2011 North Dakota NARIP Project

The NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007, Pub. L. 110-180 ("NICS Improvement Act"), was signed into law by the President on January 8, 2008. The NICS Improvement Act amends the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993 ("the Brady Act") (Pub. L. 103-159), under which the Attorney General established the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). The Brady Act requires Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) to contact the NICS before transferring a firearm to an unlicensed person for information on whether the proposed transferee is prohibited from receiving or possessing a firearm under state or federal law. The NICS Improvement Act authorizes grants to be made in a manner consistent with the National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP).

The North Dakota Office of Attorney General's Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) and Information Technology (IT) divisions will use funds to create a computerized system to collect and retain mental health information to assist in determining an individual's eligibility to receive and retain a North Dakota concealed weapons permit, obtain records of individuals for whom a court finding has been made that prohibits them from possessing a firearm, and maintain records of individuals who have been afforded relief of mental health disabilities. The system will forward disqualifying records to NICS so the records are accessible when federal firearms licensees (FFL's) perform a federal check. (CA/NCF)