Kristi Noem on Gun Control

Kristi Noem has consistently advocated for strong Second Amendment protections throughout her political career, positioning South Dakota as a haven for gun rights. As governor, one of her first actions was signing Constitutional Carry into law. She has also worked to eliminate all fees for concealed carry permits, effectively making the exercise of those rights free for South Dakota residents, and she has stated a commitment to strengthening Stand Your Ground laws. This stance is further evidenced by her signing legislation to allow permit holders to carry on public school grounds with principal permission.

Beyond legislative action, Noem has used executive authority to defend the firearm industry from perceived political discrimination. She signed an Executive Order specifically prohibiting state agencies from contracting with financial institutions that have policies discriminating against firearm industry members. This move was praised by industry groups as a bulwark against “woke” banking discrimination, protecting taxpayer dollars from funding entities hostile to Second Amendment businesses.