Mental disability and the possession of firearms
N.D. Cent. Code § 62.1-02-01.2
in effect62.1-02-01.2. Mental disability and the possession of firearms
1. A court shall make a finding as to whether the provisions of 18 U.S.C. 922(d)(4) and
(g)(4) apply to the subject of a following proceeding in which the court:
a. Finds that a person, as a result of mental disease or defect, may not be held
criminally responsible in any case pursuant to chapter 12.1-04 or 12.1-04.1;
b. Finds that a person is a mentally deficient individual;
c. Orders involuntary hospitalization or commitment to a treatment facility or
involuntary treatment pursuant to chapter 25-03.1;
d. Orders involuntary commitment or involuntary treatment under chapter 25-03.3;
e. Appoints a guardian ad litem under section 28-03-04;
f. Appoints a guardian under chapter 30.1-28; or
g. Appoints a conservator under chapter 30.1-29.
2. If the court finds that the provisions apply, the clerk of the court shall forward the
individual's name and nonclinical identifying information to the bureau of criminal
investigation, which shall forward the information to the federal bureau of investigation,
or its successor agency, for inclusion in the national instant criminal background check
system database. The court also shall notify the individual of the prohibitions of
18 U.S.C. 922(d)(4) and (g)(4), and, if relevant, of subdivision c of subsection 1 of
section 62.1-02-01.
3. If a court of this state has found an individual under subsection 1 to be subject to the
provisions of 18 U.S.C. 922(d)(4) and (g)(4), that individual may petition the court that
issued the finding or the district court of the county where the individual resides to
remove that individual's firearms-related disabilities, as provided in Public Law
No. 110-180, 105(a). A copy of the petition for relief must be served on the director of
the treatment facility that treated the individual pursuant to court order and the
prosecuting attorney of the county in which the original finding, order, or appointment
occurred. The director of the treatment facility that treated the individual pursuant to
court order and the prosecuting attorney may appear, support, object to, and present
evidence relevant to the relief sought by the petitioner. The court shall receive and
consider evidence in a closed proceeding, including evidence offered by the petitioner,
concerning:
a. The circumstances of the original order, appointment, or finding;
b. The petitioner's mental health and criminal history records, if any;
c. The petitioner's reputation; and
d. Changes in the petitioner's condition or circumstances relevant to the relief
sought.
4. The court shall grant the petition for relief if the court finds by a preponderance of the
evidence that the petitioner likely will not act in a manner dangerous to public safety
and that the granting of the relief would not be contrary to the public interest. A record
must be kept of the proceedings. The record is confidential and may be disclosed only
to a court in the event of an appeal. An individual may file a petition for relief under this
section no more than once every two years.
5. When a magistrate or court issues an order granting a petition for relief under
subsection 3, the clerk of the court immediately shall forward a copy of the order to the
bureau of criminal investigation in the format and medium specified by the bureau after
consultation with the state court administrator. The bureau immediately shall forward a
copy to the federal bureau of investigation, or its successor agency, for updating of the
national instant criminal background check system database.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t62-1c02.pdf#nameddest=62p1-02-01p2Fetched: 10/16/2026