South Dakota statute
SDCL § 22-14-6 — Possession of controlled weapon--Penalty--Exceptions
Current through text effective June 30, 2026 (through the 2025 Regular Session)
Part of Chapter 14: Unlawful Use Of Weapons, South Dakota Codified Laws.
Criminal charges under this statute
Full text of SDCL § 22-14-6
Statutory text current through the text effective June 30, 2026 (through the 2025 Regular Session). This publication reproduces the official statutory text; it is not the official statutes of the State of South Dakota.
Any person who knowingly possesses a controlled weapon is guilty of a Class 6 felony. The provisions of this section do not apply to any person who:
(1) Is a law enforcement officer or member of the armed forces of the United States or South Dakota National Guard acting in the lawful discharge of duties;
(2) Has a federal license issued pursuant to law for the weapon or has registered the weapon with the proper federal authority pursuant to law;
(3) Possesses a controlled weapon briefly after having found it or taken it from an offender; or
(4) Possesses any controlled weapon, other than a machine gun or short shotgun, under circumstances which negate any purpose or likelihood that the weapon would be used unlawfully.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
Questions this section answers
Is possession of controlled weapon a felony or a misdemeanor in South Dakota?
Possession of controlled weapon is a Class 6 Felony in South Dakota under SDCL § 22-14-6.
Which South Dakota statute covers possession of controlled weapon?
Possession of controlled weapon is governed by SDCL § 22-14-6 (Possession of controlled weapon--Penalty--Exceptions).
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.