Article VI, Section 24 of the Constitution of South Dakota provides that “[t]he right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the state shall not be denied.”

There are no cases directly construing Art. VI, § 24. The Supreme Court of South Dakota has noted in dicta, however, that the state generally recognizes self-defense as a legitimate defense, citing Art. VI, § 24.¹

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1. Conaty v. Solem, 422 N.W.2d 102, 104 (S.D. 1988).[↩]