North Dakota Firearm Laws

1. Except as otherwise expressly provided, justification or excuse under this chapter is a defense.
2. If a person is justified or excused in using force against another, but he recklessly or negligently injures or creates a risk of injury to other persons, the justifications afforded by this chapter are unavailable in a prosecution for such recklessness or negligence.
3. That conduct may be justified or excused within the meaning of this chapter does not abolish or impair any remedy for such conduct which is available in any civil action.

1. Conduct engaged in by a public servant in the course of the person's official duties is justified when it is required or authorized by law.
2. A person who has been directed by a public servant to assist that public servant is justified in using force to carry out the public servant's direction, unless the action directed by the public servant is plainly unlawful.
3. A person is justified in using force upon another to effect that person's arrest or prevent that person's escape when a public servant authorized to make the arrest or prevent the escape is not available if the other person has committed, in the presence of the actor, any crime which the actor is justified in using force to prevent, or if the other person has committed a felony involving force or violence.
4. Conduct engaged in by an individual at the direction of a public servant, known by that individual to be a law enforcement officer, to assist in the investigation of a criminal offense is justified unless the individual knows or has a firm belief, unaccompanied by substantial doubt, that the conduct is not within the law enforcement officer's official duties or authority. For purposes of this subsection, conduct "not within the law enforcement officer's official duties or authority" is conduct in which the law enforcement officer alone could not lawfully engage in that officer's official capacity.

When practicable, permission must be obtained from a parent or guardian of a minor who is under the age of eighteen years and is neither married nor in the military service of the United States before the minor may engage in conduct, other than the providing of information, to assist in a criminal investigation under the direct supervision of a public servant.

A person is justified in using force upon another person to defend himself against danger of imminent unlawful bodily injury, sexual assault, or detention by such other person, except that:

1. A person is not justified in using force for the purpose of resisting arrest, execution of process, or other performance of duty by a public servant under color of law, but excessive force may be resisted.
2. A person is not justified in using force if:
   1. He intentionally provokes unlawful action by another person to cause bodily injury or death to such other person; or
   2. He has entered into a mutual combat with another person or is the initial aggressor unless he is resisting force which is clearly excessive in the circumstances. A person's use of defensive force after he withdraws from an encounter and indicates to the other person that he has done so is justified if the latter nevertheless continues or menaces unlawful action.

A person is justified in using force upon another person in order to defend anyone else if:

1. The person defended would be justified in defending himself; and
2. The person coming to the defense has not, by provocation or otherwise, forfeited the right of self-defense.

The use of force upon another person is justified under any of the following circumstances:

1. Except as provided in section 15.1-19-02, a parent, guardian, or other person responsible for the care and supervision of a minor, or other person responsible for the care and supervision of a minor for a special purpose, or a person acting at the direction of any of the foregoing persons, may use reasonable force upon the minor for the purpose of safeguarding or promoting the minor's welfare, including prevention and punishment of the minor's misconduct, and the maintenance of proper discipline. The force may be used for this purpose, whether or not it is "necessary" as required by subsection 1 of section 12.1-05-07. The force used must not create a substantial risk of death, serious bodily injury, disfigurement, or gross degradation.
2. A guardian or other person responsible for the care and supervision of an incompetent person, or a person acting at the direction of the guardian or responsible person, may use reasonable force upon the incompetent person for the purpose of safeguarding or promoting the incompetent person's welfare, including the prevention of the incompetent person's misconduct or, when the incompetent person is in a hospital or other institution for care and custody, for the purpose of maintaining reasonable discipline in the institution. The force may be used for these purposes, whether or not it is "necessary" as required by subsection 1 of section 12.1-05-07. The force used must not create a substantial risk of death, serious bodily injury, disfigurement, or gross degradation.
3. A person responsible for the maintenance of order in a vehicle, train, vessel, aircraft, or other carrier, or in a place where others are assembled, or a person acting at the responsible person's direction, may use force to maintain order.
4. A duly licensed physician, or a person acting at a duly licensed physician's direction, may use force in order to administer a recognized form of treatment to promote the physical or mental health of a patient if the treatment is administered:
   1. In an emergency;
   2. With the consent of the patient, or, if the patient is a minor or an incompetent person, with the consent of the patient's parent, guardian, or other person entrusted with the patient's care and supervision; or
   3. By order of a court of competent jurisdiction.
5. A person may use force upon another person, about to commit suicide or suffer serious bodily injury, to prevent the death or serious bodily injury of such other person.

Force is justified if it is used to prevent or terminate an unlawful entry or other trespass in or upon premises, or to prevent an unlawful carrying away or damaging of property, if the person using such force first requests the person against whom such force is to be used to desist from his interference with the premises or property, except that a request is not necessary if it would be useless or dangerous to make the request or substantial damage would be done to the property sought to be protected before the request could effectively be made.

1. An individual is not justified in using more force than is necessary and appropriate under the circumstances.
2. Deadly force is justified in the following instances:
   1. When it is expressly authorized by law or occurs in the lawful conduct of war.
   2. When used in lawful self-defense, or in lawful defense of others, if such force is necessary to protect the actor or anyone else against death, serious bodily injury, or the commission of a felony involving violence. The use of deadly force is not justified if it can be avoided, with safety to the actor and others, by retreat or other conduct involving minimal interference with the freedom of the individual menaced. An individual seeking to protect another individual must, before using deadly force, try to cause the other individual to retreat, or otherwise comply with the requirements of this provision, if safety can be obtained thereby. However, the duty to retreat or avoid force does not apply under the following circumstances:
      1. A public servant justified in using force in the performance of the public servant's duties or an individual justified in using force in assisting the public servant need not desist from the public servant's or individual's efforts because of resistance or threatened resistance by or on behalf of the other individual against whom the public servant's or individual's action is directed; and
      2. An individual is not required to retreat within or from that individual's dwelling or place of work or from an occupied motor home or travel trailer as defined in section 39-01-01, unless the individual was the original aggressor or is assailed by another individual who the individual knows also dwells or works there or who is lawfully in the motor home or travel trailer.
   3. When used by an individual in possession or control of a dwelling, place of work, or an occupied motor home or travel trailer as defined in section 39-01-01, or by an individual who is licensed or privileged to be there, if the force is necessary to prevent commission of arson, burglary, robbery, or a felony involving violence upon or in the dwelling, place of work, or occupied motor home or travel trailer, and the use of force other than deadly force for these purposes would expose any individual to substantial danger of serious bodily injury.
   4. When used by a public servant authorized to effect arrests or prevent escapes, if the force is necessary to effect an arrest or to prevent the escape from custody of an individual who has committed or attempted to commit a felony involving violence, or is attempting to escape by the use of a deadly weapon, or has otherwise indicated that the individual is likely to endanger human life or to inflict serious bodily injury unless apprehended without delay.
   5. When used by a guard or other public servant, if the force is necessary to prevent the escape of a prisoner from a detention facility, unless the guard or public servant knows that the prisoner is not an individual as described in subdivision d. A detention facility is any place used for the confinement, pursuant to a court order, of an individual charged with or convicted of an offense, charged with being or adjudicated a juvenile delinquent, held for extradition, or otherwise confined under court order.
   6. When used by a duly licensed physician, or an individual acting at the physician's direction, if the force is necessary to administer a recognized form of treatment to promote the physical or mental health of a patient and if the treatment is administered in an emergency; with the consent of the patient, or, if the patient is a minor or an incompetent person, with the consent of the patient's parent, guardian, or other person entrusted with the patient's care and supervision; or by order of a court of competent jurisdiction.
   7. When used by an individual who is directed or authorized by a public servant, and who does not know that the public servant is not authorized to use deadly force under the circumstances.

1. An individual is presumed to have held a reasonable fear of imminent peril of death or serious bodily injury to that individual or another when using deadly force if:
   1. The individual against whom the deadly force was used was in the process of unlawfully and forcibly entering, or had unlawfully and forcibly entered and remains within a dwelling, place of work, or occupied motor home or travel trailer as defined in section 39-01-01, or if the individual had removed or was attempting to remove another against that individual's will from the dwelling, place of work, or occupied motor home or travel trailer as defined in section 39-01-01; and
   2. The individual who uses deadly force knew or had reason to believe that an unlawful and forcible entry or unlawful and forcible act was occurring or had occurred.
2. The presumption in subsection 1 may be rebutted by proof beyond a reasonable doubt that the individual who used the deadly force did not have a reasonable fear of imminent peril of death or serious bodily injury to that individual or another.
3. The presumption in subsection 1 does not apply if the court finds that any of the following have occurred:
   1. The individual against whom the deadly force is used has the right to be in or is a lawful resident of the dwelling, place of work, or occupied motor home or travel trailer as defined in section 39-01-01, including an owner, lessee, or titleholder, and there is not a temporary or permanent domestic violence protection order or any other order of no contact against that individual;
   2. The individual removed or sought to be removed is a child or grandchild, or is otherwise in the lawful custody or under the lawful guardianship of, the individual against whom the deadly force is used;
   3. The individual who uses deadly force is engaged in the commission of a crime or is using the dwelling, place of work, or occupied motor home or travel trailer as defined in section 39-01-01 to further the commission of a crime; or
   4. The individual against whom the deadly force is used is a law enforcement officer who enters or attempts to enter a dwelling, place of work, or occupied motor home or travel trailer as defined in section 39-01-01 in the performance of official duties and the officer provided identification, if required, in accordance with any applicable law or warrant from a court, or if the individual using force knew or reasonably should have known that the individual entering or attempting to enter was a law enforcement officer.

1. An individual who uses force as permitted under this chapter is immune from civil liability for the use of the force to the individual against whom force was used or to that individual's estate unless that individual is a law enforcement officer who was acting in the performance of official duties and the officer provided identification, if required, in accordance with any applicable law or warrant from a court, or if the individual using force knew or reasonably should have known that the individual was a law enforcement officer.
2. The court shall award reasonable attorney's fees and court costs and disbursements incurred by the defendant in defense of any civil action brought by a plaintiff if the court finds that the defendant is immune from civil liability as provided in subsection 1.

A person's conduct is excused if he believes that the facts are such that his conduct is necessary and appropriate for any of the purposes which would establish a justification or excuse under this chapter, even though his belief is mistaken. However, if his belief is negligently or recklessly held, it is not an excuse in a prosecution for an offense for which negligence or recklessness, as the case may be, suffices to establish culpability. Excuse under this section is a defense or affirmative defense according to which type of defense would be established had the facts been as the person believed them to be.

Except as otherwise expressly provided, a person's good faith belief that conduct does not constitute a crime is an affirmative defense if he acted in reasonable reliance upon a statement of the law contained in:

1. A statute or other enactment.
2. A judicial decision, opinion, order, or judgment.
3. An administrative order or grant of permission.
4. An official interpretation of the public servant or body charged by law with responsibility for the interpretation, administration, or enforcement of the law defining the crime.

1. In a prosecution for any offense, it is an affirmative defense that the actor engaged in the proscribed conduct because he was compelled to do so by threat of imminent death or serious bodily injury to himself or to another. In a prosecution for an offense which does not constitute a felony, it is an affirmative defense that the actor engaged in the proscribed conduct because he was compelled to do so by force or threat of force. Compulsion within the meaning of this section exists only if the force, threat, or circumstances are such as would render a person of reasonable firmness incapable of resisting the pressure.
2. The defense defined in this section is not available to a person who, by voluntarily entering into a criminal enterprise, or otherwise, willfully placed himself in a situation in which it was foreseeable that he would be subjected to duress. The defense is also unavailable if he was negligent in placing himself in such a situation, whenever negligence suffices to establish culpability for the offense charged.

1. It is an affirmative defense that the defendant was entrapped into committing the offense.
2. A law enforcement agent perpetrates an entrapment if, for the purpose of obtaining evidence of the commission of a crime, the law enforcement agent induces or encourages and, as a direct result, causes another person to engage in conduct constituting such a crime by employing methods of persuasion or inducement which create a substantial risk that such crime will be committed by a person other than one who is ready to commit it. Conduct merely affording a person an opportunity to commit an offense does not constitute entrapment.
3. In this section "law enforcement agent" includes personnel of federal and local law enforcement agencies as well as state agencies, and any person cooperating with such an agency.

In this chapter:

1. "Deadly force" means force which a person uses with the intent of causing, or which he knows creates a substantial risk of causing, death or serious bodily injury. A threat to cause death or serious bodily injury, by the production of a weapon or otherwise, so long as the actor's intent is limited to creating an apprehension that he will use deadly force if necessary, does not constitute deadly force.
2. "Dwelling" means any building or structure, though movable or temporary, or a portion thereof, which is for the time being a person's home or place of lodging.
3. "Force" means physical action, threat, or menace against another, and includes confinement.
4. "Premises" means all or any part of a building or real property, or any structure, vehicle, or watercraft used for overnight lodging of persons, or used by persons for carrying on business therein.

1. An individual is guilty of a class C felony if, knowing that that individual is not licensed or privileged to do so, the individual enters or remains in a dwelling or in highly secured premises.
2. An individual is guilty of a class A misdemeanor if, knowing that that individual is not licensed or privileged to do so, the individual:
   1. Enters or remains in or on any building, occupied structure, or storage structure, or separately secured or occupied portion thereof; or
   2. Enters or remains in any place so enclosed as manifestly to exclude intruders.
3. An individual is guilty of a class B misdemeanor if, knowing that that individual is not licensed or privileged to do so, the individual enters or remains in any place as to which notice against trespass is given by actual communication to the actor by the individual in charge of the premises or other authorized individual or by posting in a manner reasonably likely to come to the attention of intruders. The name of the person posting the premises must appear on each sign in legible characters. An individual who violates this subsection is guilty of a class A misdemeanor for the second or subsequent offense within a two-year period.
4. An individual is guilty of a class B misdemeanor if that individual remains upon the property of another after being requested to leave the property by a duly authorized individual. An individual who violates this subsection is guilty of a class A misdemeanor for the second or subsequent offense within a two-year period.
5. This section does not apply to a peace officer in the course of discharging the peace officer's official duties.

1. The governor is responsible to minimize or avert the adverse effects of a disaster or emergency.
2. Under this chapter, the governor may issue executive orders and proclamations, and amend or rescind them. Executive orders, proclamations, and regulations have the force of law.
3. A disaster or emergency must be declared by executive order or proclamation of the governor if the governor determines a disaster has occurred or a state of emergency exists. The state of disaster or emergency shall continue until the governor determines that the threat of an emergency has passed or the disaster has been dealt with to the extent that emergency conditions no longer exist. The legislative assembly by concurrent resolution may terminate a state of disaster or emergency at any time. All executive orders or proclamations issued under this subsection must indicate the nature of the disaster or emergency, the area or areas threatened, the conditions which have brought it about or which make possible termination of the state of disaster or emergency. An executive order or proclamation must be disseminated promptly by means calculated to bring its contents to the attention of the general public, unless the circumstances attendant upon the disaster or emergency prevent or impede such dissemination, and it must be promptly filed with the department of emergency services, the secretary of state, and the county or city auditor of the jurisdictions affected.
4. An executive order or proclamation of a state of disaster or emergency shall activate the state and local operational plans applicable to the political subdivision or area in question and be authority for the deployment and use of any forces to which the plan or plans apply and for use or distribution of any supplies, equipment, and materials and facilities assembled, stockpiled, or arranged to be made available pursuant to this chapter or any other provision of law relating to a disaster or emergency.
5. During the continuance of any state of disaster or emergency declared by the governor, the governor is commander in chief of the emergency management organization and of all other forces available for emergency duty. To the greatest extent practicable, the governor shall delegate or assign command authority by prior arrangement embodied in appropriate executive orders or emergency operational plans, but nothing herein restricts the governor's authority to do so by orders issued at the time of the disaster or emergency.
6. In addition to any other powers conferred upon the governor by law, the governor may:
   1. Suspend the provisions of any regulatory statute prescribing the procedures for conduct of state business, or the orders, rules, or regulations of any state agency, if strict compliance with the provisions of any statute, order, rule, or regulation would in any way prevent, hinder, or delay necessary action in managing a disaster or emergency.
   2. Utilize all available resources of the state government as reasonably necessary to manage the disaster or emergency and of each political subdivision of the state.
   3. Transfer the direction, personnel, or functions of state departments and agencies or units thereof for the purpose of performing or facilitating emergency management activities.
   4. Subject to any applicable requirements for compensation under section 37-17.1-12, commandeer or utilize any private property if the governor finds this necessary to manage the disaster or emergency.
   5. Direct and compel the evacuation of all or part of the population from any stricken or threatened area within the state if the governor deems this action necessary for the preservation of life or other disaster or emergency mitigation, response, or recovery.
   6. Prescribe routes, modes of transportation, and destinations in connection with an evacuation.
   7. Control ingress and egress in a designated disaster or emergency area, the movement of persons within the area, and the occupancy of premises therein.
   8. Suspend or limit the sale, dispensing, or transportation of alcoholic beverages, explosives, and combustibles, not including ammunition.
   9. Make provision for the availability and use of temporary emergency housing.
   10. Make provisions for the control, allocation, and the use of quotas for critical shortages of fuel or other life and property sustaining commodities.
   11. Designate members of the highway patrol, North Dakota national guard, or others trained in law enforcement, as peace officers.
7. Any person who willfully violates any provision of an executive order or proclamation issued by the governor pursuant to this chapter is guilty of an infraction.
8. Authorize the adjutant general to recall to state active duty, on a volunteer basis, former members of the North Dakota national guard. Those recalled must possess the qualifications required by the disaster or emergency. Recall under this subsection is effective only for the duration of the disaster or emergency and recalled personnel will be released from state active duty upon competent authority that the requirement of their service under this subsection has passed. Compensation for personnel recalled under this subsection will be based upon section 37-07-05.

Amended: 2013, ch. 272, s.2.

1. Notwithstanding any other law, a person acting on behalf or under the authority of the state or a political subdivision may not do any of the following during a declared emergency:
   1. Prohibit or restrict the otherwise lawful possession, use, carrying, transfer, transportation, storage, or display of a firearm or ammunition;
   2. Seize or confiscate, or authorize the seizure or confiscation of, any otherwise lawfully possessed firearm or ammunition unless the person acting on behalf of or under the authority of the state or political subdivision is defending that person or another from an assault, arresting an individual in actual possession of a firearm or ammunition for a violation of law, or seizing or confiscating the firearm or ammunition as evidence of a crime; or
   3. Require registration of any firearm or ammunition for which registration is not otherwise required by law.
2. Subdivision a of subsection 1 as it relates to transfer of a firearm or ammunition does not apply to the commercial sale of firearms or ammunition if an authorized authority has ordered an evacuation or general closure of businesses in the affected area.
3. Any individual aggrieved by a violation of this section may commence a civil action against any person who subjects the individual, or causes the individual to be subjected, to an action prohibited by this section.
4. In addition to any other remedy, an individual aggrieved by the seizure or confiscation of a firearm or ammunition in violation of this section may bring an action for the return of the firearm or ammunition, or the value of the firearm or ammunition, if the firearm or ammunition is no longer available, in the district court of the county in which that individual resides, in which the firearm or ammunition is located, or in which the seizure or confiscation occurred.
5. In any action to enforce this section, the court shall award a prevailing plaintiff costs and reasonable attorney's fees.

Added: 2013, ch. 272, s.1.

In emergencies in support of national defense, the governor may cooperate with any officer or agency of the United States in the transportation of persons or property and the conservation and utilization of vital transportation equipment, materials, and supplies, and when requested by such officer or agency, may issue executive orders related thereto which will:

1. Suspend or modify the enforcement of any statute, ordinance, or regulation relating to the operation of motor vehicles upon the highways and streets of the state where it appears that the enforcement of such statute, ordinance, or regulation would impede or interfere with the national defense.
2. Prescribe maximum rates of speed at which any motor vehicle may be operated on any highway or street in the state.
3. Prescribe the sizes and load weights of motor vehicles which may be operated on any highway or street in the state.
4. Suspend the enforcement of any statute, ordinance, or regulation that requires any motor vehicle, bus, or housetrailer, to which a valid and unexpired permit or license has been issued by another state, to obtain a permit or license from this state.
5. Prescribe reasonable regulations for the conservation and utilization of the highways and streets, and of vital transportation equipment, and materials and supplies used in connection therewith.
6. Amend, revoke, or suspend any such executive order or regulation.

The governor shall report to the legislative assembly at its next session any proceedings taken by the governor pursuant to this section. Such report must include copies of all executive orders or regulations promulgated by the governor.

As used in this title, unless the context otherwise requires:

1. "Dangerous weapon" includes any switchblade or gravity knife, machete, scimitar, stiletto, sword, dagger, or knife with a blade of five inches [12.7 centimeters] or more; any throwing star, nunchaku, or other martial arts weapon; any billy, blackjack, sap, bludgeon, cudgel, metal knuckles, or sand club; any slungshot; any bow and arrow, crossbow, or spear; any weapon that will expel, or is readily capable of expelling, a projectile by the action of a spring, compressed air, or compressed gas, including any such weapon, loaded or unloaded, commonly referred to as a BB gun, air rifle, or CO2 gun; and any projector of a bomb or any object containing or capable of producing and emitting any noxious liquid, gas, or substance. "Dangerous weapon" does not include a spray or aerosol containing CS, also known as ortho-chlorobenzamalonitrile; CN, also known as alpha-chloroacetophenone; or other irritating agent intended for use in the defense of an individual, nor does the term include a device that uses voltage for the defense of an individual, unless the device uses a projectile and voltage or the device uses a projectile and may be used to apply multiple applications of voltage during a single incident, then the term includes the device for an individual who is prohibited from possessing a firearm under this title.
2. "Direct supervision of an adult" means that an adult is present in such close proximity so as to be capable of observing and directing the actions of the individual supervised.
3. "Firearm" or "weapon" means any device that expels or is readily capable of expelling, a projectile by the action of an explosive and includes any such device, loaded or unloaded, commonly referred to as a pistol, revolver, rifle, gun, machine gun, shotgun, bazooka, or cannon.
4. "Gaming site" means any room or premises licensed by the attorney general or by a city or county governing body to conduct legal gaming operations.
5. "Government building" means a building which is owned, possessed, or used by or leased to the state of North Dakota, or any of its political subdivisions.
6. "Handgun" means any firearm that is not designed to be fired from the shoulder, which has a barrel less than sixteen inches [40.64 centimeters] long, and which is capable of firing, by the energy of an explosive in a fixed metallic cartridge, an exposed projectile through a rifled bore. The term includes all firearms that are designed to be readily modified between rifle and pistol forms, if in compliance with the National Firearms Act [26 U.S.C. 5801-5872].
7. "Law enforcement officer" means;
   1. a public servant authorized by law or by a government agency or branch to enforce the law and to conduct or engage in investigations or prosecutions for violations of law.
   2. A retired public servant in good standing who:
      1. Was authorized by law or by a government agency or branch for at least ten years to enforce the law and to conduct or engage in investigations or prosecutions for violations of law or who was separated from service due to a service - related physical disability;
      2. Maintains the same level of firearms proficiency as is required by the peace officers standards and training board for law enforcement officers, maintains the standards for qualifications in firearms training for active law enforcement officers as determined by the former agency of the individual in the state in which the individual resides, or maintains the standards used by a certified firearms instructor qualified to conduct a firearms qualification test for active duty officers in the state in which the individual resides;
      3. Has a photo identification card issued by a local law enforcement agency which identifies the individual as having been employed by a government agency or branch as a law enforcement officer and indicates the individual has passed the firearms proficiency test within twelve months from the date of issue; and
      4. Has not been found by a qualified medical professional to be unqualified for reasons relating to mental health or entered an agreement with a government agency or branch in which the public servant acknowledges a lack of qualifications for reasons relating to the mental health of the public servant; or
8. "Machine gun, submachine gun, or fully automatic rifle" means a firearm, mechanism, or instrument not requiring that the trigger be pressed for each shot, and having a reservoir, belt, or other means of storing and carrying ammunition which can be loaded into the firearm, mechanism, or instrument and fired therefrom at a rate of five or more shots to the second. The term does not include a binary trigger that fires one round upon the pull of the trigger and one round upon release of the trigger.
9. "Plain view" means the handgun is placed in such a location or carried in such a position as to be easily discernible by the ordinary observation of a passerby. In a motor vehicle, this includes being placed on the seat, dashboard, or in a gunrack as long as the handgun is not covered or is in any other way concealed from view.
10. "Rifle" means any firearm designed or redesigned, made or remade, and intended to be fired from the shoulder and using the energy of the explosive in a fixed metallic cartridge to fire only a single projectile through a rifled bore for each pull of the trigger.
11. "Secured" means the firearm is closed into the trunk or nonpassenger part of the vehicle; placed into a closed and secure carrying device; rendered inoperative by the use of a trigger, hammer, cylinder, slide, or barrel-locking device that renders the firearm incapable of firing until the device is unlocked and removed; or so disassembled or disabled as to be rendered incapable of firing.
12. "Short-barreled rifle" means a rifle having one or more barrels less than sixteen inches [40.64 centimeters] in length and any firearm made from a rifle, whether by alteration, modification, or otherwise, if the firearm, as modified, has an overall length of less than twenty-six inches [66.04 centimeters].
13. "Short-barreled shotgun" means a shotgun having one or more barrels less than eighteen inches [45.72 centimeters] in length and any firearm made from a shotgun, whether by alteration, modification, or otherwise, if the firearm, as modified, has an overall length of less than twenty-six inches [66.04 centimeters].
14. "Shotgun" means a firearm designed or redesigned, made or remade, and intended to be fired with one hand below or behind and one hand in front of the breach, which uses the energy of the explosive in a fixed shotgun shell to fire through a smooth or a rifled bore either a number of ball shot or a single projectile for each single pull of the trigger.
15. "Silencer" means any device for or attached to any firearm which will silence or deaden the sound or natural report of the firearm when it is discharged.
16. "Unloaded" means the chamber of the firearm does not contain a loaded shell. If the firearm is a revolver, then none of the chambers in the cylinder may contain a loaded shell.

Amended: 2013, hb. 1327, s.2, s.3; 2015, 1241, s.2; 2015, 1450, s.1; 2017, 1395, s.2. Amended 2019 1308 s. 1 Amended 20192034 s. 1

1. Any firearm or dangerous weapon used or possessed while in the commission of a felony or a misdemeanor involving violence or intimidation must be seized and, upon conviction and by motion, forfeited to the jurisdiction in which the arrest was made or the jurisdiction in which the charge arose. Except as provided in chapter 29-01 for stolen property, the forfeited dangerous weapon may be, pursuant to court order, sold at public auction, sold or traded to other law enforcement agencies or dealers, retained for use, or destroyed.
2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law; and subject to the duty to return firearms to innocent owners under this section, section 29-31.1-02, and as provided in chapter 29-01 for stolen property; all firearms, as defined in section 62.1-01-01, which are forfeited, recovered as stolen and unclaimed, or abandoned to any law enforcement agency of this state or a political subdivision of this state, including the game and fish department, or that are otherwise acquired by the state or a political subdivision of the state and are no longer needed, shall be disposed of as provided in this section. Except as provided in chapter 29-01 for stolen property, this section does not apply to firearms that are seized or confiscated and disposed of under chapter 20.1-10.
3. 1. Before the disposal of any firearm under this section, the agency with custody of the firearm shall use its best efforts to determine if the firearm has been lost by, or stolen or otherwise unlawfully obtained from, an innocent owner and, if so, shall provide notification to the innocent owner of its custody of the firearm. An innocent owner may also notify the agency to claim a firearm.
   2. After notification, the agency shall return the firearm to its innocent owner provided the owner submits sufficient proof of ownership, as determined by the agency, and pays the costs, if any, of returning the firearm to the innocent owner. Costs are limited to the actual costs of shipping to the innocent owner and associated costs from any transfer and background check fees charged when delivering the firearm to the innocent owner.
   3. If six months elapse after notification to the innocent owner of the custody of the firearm by an agency and the innocent owner fails to bear the costs of return of his or her firearm or fails to respond to the agency notification, or if six months elapse after notice of a claim by an innocent owner and the innocent owner fails to bear the costs of return of the innocent owner's firearm or take away the innocent owner's firearm, then the agency shall dispose of the firearm as provided in this section.
4. 1. Except as provided in subdivision b of subsection 3 or subsection 5, the agency shall dispose of the firearms that it receives under subsection 2 by sale at public auction to persons that may lawfully possess a firearm and persons licensed as firearms collectors, dealers, importers, or manufacturers under the provisions of 18 U.S.C. section 921 et seq., and authorized to receive such firearms under the terms of the licenses.
   2. The auction required by this subsection may occur online on a rolling basis or at live events, but in no event may the auction occur less frequently than once every year during any time the agency has an inventory of saleable firearms. The agency shall establish a procedure to notify persons of its auctions.
   3. The agency may not retain proceeds above that which are necessary to cover the costs of administering this subsection, with any surplus to be transferred to the general fund of the jurisdiction in which the agency is located, provided that an agency may be reimbursed for any firearms formerly in use by the agency that are sold under this section.
   4. Employees of the agency are not eligible to bid on the firearms at an auction conducted under this subsection, and except for the amounts authorized under subdivision c of this subsection, neither the agency nor its employees may retain any proceeds from any sale required by this subsection, nor may the agency or its employees retain any firearm required to be sold under this subsection.
5. 1. The requirements of subsection 4 do not apply to a firearm if there are not any bids from eligible persons received within six months from when bidding opened on the firearm, or if the agency director, sheriff, chief of police, or a designee of the official certifies that the firearm is unsafe for use because of wear, damage, age, or modification or because any federal or state law prohibits the sale or distribution of the firearm. The agency director, sheriff, chief of police, or a designee of the official, may transfer any of these firearms to the attorney general’s crime laboratory for training or experimental purposes, or to a museum or historical society that displays these items to the public and is lawfully eligible to receive the firearm, or the firearm may be destroyed. The requirements of subsection 4 do not apply to a firearm and an agency director, sheriff, chief of police, or a designee of the official may destroy the firearm, if :
      1. The firearm was used in a violent crime, in an accidental shooting, or a self-inflicted shooting resulting in the death of an individual;
      2. There is not a claim for the firearm by an innocent owner; and
      3. A family member of the deceased individual makes a written request for the destruction of the firearm.
   2. Agencies subject to the provisions of this subsection may establish a procedure to destroy firearms and may expend necessary funds for that purpose.
6. All agencies subject to the provisions of this section shall keep records of the firearms acquired and disposed of as provided in this section, as well as the proceeds of the sales and the disbursement of the proceeds, and shall maintain these records for not less than ten years from the date on which a firearm is disposed of or on which a disbursement of funds is made, as the case may be.
7. Neither the state nor any political subdivision of the state, nor any of their officers, agents, and employees, is liable to any person, including the purchaser of a firearm, for personal injuries or damage to property arising from the sale or disposal of a firearm under subsection 4 or 5 of this section, unless an officer, agent, or employee of the state or political subdivision acted with gross negligence or recklessness.
8. As used in this section, the term "innocent owner" means a person who:
   1. Did not beforehand know or in the exercise of ordinary care would not have known of the conduct which caused that person's firearm to be forfeited, seized, or abandoned to any law enforcement agency of the state or any political subdivision of the state, including the game and fish department;
   2. Did not participate in the commission of a crime or delinquent act involving that person's firearm;
   3. Legally owned and presently owns the firearm forfeited, seized, or abandoned; and
   4. Is authorized by state and federal law to receive and possess his or her firearm.

Amended: 2015, 1457, s1

A political subdivision, including home rule cities or counties, may not enact any ordinance relating to the purchase, sale, ownership, possession, transfer of ownership, registration, or licensure of firearms and ammunition which is more restrictive than state law. All such existing ordinances are void.

Amended: 2013, hb. 1327, s.4

1. As used in this section, "firearm buyback program" means a program to purchase privately owned firearms, firearm parts, or ammunition from private individuals or organizations for the purpose of providing cash, gifts, or vouchers; or reducing the number of firearms, firearm parts, or ammunition owned by civilians; or permitting a civilian to sell a firearm to the government without fear of prosecution. The term does not include the purchase of firearms, firearm parts, or ammunition from a licensed firearms dealer, or a program to purchase firearms, firearm parts, or ammunition for law enforcement purposes.
2. A state agency, political subdivision, or any law enforcement agency of this state may not conduct a firearm buyback program or participate in the implementation, administration, or operation of a firearm buyback program.
3. A state agency, political subdivision, or any law enforcement agency of this state may not expend any taxpayer dollars for the purpose of implementing, administering, or otherwise operating a firearm buyback program.
4. A violation of this section is a class A misdemeanor

Enacted 2019 1381 s. 1

1. 1. A person who has been convicted anywhere of a felony offense involving violence or intimidation in violation of chapters 12.1-16 through 12.1-25 or an equivalent felony offense of another state or the federal government is prohibited from owning a firearm or having one in possession or under control from the date of conviction and continuing for a period of ten years after the date of conviction or the date of release from incarceration, parole, or probation, whichever is latest.
   2. A person who has been convicted anywhere of a felony offense of this or another state or the federal government not provided for in subdivision a or who has been convicted of a class A misdemeanor offense involving violence or intimidation in violation of chapters 12.1-16 through 12.1-25 or an equivalent offense of another state or the federal government and the offense was committed while using or possessing a firearm, a dangerous weapon, or, as defined in subsections 7 and 8 of section 12.1-01-04, a destructive device or an explosive, is prohibited from owning a firearm or having one in possession or under control from the date of conviction and continuing for a period of five years after the date of conviction or the date of release from incarceration, parole, or probation, whichever is latest.
   3. A person who is or has ever been diagnosed and confined or committed to a hospital or other institution in this state or elsewhere by a court of competent jurisdiction, other than a person who has had the petition that provided the basis for the diagnosis, confinement, or commitment dismissed under section 25-03.1-17, 25-03.1-18, or 25-03.1-19, or equivalent statutes of another jurisdiction, as a person requiring treatment as defined in section 25-03.1-02, or as a mentally deficient person as defined in section 25-01-01, is prohibited from purchasing a firearm or having one in possession or under control. This limitation does not apply to a person who has not suffered from the disability for the previous three years or who has successfully petitioned for relief under section 62.1-02-01.2.
   4. A person under the age of eighteen years may not possess a handgun except that such a person, while under the direct supervision of an adult, may possess a handgun for the purposes of firearm safety training, target shooting, or hunting.
   5. A felon who is not sentenced under section 12.1 - 32 - 09.1 may possess a rifle that has a barrel sixteen inches [40.72 centimeters] or longer or a shotgun that has a barrel eighteen inches [45.72 centimeters] or longer and which is one of the following:
      1. A firearm, including any firearm with a matchlock, flintlock, percussion cap, or similar type of ignition system, manufactured before 1899.
      2. A replica of any firearm described in subdivision a, if the replica is not designed or redesigned for using rimfire or conventional centerfire fixed ammunition or uses rimfire or conventional centerfire fixed ammunition that is no longer manufactured in the United States and which is not readily available in the ordinary channels of commercial trade.
      3. A muzzleloading rifle or muzzleloading shotgun designed to use black powder or a black powder substitute and which cannot use fixed ammunition.

   A person who violates subdivision a or b is guilty of a class C felony, and a person who violates subdivision c or d is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.

2. For the purposes of this section, "conviction" means a determination that the person committed one of the above-mentioned crimes upon a verdict of guilt, a plea of guilty, or a plea of nolo contendere even though:
   1. The court suspended execution of sentence in accordance with subsection 3 of section 12.1-32-02;
   2. The court deferred imposition of sentence in accordance with subsection 4 of section 12.1-32-02;
   3. The court placed the person on probation;
   4. The person's conviction has been reduced in accordance with subsection 9 of section 12.1-32-02 or section 12.1-32-07.1;
   5. Sentence dispositions, sentence reductions, or offense determinations equivalent to this section were imposed or granted by a court, board, agency, or law of another state or the federal government; or
   6. The person committed an offense equivalent to an offense described in subdivision a or b of subsection 1 when that person was subject to juvenile adjudication or proceedings and a determination of a court under chapter 27-20 or of a court of another state or the federal government was made that the person committed the delinquent act or offense.

Amended 2019 - 2034 s. 3

1. An individual prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a conviction of a felony under subdivision b of subsection 1 of section 62.1-02-01 may petition the district court for restoration of the individual's firearm rights. If the felony offense was committed in this state, the petition must be filed with the district court in the county where the offense occurred. If the offense was a felony of another state or the federal government, the petition must be filed in the venue where the rights of the individual were revoked. A copy of the petition must be served on the state's attorney's office in the county where the petition is filed in accordance with Rule 5 of the North Dakota Rules of Civil Procedure. The state's attorney's office shall have twenty days to file a written response to the petition with the district court.
2. The district court may restore the right of an individual to possess a firearm if the court determines, by clear and convincing evidence, that all of the following circumstances exist:
   1. The individual has paid all fines imposed for the violation resulting in the prohibition;
   2. The individual has served all terms of imprisonment imposed for the violation resulting in the prohibition;
   3. The individual has successfully completed all conditions of probation or parole imposed for the violation resulting in the prohibition; and
   4. The individual's record and reputation are such that the individual is not likely to act in a manner dangerous to the safety of others.

Amended: 2013, ch. 492, s.1. Amended 2019 2034 s. 4

1. A court shall make a finding as to whether the provisions of 18 U.S.C. 922(d)(4) and (g)(4) apply to the subject of a following proceeding in which the court:
   1. Finds that a person, as a result of mental disease or defect, may not be held criminally responsible in any case pursuant to chapter 12.1-04 or 12.1-04.1;
   2. Finds that a person is a "mentally deficient person", as defined in subsection 3 of section 25-01-01;
   3. Orders involuntary hospitalization or commitment to a treatment facility or involuntary treatment pursuant to chapter 25-03.1;
   4. Orders involuntary commitment or involuntary treatment under chapter 25-03.3;
   5. Appoints a guardian ad litem under section 28-03-04;
   6. Appoints a guardian under chapter 30.1-28; or
   7. Appoints a conservator under chapter 30.1-29.
2. If the court finds that the provisions apply, the clerk of the court shall forward the individual's name and nonclinical identifying information to the bureau of criminal investigation, which shall forward the information to the federal bureau of investigation, or its successor agency, for inclusion in the national instant criminal background check system database. The court also shall notify the individual of the prohibitions of 18 U.S.C. 922(d)(4) and (g)(4), and, if relevant, of subdivision c of subsection 1 of section 62.1-02-01.
3. If a court of this state has found an individual under subsection 1 to be subject to the provisions of 18 U.S.C. 922(d)(4) and (g)(4), that individual may petition the court that issued the finding or the district court of the county where the individual resides to remove that individual's firearms-related disabilities, as provided in Public Law No. 110-180, 105(a). A copy of the petition for relief must be served on the director of the treatment facility that treated the individual pursuant to court order and the prosecuting attorney of the county in which the original finding, order, or appointment occurred. The director of the treatment facility that treated the individual pursuant to court order and the prosecuting attorney may appear, support, object to, and present evidence relevant to the relief sought by the petitioner. The court shall receive and consider evidence in a closed proceeding, including evidence offered by the petitioner, concerning:
   1. The circumstances of the original order, appointment, or finding;
   2. The petitioner's mental health and criminal history records, if any;
   3. The petitioner's reputation; and
   4. Changes in the petitioner's condition or circumstances relevant to the relief sought.
4. The court shall grant the petition for relief if the court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the petitioner likely will not act in a manner dangerous to public safety and that the granting of the relief would not be contrary to the public interest. A record must be kept of the proceedings. The record is confidential and may be disclosed only to a court in the event of an appeal. An individual may file a petition for relief under this section no more than once every two years.
5. When a magistrate or court issues an order granting a petition for relief under subsection 3, the clerk of the court immediately shall forward a copy of the order to the bureau of criminal investigation in the format and medium specified by the bureau after consultation with the state court administrator. The bureau immediately shall forward a copy to the federal bureau of investigation, or its successor agency, for updating of the national instant criminal background check system database.

No person may transfer a handgun to any person who the transferor knows or has

reasonable cause to believe is a person prohibited by section 62.1-02-01 from possessing a firearm. Any person who violates this section is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.

A person who possesses, obtains, receives, sells, or uses a short-barreled rifle or a short-barreled shotgun is guilty of a class C felony. This section does not apply to a law enforcement officer who possesses, obtains, receives, sells, or uses a short-barreled rifle or a short-barreled shotgun in the course of or in connection with the officer's official duties, to a member of the armed forces of the United States or national guard, organized reserves, state defense forces, or state guard organizations who possesses or uses a short-barreled rifle or short-barreled shotgun issued to the member by that organization and while on official duty, or to any person who complies with the National Firearms Act [26 U.S.C. 5801-5872].

1. An individual who enters or remains in that part of the establishment set aside for the retail sale of alcoholic beverages and the consumption of purchased alcoholic beverages or used as a gaming site at which bingo is the primary gaming activity while that individual knowingly possesses a firearm or dangerous weapon is guilty of an infraction. In addition, an individual is guilty of an offense under this section for the knowing possession of a device that uses a projectile and voltage or a device that uses a projectile and may be used to apply multiple applications of voltage during a single incident in the part of an establishment that is set aside for the retail sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages
2. This section does not apply to:
   1. A law enforcement officer.
   2. The proprietor.
   3. The proprietor's employee.
   4. A designee of the proprietor when the designee is displaying an unloaded firearm or dangerous weapon as a prize or sale item in a raffle or auction.
   5. Private security personnel while on duty for the purpose of delivering or receiving moneys used at the liquor establishment or at the gaming site at which bingo is the primary gaming activity.
   6. The restaurant part of an establishment if an individual under twenty-one years of age is not prohibited in that part of the establishment.

Amended: 2013, ch. 493, s.1; 2015, 1241, s.3; 2017, 1395, s.2 Amended 2019 1163 s.1.

1. An individual who knowingly possesses a firearm or dangerous weapon at a public gathering is guilty of an infraction. For the purpose of this section, "public gathering" means an athletic or sporting event, a school, a church or other place of worship, and a publicly owned or operated building.
2. This section does not apply to:
   1. A law enforcement officer, or a correctional officer employed by the department of corrections and rehabilitation or by a correctional facility governed by chapter 12-44.1. A correctional officer employed by the department of corrections and rehabilitation may carry a firearm only as authorized in section 12-47-34. A correctional officer employed by a correctional facility governed by chapter 12-44.1 may carry a firearm or dangerous weapon only as authorized in section 12-44.1-30;
   2. A member of the armed forces of the United States or national guard, organized reserves, state defense forces, or state guard organizations, when on duty;
   3. A competitor participating in an organized sport shooting event;
   4. A gun or antique show;
   5. A participant using a blank cartridge firearm at a sporting or theatrical event;
   6. A firearm or dangerous weapon carried in a temporary residence or motor vehicle;
   7. A student and an instructor at a hunter safety class;
   8. Private security personnel while on duty;
   9. A state or federal park;
   10. An instructor, a test administrator, an official, or a participant in educational, training, cultural, or competitive events involving the authorized use of a dangerous weapon if the event occurs with permission of the person or entity with authority over the function or premises in question; and
   11. An individual in a publicly owned or operated rest area or restroom;
   12. An individual possessing a valid concealed weapons license from this state or who has reciprocity under section 62.1-04-03.1 authorizing the individual to carry a firearm or dangerous weapon concealed if the individual is in a church building or other place of worship and has the approval to carry in the church building or other place of worship by a primary religious leader of the church or other place of worship or the governing body of the church or other place of worship;
   13. A state, federal, or municipal court judge, a magistrat judge or judicial refere, a staff member of the office of attorney general, if the individual maintains the same level of firearms proficiency as is required by the peace officer standards and training board for law enforcement officers. A local law enforcement agency shall issue a certificate of compliance under this section to an individual who is proficient.
   14. An individual's storage of a firearm or dangerous weapon in a building that is owned or managed by the state or a political subdivision, provided:
       1. The individual resides in the building;
       2. The storage is inside the individual's assigned residential unit; and
       3. The storage has been consented to by the state, the governing board, or a designee.
   15. An individual authorized to carry a concealed weapon on school property under section 1 of this Act.
3. This section does not prevent any political subdivision from enacting an ordinance that is less restrictive than this section relating to the possession of firearms or dangerous weapons at a public gathering. An enacted ordinance supersedes this section within the jurisdiction of the political subdivision.
4. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a church or place of worship may not be held liable for any injury or death or damage to property caused by an individual permitted to carry a firearm or dangerous weapon concealed under this section.
5. This section does not prevent the governing body of a school or the entity exercising control over a publicly owned or operated building or property from authorizing the use of a less than lethal weapon as part of the security plan for the school, building, or property.

Amended: 2013, ch. 496, s.1; ch. 491, s.5; ch. 497, s.1; 2015, 1241, s.4; 2017, 1233, s. 1; 2017, 1279, s.1; 1395, s.3; 2125, s.1. Amended 2017 1273 Sec. 1 Amended 2019 1042 s. 1-2 Amended 2019 1163 s. 2 Amended 2019 1332 s.2 Amended 2019 2034 s. 5, 6, 7

A person who discharges a firearm within a city is guilty of a class B misdemeanor. This section does not apply to the lawful discharge of firearms by law enforcement officers, by citizens in defense of person or property, or by participants in lawful activities in which discharge of firearms is a recognized part of the activity, including shooting galleries and ranges.

Any parent, guardian, or other person authorized by the parent or guardian of any minor under fifteen years of age who permits that minor to carry or use in public any firearm of any description loaded with powder and projectile in public, is guilty of a class B misdemeanor. This section does not apply if the minor is under the direct supervision of the parent, guardian, or other person authorized by the parent or guardian

Amended 2019 2034 s. 8

1. A person is guilty of an offense if the person supplies a firearm, ammunition, or explosive material to, or procures or receives a firearm, ammunition, or explosive material for, a person prohibited by this title from receiving it if the transferor knows or has reasonable cause to believe that such person is prohibited by section 62.1-02-01 from receiving or possessing it.
2. The offense is a class C felony if the actor:
   1. Was not licensed or otherwise authorized by law to handle, transfer, or engage in transactions with respect to the firearm, destructive device, or explosive material; or
   2. Engaged in the forbidden transaction under circumstances manifesting the actor's readiness to supply or procure on other occasions in disregard of lawful restrictions.

   Otherwise the offense is a class A misdemeanor.

A person, except for a law enforcement officer while on official business, is guilty of a class C felony if the person possesses an explosive or destructive device in a government building without the written consent of the government agency or person responsible for the management of the building.

An individual may not keep or carry a loaded firearm in or on any motor vehicle, including an off-highway vehicle or snowmobile in this state. An individual violating this section is guilty of an infraction. This prohibition does not apply to:

1. A member of the armed forces of the United States or national guard, organized reserves, state defense forces, or state guard organizations while possessing the firearm issued to the member by the organization and while on official duty.
2. A law enforcement officer.
3. An individual possessing a valid concealed weapons license from this state or who has reciprocity under section 62.1-04-03.1 with a handgun, or with a rifle or shotgun if not in the field hunting or trapping.
4. An individual in the field engaged in lawful hunting or trapping of nongame species or fur-bearing animals.
5. A security guard or private investigator properly licensed to carry firearms.
6. An individual possessing a valid special permit issued pursuant to section 20.1-02-05.

An individual who is not otherwise precluded from possessing a class 2 firearm and dangerous weapon license under chapter 62.1-04 and who has possessed for at least one year a valid driver's license or nondriver identification card issued by the department of transportation.

Amended: 2013, ch. 491, s.6; 2015, 1241, s.5. Amended 2019 1042 s. 3 Amended 2019 1163 s. 3 Amended 2019 2034 s. 10

An individual who is in the field engaged in the lawful hunting of big game or small game and who violates section 62.1-02-10 is not subject to a criminal penalty but is guilty of a class 2 noncriminal offense under chapter 20.1-01.

Amended: 2013, ch. 494, s.1.

No person may have in custody, possession, or control any nitroglycerin, dynamite, or any other dangerous or violent explosive, unless the explosive is carried in the prosecution of or to effect a lawful and legitimate purpose. Any person violating this section is guilty of a class C felony.

Repealed by S.L. 2005, ch. 598, §2.

1. A public or private employer may not:
   1. Prohibit any customer, employee, or invitee from possessing any legally owned firearm, if the firearm is lawfully possessed and locked inside or locked to a private motor vehicle in a parking lot and if the customer, employee, or invitee is lawfully in the area.
   2. Make a verbal or written inquiry regarding the presence of a firearm inside or locked to a private motor vehicle in a parking lot or make an actual search of a private motor vehicle in a parking lot to ascertain the presence of a firearm within the vehicle. In addition, a public or private employer may not take any action against a customer, employee, or invitee based upon verbal or written statements of any party concerning possession of a firearm stored inside a private motor vehicle in a parking lot for lawful purposes. A search of a private motor vehicle in the parking lot of a public or private employer to ascertain the presence of a firearm within the vehicle may only be conducted by an on-duty law enforcement officer.
   3. Condition employment upon the fact that an employee or prospective employee holds or does not hold a concealed weapons license or any agreement by an employee or a prospective employee that prohibits an employee from keeping a legal firearm locked inside or locked to a private motor vehicle in a parking lot, if the firearm is kept for lawful purposes.
   4. Prohibit or attempt to prevent any customer, employee, or invitee from entering the parking lot or the employer's place of business because the customer's, employee's, or invitee's private motor vehicle contains a legal firearm being carried for lawful purposes, that is out of sight within the customer's, employee's, or invitee's private motor vehicle.
   5. Terminate the employment of or otherwise discriminate against an employee, or expel a customer or invitee for exercising the constitutional right to keep and bear arms or for exercising the right of self-defense as long as a firearm is never exhibited on company property for any reason other than lawful defensive purposes.
2. A public or private employer has no duty of care related to the actions prohibited under this section.
3. A public or private employer is not liable in a criminal or civil action based on actions or inactions taken in compliance with this section. The immunity provided in this subsection does not apply to civil actions based on actions or inactions of public or private employers that are unrelated to compliance with this section.
4. This section does not expand any existing duty, or create any additional duty, on the part of a public or private employer, property owner, or property owner's agent.
5. A person aggrieved under this section may bring a civil action for violation of rights protected under this section. In any successful action brought by a customer, employee, or invitee aggrieved under this section, the court shall award all reasonable personal costs and losses suffered by the aggrieved person as a result of the violation of rights under this section. In any action brought under this section, the court shall award all court costs and attorney's fees to the prevailing party.
6. The prohibitions in subsection 1 do not apply to:
   1. Any public or nonpublic elementary school, middle school, or high school property, except as otherwise provided in subsection 2 of section 62.1-02-05.
   2. Any correctional facility or institution.
   3. Property owned or leased by a public or private employer or the landlord of a public or private employer upon which are conducted substantial activities involving national defense, aerospace, or homeland security.
   4. Property owned or leased by a public or private employer or the landlord of a public or private employer upon which the primary business conducted is the manufacture, use, storage, or transportation of combustible or explosive materials regulated under state or federal law, or property owned or leased by an employer who has obtained a permit required under 18 U.S.C. 842 to engage in the business of importing, manufacturing, or dealing in explosive materials on the property.
   5. A motor vehicle owned, leased, or rented by a public or private employer or the landlord of a public or private employer.
   6. Any other property owned or leased by a public or private employer or the landlord of a public or private employer upon which possession of a firearm or other legal product by a customer, employee, or invitee is prohibited under any federal law, contract with a federal governmental entity, or other law of this state.
   7. The state hospital.

Amended: 2015, 1450, s.2. Amended 2019 2304 s. 10

1. Unless otherwise prohibited by law, an individual may carry a handgun if:
   1. The handgun is unloaded, in plain view or secured, and between the hours of one hour before sunrise and one hour after sunset.
   2. The handgun is unloaded and secured and between the hours of one hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise.
2. A limitation under subdivision a or b of subsection 1 does not apply to:
   1. An individual possessing a valid concealed weapons license from this state, an individual not otherwise precluded from possessing a class 2 firearm and dangerous weapon license under chapter 62.1 - 04 and who has possessed for at least one year a valid driver's license or nondriver identification card issued by the department of transportation, or an individual who has reciprocity under section 62-04-03.1
   2. An individual on that person's land, or in that individual's permanent or temporary residence, or fixed place of business.
   3. An individual while lawfully engaged in target shooting.
   4. An individual while in the field engaging in the lawful pursuit of hunting or trapping. However, nothing in this exception authorizes the carrying of a loaded handgun in a motor vehicle.
   5. An individual permitted by law to possess a firearm while carrying the handgun unloaded and in a secure wrapper from the place of purchase to that person's home or place of business, or to a place of repair or back from those locations.
   6. Any North Dakota law enforcement officer.
   7. Any law enforcement officer of any other state or political subdivision of another state if on official duty within this state.
   8. Any armed security guard or investigator as authorized by law when on duty or going to or from duty.
   9. Any member of the armed forces of the United States when on duty or going to or from duty and when carrying the handgun issued to the member.
   10. Any member of the national guard, organized reserves, state defense forces, or state guard organizations, when on duty or going to or from duty and when carrying the handgun issued to the member by the organization.
   11. Any officer or employee of the United States duly authorized to carry a handgun.
   12. An individual engaged in manufacturing, repairing, or dealing in handguns or the agent or representative of that individual possessing, using, or carrying a handgun in the usual or ordinary course of the business.
   13. Any common carrier, but only when carrying the handgun as part of the cargo in the usual cargo carrying portion of the vehicle.

Amended: 2013, ch. 491, s.7; 2015, 1241, s.6. Amended 2017 1169 Sec. 1 Amended 2019 2034 s. 11

Any person who sells, barters, hires, lends, or gives any handgun to any minor is guilty of a class A misdemeanor. This section does not prohibit a person from lending or giving a handgun to a minor if the minor will be using the handgun under the direct supervision of an adult and for the purpose of firearm safety training, target shooting, or hunting.

A retail dealer licensed to sell handguns by the federal government shall send a copy of the license, within seven days after receiving it, to the chief of police of the city and the sheriff of the county in which the dealer is licensed to sell handguns.

No person, in purchasing or otherwise securing delivery of a handgun or in applying for a license to carry the handgun concealed, may give false information or offer false evidence of the person's identity.

A person may not change, alter, remove, or obliterate any mark of identification on a firearm, including the name of the maker, model, or manufacturer's number or knowingly possess a firearm on which these alterations have been made. Possession of any firearm upon which any identification mark has been changed, altered, removed, or obliterated creates a rebuttable presumption that the possessor made the alterations.

Amended: 2013, ch. 491, s.8.

Any person who violates any provision of this chapter, for which another penalty is not specifically provided, is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.

A firearm or dangerous weapon is concealed if it is carried in such a manner as to not be discernible by the ordinary observation of a passerby. There is no requirement that there be absolute invisibility of the firearm or dangerous weapon, merely that it not be ordinarily discernible. A firearm or dangerous weapon is considered concealed if it is not secured, and is worn under clothing or carried in a bundle that is held or carried by the individual, or transported in a vehicle under the individual's control or direction and available to the individual, including beneath the seat or in a glove compartment. A firearm or dangerous weapon is not considered concealed if it is:

1. Carried in a belt holster which is wholly or substantially visible or carried in a case designed for carrying a firearm or dangerous weapon and which is wholly or substantially visible;
2. Locked in a closed trunk or luggage compartment of a motor vehicle;
3. Carried in the field while lawfully engaged in hunting, trapping, or target shooting, whether visible or not; or
4. Carried by any person permitted by law to possess a handgun unloaded and in a secure wrapper from the place of purchase to that person's home or place of business, or to a place of repair, or back from those locations.
5. A bow and arrow, rifle, shotgun, unloaded handgun, or an unloaded a weapon that will expel, or is readily capable of expelling, a projectile by the action of a spring, compressed air, or compressed gas including any such weapon commonly referred to as a BB gun, air rifle, or CO2 gun, while carried in a motor vehicle.

Amended: 2015, 1241, s.7.

1. An individual, other than a law enforcement officer, may not carry any firearm or dangerous weapon concealed unless the individual is licensed to do so or exempted under this chapter.
2. An individual who is not otherwise precluded from possessing a class 2 firearm and dangerous weapon license under this chapter and who has possessed for at least one year a valid driver's license or nondriver identification card issued by the department of transportation may carry a firearm concealed under this chapter.
3. For purposes of this chapter, the difference between a class 1 and class 2 firearm and dangerous weapon license is only the extent to which a holder of either license may be eligible to receive reciprocal rights in other jurisdictions. A class 1 firearm and dangerous weapon licenseholder is eligible to receive reciprocal rights in more jurisdictions than a class 2 firearm and dangerous weapon licenseholder. The rights and privileges conveyed by a class 1 or class 2 firearm and dangerous weapon license within the state are identical.

Amended: 2013, ch. 495, s.1; 2015, 1241, s8. Amended 2017 1169 Sec. 2 Amended 2019 2034 S. 12

1. The director of the bureau of criminal investigation shall issue a license to carry a firearm or dangerous weapon concealed upon review of an application submitted to the director if the following criteria are met:
   1. The applicant is at least twenty-one years of age for a class 1 firearm license or at least eighteen years of age for a class 2 firearm and dangerous weapon license;
   2. The applicant can demonstrate that the applicant is a resident of this state by providing a copy of a valid driver's license or state-issued identification card from this state that establishes personal identification through photographic means and shows the applicant's name associated with a valid residential street address in this state or the applicant possess a valid driver's license from the applicant's state of residence that establishes personal identification through photographic means and shows the applicant's name associated with a valid residential street address and a valid concealed weapons license from the applicant's state of residence, which state has reciprocity with this state under section 62.1-04-03.1;
   3. The applicant is not an individual specified in section 62.1-02-01 and for a class 1 firearm license the applicant:
      1. Has not been convicted of a felony;
      2. Has not been convicted of a crime of violence;
      3. Has not been convicted of an offense involving the use of alcohol within ten years prior to the date of application;
      4. Has not been convicted of a misdemeanor offense involving the unlawful use of narcotics or other controlled substances within ten years prior to the date of application;
      5. Has not been convicted of an offense involving moral turpitude;
      6. Has not been convicted of an offense involving domestic violence;
      7. Has not been adjudicated by a state or federal court as mentally incompetent, unless the adjudication has been withdrawn or reversed; and (8) Is qualified to purchase and possess a firearm under federal law.
      8. Is qualified to purchase and possess a firearm under federal law;
   4. The applicant has successfully completed the testing procedure conducted by a certified test administrator. The person conducting the testing may assess a charge of up to fifty dollars for conducting this testing. The attorney general may certify a test administrator based upon criteria and guidelines prescribed by the director of the bureau of criminal investigation.
   5. The applicant satisfactorily completes the bureau of criminal investigation application form and has successfully passed the criminal history records check conducted by the bureau of criminal investigation and the federal bureau of invertigation. The applicant shall provide all documentation relating to any court-ordered treatment or commitment for mental health or alcohol or substance abuse. The applicant shall provide the director of the bureau of criminal investigation written authorizations for disclosure of the applicant's mental health and alcohol or substance abuse evaluation and treatment records. The bureau may deny approval for a license if the bureau has reasonable cause to believe that the applicant or licenseholder has been or is a danger to self or others as demonstrated by evidence, including past pattern of behavior involving unlawful violence or threats of unlawful violence; past participation in incidents involving unlawful violence or threats of unlawful violence; or conviction of a weapons offense. In determining whether the applicant or licenseholder has been or is a danger to self or others, the bureau may inspect expunged records of arrests and convictions of adults and juvenile court records; and
   6. The applicant is not prohibited under federal law from owning, possessing, or having a firearm under that individual's control.
2. The attorney general shall offer class 1 firearm and class 2 firearm and dangerous weapon licenses to carry a firearm or dangerous weapon concealed under the following requirements:
   1. An applicant for a class 1 firearm license shall successfully participate in a classroom instruction that sets forth weapon safety rules and the deadly force law of North Dakota, complete an open book test based upon a manual, demonstrate familiarity with a firearm, and complete an actual shooting or certified proficiency exercise. Evidence of familiarity with a firearm to be concealed may be satisfied by one of the following:
      1. Certification of familiarity with a firearm by an individual who has been certified by the attorney general, which may include a law enforcement officer, military or civilian firearms instructor, or hunter safety instructor;
      2. Evidence of equivalent experience with a firearm through participation in an organized shooting competition, law enforcement, or military service;
      3. Possession of a license from another state to carry a firearm, concealed or otherwise, which is granted by that state upon completion of a course described in paragraphs 1 and 2; or
      4. Evidence that the applicant, during military service, was found to be qualified to operate a firearm.
   2. An applicant for a class 2 firearm and dangerous weapon license is required to successfully complete the open book test offered for the class 1 firearm license.
   3. A North Dakota resident who has a valid class 1 firearm license also may carry a class 2 dangerous weapon without any further testing required. Class 1 and class 2 permits are equally valid in this state.
   4. Additional testing is not required to renew a class 2 firearm and dangerous weapon license. A class 1 firearm license may be renewed upon successful completion of the class 1 firearm requirements within thirty days before submission of the application for renewal.
   5. An individual who has a valid class 2 firearm license may apply to upgrade to a class 1 firearm license within five years from the date the class 2 firearm license was issued and upon successful completion of the requirements under this chapter. An individual who has a valid class 1 firearm license may request to convert the license to a class 2 firearm license before the expiration of the class 1 firearm license
3. The director of the bureau of criminal investigation shall send by mail to a holder of a license a notice of the procedures for renewal of the license issued under this section. The director shall give the notice at least one hundred fifty days but not more than one hundred eighty days before the expiration of the license.
4. The bureau of criminal investigation is required to process the application and make a determination within sixty days of receipt of the properly completed application.
5. The fee for a concealed weapons license must be credited to the attorney general's operating fund. All fees must be paid before the license application may be processed by the director of the bureau of criminal investigation. The attorney general shall list the fees associated with the license, including the costs of the fingerprint-based federal criminal history record check, in the attorney general's administrative rules.
6. The director of the bureau of criminal investigation shall prescribe the form of the application and license, which must include the name, address, description, a photograph, and the signature of the individual. The application form must require sufficient information to properly conduct the criminal history record check and be accompanied by;
   1. A photocopy of a valid driver's license or identification card issued by this state which establishes personal identification through photographic means and shows the applicant's name associated with a valid residential street address in this state or a valid state-issued driver's license from the applicant's state of residence which establishes personal identification through photographic means and shows the applicant's name associated with a valid residential street address and a valid concealed weapons license from the applicant's state of residence, which has reciprocity with this state under section 62.1-04-03.1; and
   2. Two sets of classifiable fingerprints. The two sets of classifiable fingerprints are not required for a renewal of a concealed weapons license. The license is valid for five years. The original license must be delivered to the licensee and an electronic copy must be preserved for six years by the director. Access to license information must be available to law enforcement through electronic means for official law enforcement purposes. The applicant or licenseholder shall notify the director of the bureau of criminal investigation of any change of address or any other material fact which would affect the restrictions on or the need for the license.
7. The director of the bureau of criminal investigation may deny an application or revoke or cancel a license after it has been granted for any material misstatement by an applicant in an application for the license or any violation of this title. The director of the bureau of criminal investigation shall disclose to the applicant the specific reason for denial or revocation of the license.
8. The applicant may appeal a denial or revocation of this license to the district court of Burleigh County.
9. Information collected from an applicant under this section is confidential information. However, the information may be disclosed:
   1. To a governmental agency or court for a law enforcement purpose, including the investigation, prosecution, or punishment of a violation of law.
   2. To a court to aid in a decision concerning sentence, probation, or release pending trial or appeal.
   3. Pursuant to a court order or a judicial, legislative, or administrative agency subpoena issued in this state.
10. The attorney general may adopt any rules necessary to implement this title.

Amended: 2013, ch. 491, s.9., ch. 15, s.28; 2015, 1241, s9, ss10.

A person who has a valid license issued by another state to carry a concealed firearm or dangerous weapon in that state and whose state grants to residents of this state the right to carry a concealed firearm or dangerous weapon without requiring a separate license to carry a concealed firearm or dangerous weapon issued by that state may carry, subject to the provisions of this state's law, a concealed firearm or dangerous weapon in this state, and the other state's license is valid in this state.

1. Every individual while carrying a concealed firearm or dangerous weapon, for which a license to carry concealed is required, shall have on one's person the license issued by this or another state or a digital image of one's concealed firearm or dangerous weapon license issued by this state on an electronic device and shall give it to any active law enforcement officer for an inspection upon demand by the officer. The failure of any individual to give the license to the officer is prima facie evidence that the individual is illegally carrying a firearm or dangerous weapon concealed.
2. Every individual carrying a concealed firearm under the authority granted in subsection 2 of section 62.1 - 04 - 02 shall inform a law enforcement officer of the individual's possession of a concealed weapon upon the initiation of a traffic stop or any other in - person contact initiated by a law enforcement officer.
3. Every individual carrying a concealed firearm under the authority granted in subsection 2 of section 62.1 - 04 - 02 must have on one's person a valid driver's license or nondriver identification card issued by the department of transportation or a digital image of one's valid driver's license or nondriver identification card on a mobile device and shall provide the license or card to any law enforcement officer for inspection upon demand by the officer.
4. An individual who violates this section is guilty of a noncriminal offense punishable by a fee of twenty dollars.

Amended: 2017, 1395, s.4. Amended 2017 1169 Sec. 3 Amended 2019 2140 s. 1

Any person who violates this chapter is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.

1. A person may not purchase, sell, have, or possess a machine gun, fully automatic rifle, silencer, or bomb loaded with explosives or poisonous or dangerous gases, or any other federally licensed firearm or dangerous weapon unless that person has complied with the National Firearms Act [26 U.S.C. 5801-5872].
2. A person who violates this section is guilty of a class C felony. Upon arrest of that person, the firearm or dangerous weapon must be seized. Upon conviction of the person and motion to the court in which the conviction occurred, the firearm or dangerous weapon must be forfeited to the jurisdiction in which the arrest was made. The firearm or dangerous weapon may be sold at public auction, retained for use, or destroyed pursuant to the court's order. If a qualified local program as defined under section 12.1-32-02.2 has paid a reward for information that resulted in forfeiture of the item and the item has been sold, the jurisdiction shall, after payment of expenses for forfeiture and sale, repay the qualified local program for the reward that it has paid.

Amended: 2015, 1241, s11.

This chapter does not apply to:

1. The authorized agent and a servant of a person who has a license to purchase, sell, have, or possess a machine gun, submachine gun, fully automatic rifle, silencer, or a bomb loaded with explosives or poisonous or dangerous gases.
2. Any officer or member of a duly authorized military organization while on official duty and using the firearm or dangerous weapon issued to the officer or member by that organization.
3. A North Dakota law enforcement officer.
4. Any federal officer authorized by the federal government to have or possess a machine gun, submachine gun, fully automatic rifle, silencer, or bomb loaded with explosives or poisonous or dangerous gases.