possessed a firearm, a dangerous weapon, a destructive device or an explosive while committing the misdemeanor crime.²

In addition, if a person applies for a concealed weapons license in North Dakota, s/he should be denied the license if any of the following are true:

• s/he falls into any of the categories listed above (in #1 through #3);
• s/he has been convicted of any felony;
• s/he has been convicted of a crime of violence;
• s/he has been convicted of an offense involving domestic violence;
• s/he has been convicted of an offense involving the use of alcohol within the past three years;
• s/he has been convicted of a misdemeanor involving the unlawful use of drugs within the past ten years;
• s/he has been convicted of an offense involving moral turpitude.³

If any of these situations apply to the abuser, it may be illegal for him/her to have a gun. Also, federal laws, which apply to all states, restrict an abuser’s right to have a gun if s/he has been convicted of a felony or domestic violence misdemeanor. Go to Federal Gun Laws to get more information.

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