North Dakota Code 62.1-03-01 – Carrying handgun – Limitations – Exceptions
1. Unless otherwise prohibited by law, an individual may carry a handgun if the handgun is unloaded and in plain view or secured.
Terms Used In North Dakota Code 62.1-03-01
- Dangerous weapon: includes any switchblade or gravity knife, machete, scimitar, stiletto, sword, dagger, or knife with a blade of five inches [12. See North Dakota Code 62.1-01-01
- Handgun: means any firearm that is not designed to be fired from the shoulder, which has a barrel less than sixteen inches [40. See North Dakota Code 62.1-01-01
- Individual: means a human being. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
- Law enforcement officer: means :
a. See North Dakota Code 62.1-01-01
- Organization: includes a foreign or domestic association, business trust, corporation, enterprise, estate, joint venture, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, limited partnership, partnership, trust, or any legal or commercial entity. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
- Person: means an individual, organization, government, political subdivision, or government agency or instrumentality. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
- 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. See North Dakota Code 62.1-01-01
- 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. See North Dakota Code 62.1-01-01
- State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
- United States: includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
- Unloaded: means the chamber of the firearm does not contain a loaded shell. See North Dakota Code 62.1-01-01
2. A limitation under subsection 1 does not apply to:
a. 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 possesses a valid driver’s license or nondriver identification card issued by the department of transportation or by the individual’s state or territory of residence, or an individual who has reciprocity under section 62.1-04-03.1.
b. An individual on that person‘s land, or in that individual’s permanent or temporary residence, or fixed place of business.
c. An individual while lawfully engaged in target shooting.
d. 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.
e. 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.
f. Any North Dakota law enforcement officer.
g. Any law enforcement officer of any other state or political subdivision of another state who possesses active law enforcement credentials.
h. Any armed security guard or investigator as authorized by law when on duty or going to or from duty.
i. 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.
j. 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.
k. Any officer or employee of the United States duly authorized to carry a handgun.
l. 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.
m. Any common carrier, but only when carrying the handgun as part of the cargo in the usual cargo carrying portion of the vehicle.