SHOT Industry

Home / SHOT Industry

Welcome to firearm-friendly South Dakota. The right to bear arms runs deep in our state, and we’ve protected those rights since day one. South Dakota is ranked as the:

Most Politically Friendly to Firearms
6th Best State for the Firearms Industry
7th Best State for Gun Owners

Learn more about why South Dakota is a good fit for your firearm business below.

Resources

Financing & Incentives Properties Database World-Class Shooting Sports Complex

Firearm-Friendly

Upholding the right to bear arms has been a South Dakota mainstay since statehood. It’s a right enshrined in our state constitution which has been repeatedly affirmed over generations by our lawmakers at both the state and federal levels.

South Dakota’s Constitution affirms and guarantees the right to bear arms.
Our state’s highest elected officials all have an A+ rating from the NRA.
Constitutional carry was passed in 2019 and was the first piece of legislation Governor Kristi Noem signed into law.
South Dakota was the first state in the nation to pass legislation protecting firearm manufacturers from liability from the unlawful use of their product.
Governor Noem signed an executive order (04/14/2023) stipulating that the state won’t do business with any financial institution that discriminates against firearms companies.

In South Dakota, firearm legislation is designed to uphold Second Amendment protections while implementing reasonable measures to ensure public safety. This balanced approach is reflected in the state’s gun laws:

South Dakota is a shall-issue, permitless carry state.
No state permit required to purchase a firearm.
South Dakota recognizes concealed-carry permits issued by all states.
No magazine capacity restrictions.
South Dakota is a Castle Doctrine state and has a “stand your ground” law.

State Lawmaker Rating from NRA

John Thune | A+
Mike Rounds | A+
Dusty Johnson | A+

State Lawmaker Grades NSSF (National Shooting Sports Foundation)

John Thune | A+
Mike Rounds | A
Dusty Johnson | A+

Firearm Stats & Rankings

From the presence of gun, ammo, and tactical manufacturer’s to hunting traditions that have bonded generations of South Dakotans, the presence of firearms is a way of life in South Dakota.

Industry Presence

The 2024 National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) Economic Impact Report on the Firearm Industry highlights the following impact to South Dakota’s economy:

712 direct jobs (10th highest per capita).
1,676 total impacted jobs (11th highest per capita).
$103 million in wages.
$413 million total economic impact.
$449 impact per resident (12th highest).

Firearm Rankings

Highest Rate of Hunting Licenses per Capita (249.8 per 1,000)
3rd Highest Non-Resident Hunting Licenses Issued per Capita (145.9 per 1,000)
3rd Highest Rate of Guns per Capita (72.2 registered guns per 1,000)
6th Highest Gun Ownership Rate of (55.6%)

Business-Friendliness

In South Dakota, we know that the best person to run your business is you, which is why we limit the regulatory restrictions imposed on residents and businesses alike (2nd lowest in the U.S.). We work hard to ensure that government red tape does not interfere in your operations, that our tax burdens are reasonable, and that we handle our finances responsibly, providing stability and the expectation that South Dakota’s business-friendly environment remains for generations to come.