[§134-68]  Return and disposal of firearms or ammunition.  (a)  A county police department shall return any surrendered or removed firearm or ammunition requested by a respondent only after confirming, through a criminal history background check, that the respondent is currently eligible to own or possess firearms and ammunition.

     (b)  A respondent who has surrendered or had removed any firearm or ammunition to or by a county police department pursuant to section 134-67 and who does not wish to have the firearm or ammunition returned, or who is no longer eligible to own or possess firearms or ammunition, may sell or transfer title of the firearm or ammunition to a firearms dealer licensed under section 134-31.  The department shall transfer possession of the firearm or ammunition to a firearms dealer licensed under section 134-31 only after the dealer has provided written proof of transfer of the firearm or ammunition from the respondent to the dealer and the department has verified the transfer with the respondent.

     (c)  If a person other than the respondent claims title to any firearm or ammunition surrendered or removed pursuant to section 134-67, and that person is determined by the appropriate county police department to be the lawful owner of the firearm or ammunition, the firearm or ammunition shall be returned to the lawful owner.

     (d)  A county police department holding any firearm or ammunition that was surrendered by or removed from a respondent pursuant to section 134-67 may dispose of the firearm or ammunition only after six months from the date of proper notice to the respondent of the department's intent to dispose of the firearm or ammunition, unless the firearm or ammunition has been claimed by the lawful owner.  If the firearm or ammunition remain unclaimed after six months from the date of notice, then no party shall thereafter have the right to assert ownership thereof and the department may dispose of the firearm or ammunition.

     (e)  For the purposes of this section, "dispose" means selling the firearm or ammunition to a firearms dealer licensed under section 134-31, or destroying the firearm or ammunition. [L 2019, c 150, pt of §2]