§ 62.1-05-03 — Chief law enforcement officer certification - Certain firearms

1. For purposes of this section:
a. "Certification" means the participation and assent of the chief law enforcement
officer necessary under federal law for the approval of the application to transfer
or make a firearm. A chief law enforcement officer is not required to make any
certification under this section the officer knows to be untrue, but the officer may
not refuse to provide certification based on a generalized objection to private
persons or entities making, possessing, or receiving firearms or any certain type
of firearm the possession of which is not prohibited by law.
b. "Chief law enforcement officer" means any official, or the designee of the official,
the bureau of alcohol, tobacco, firearms and explosives, or any successor
agency, identified by regulation as eligible to provide any required certification for
the making or transfer of a firearm.
c. "Firearm" has the same meaning as provided in the National Firearms Act
[26 U.S.C. § 5845(a)].
2. When a chief law enforcement officer's certification is required by federal law or
regulation for the transfer or making of a firearm, the chief law enforcement officer,
within thirty days of receipt of a request for certification, shall provide the certification if
the applicant is not prohibited by law from receiving or possessing the firearm or is not
the subject of a proceeding that could result in the applicant being prohibited by law
from receiving or possessing the firearm. If the chief law enforcement officer is unable
to make a certification as required by this section, the officer shall provide the applicant
with a written notification of the denial and the reason for this determination.

3. In making the certification required by subsection 2, a chief law enforcement officer or
designee may require the applicant to provide only the information as is required by
federal or state law to identify the applicant and conduct a criminal background check,
including a check of the national instant criminal background check system, or to
determine the disposition of an arrest or proceeding relevant to the applicant's
eligibility to lawfully possess or receive a firearm. A chief law enforcement officer may
not require access to or consent for an inspection of any private premises as a
condition of making a certification under this section.
4. Chief law enforcement officers and their employees who act in good faith are immune
from liability arising from any act or omission in making a certification as required by
this section.
5. An applicant whose request for certification is denied may appeal the chief law
enforcement officer's decision to the district court for the county in which the applicant
resides in accordance with the procedures provided in section 28-34-01. If the court
finds that the applicant is not prohibited by law from receiving or possessing the
firearm, or is not the subject of a proceeding that could result in the prohibition, or that
there is insufficient evidence to support the chief law enforcement officer's
determination that the officer cannot truthfully make the certification, the court shall
order the chief law enforcement officer to issue the certification and award court costs
and reasonable attorney's fees to the applicant.