2C:58-26 Surrender of firearms upon issuance of order.

7. a. When a temporary or final extreme risk protective order is issued pursuant to section 4 or 5 of P.L.2018, c.35 (C.2C:58-23 or C.2C:58-24), the court shall order the respondent to surrender to the local law enforcement agency all firearms and ammunition in the respondent's custody or control, or which the respondent owns or possesses, and any firearms purchaser identification card, permit to purchase a handgun, or permit to carry a handgun held by the respondent. The court also shall notify the respondent that the respondent is prohibited from purchasing firearms or ammunition or applying for a firearms purchaser identification card, permit to purchase a handgun, or permit to carry a handgun.

b. If the petition for the temporary extreme risk protective order indicates that the respondent owns or possesses any firearms or ammunition, the court shall issue a search warrant with the temporary or final extreme risk protective order and the law enforcement officer who serves the order shall request that all firearms and ammunition immediately be surrendered.

(1) The respondent immediately shall surrender, in a safe manner, all firearms and ammunition in the respondent's custody or control, or which the respondent owns or possesses, and any firearms purchaser identification card, permit to purchase a handgun, or permit to carry a handgun held by the respondent to the control of the law enforcement officer.

(2) The respondent may request that the law enforcement agency sell all firearms and ammunition in a safe manner to a federally licensed firearms dealer pursuant to section 8 of P.L.2018, c.35 (C.2C:58-27).

(3) The law enforcement officer or licensed firearms dealer taking possession of any firearms or ammunition pursuant to this subsection shall issue a receipt identifying all firearms and ammunition that have been surrendered by the respondent. The officer or dealer shall provide a copy of the receipt to the respondent at the time of surrender.

(4) If the respondent surrenders firearms and ammunition to a law enforcement officer pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection or surrenders or sells firearms and ammunition to a licensed dealer pursuant to paragraph (2) of this subsection, the respondent shall, within 48 hours after being served with the order, file the receipt with the county prosecutor. Failure to timely file the receipt or copy of the receipt shall constitute contempt of the order.

c. The court which issued the protective order may issue a search warrant for a firearm or ammunition that is in the custody or control of, owned, or possessed by a respondent who is subject to a temporary or final protective order issued pursuant to section 4 or 5 of P.L.2018, c.35 (C.2C:58-23 or C.2C:58-24) if the respondent has lawfully been served with that order and has failed to surrender the firearm or ammunition as required by this section.

d. The respondent may petition the agency for the return of any surrendered firearms or ammunition upon termination of an order pursuant to section 6 of P.L.2018, c.35 (C.2C:58-25). Within 30 days of receiving a petition for the return of surrendered firearms or ammunition and after the termination of the order, the agency shall return the firearm or ammunition unless:

(1) the firearm has been reported as stolen; or

(2) the respondent is prohibited from possessing a firearm under State or federal law.

Nothing in this act shall prohibit revocation and seizure of a person's firearms purchaser identification card, permit to purchase a handgun, permit to carry a handgun, and weapons as authorized pursuant to applicable law.

e. If a person other than the respondent claims title to any firearm or ammunition surrendered pursuant to this section, and the law enforcement agency determines that the person is the lawful owner of the firearm or ammunition, the firearm or ammunition shall be returned to that person.

f. If the respondent has surrendered a firearm or ammunition to a federally licensed firearms dealer, after termination of the order, the respondent may request the law enforcement agency, in writing, to authorize the return of the firearm or ammunition from the dealer. The dealer shall transfer the firearm or ammunition to the respondent in accordance with procedures required when a firearm or ammunition is being sold from the dealer's inventory in accordance with N.J.S.2C:58-2.

L.2018, c.35, s.7.