North Dakota Laws Relating to Workplace Violence

A summary of North Dakota laws relating to weapons and conduct that impact workplace violence.

Effective August 1, 2011, an employer in North Dakota may not prohibit an employee from possessing any legally owned firearm, if the firearm is locked inside a privately owned vehicle in a parking lot and if the employee is lawfully in the area. Exceptions to the general rule may apply.

A handgun may be carried by a person who is not otherwise prohibited by law from possessing one if:

• between the hours of one hour before sunrise and one hour after sunset the handgun is carried unloaded and either in plain view or secured
• between the hours of one hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise the handgun is carried unloaded and secured

These restrictions do not apply to:

• any person possessing a valid North Dakota concealed weapons license or a valid license issued by another state authorizing the person to carry a dangerous weapon concealed if that state permits a holder of a valid North Dakota concealed weapons license to carry a dangerous weapon concealed in that state without obtaining a similar license in that state
• any person on that person's land or in that person's permanent or temporary residence or fixed place of business
• any person while lawfully engaged in target shooting
• any person while lawfully hunting or trapping in the field, however, this exception does not authorize the carrying of a loaded handgun in a motor vehicle
• any person permitted by law to possess a handgun while carrying the handgun unloaded and in a secure wrapper to or from the place of purchase or repair to the person's home or place of business
• any state law enforcement officer
• any armed security guard or investigator as authorized by the attorney general when on duty or going to or from duty
• any on-duty member of the United States armed forces when carrying a handgun issued to that person
• 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
• any officer or employee of the United States duly authorized to carry a handgun
• any person engaged in manufacturing, repairing or dealing in handguns, in the usual and ordinary course of business
• any common carrier when carrying the handgun as part of the cargo in the usual cargo area of the vehicle