Visitors traveling to South Dakota should be familiar with the state's gun laws before carrying their firearm.
Hunters and other gun owners will find they can carry a firearm openly, as long as the owner isn't a felon or otherwise prohibited from owning one.
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According to the South Dakota Secretary of State's website, a reciprocity agreement for concealed weapon permits has been established with the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
Before traveling with your firearm,
The Daily Caller suggests getting a "citation that documents the reciprocity agreement between your home state and the state in which you're traveling."
In South Dakota, if someone wants to hide a weapon under his coat or if a woman wants to put a firearm in her purse, the individual must have a concealed pistol permit, as of early 2015,
according to the National Rifle Association.
If you're planning a hunting trip or vacation there, here are the basics for the state of South Dakota:
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• South Dakota doesn't require a background check before an unlicensed person transfers the firearm to someone else,
according to the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence.
• Gun dealers aren't required to get a state license or regulate the transfer or ownership of assault weapons, 50-caliber rifles, or large-capacity ammunition magazines.
• Gun owners aren't required to get a license, register their weapons, or report lost or stolen guns.
• A buyer can buy as many weapons as he or she likes and is allowed to purchase several firearms at the same time.
• Unsafe handguns, including "junk" guns or "Saturday night specials," aren't regulated.
If you're coming from a state that has a waiting period before buying a handgun, you might be surprised to learn that South Dakota repealed its 48-hour wait in 2009, the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence said.
This article does not constitute legal advice. Check the current gun laws before purchasing or traveling with a firearm.
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