FBD team members use extensive and authoritative knowledge of state and federal laws (RCW 9.41, 18 USC 922, and 28 CFR Part 25), policies, rules, and procedures to perform complex determinations of firearm possession eligibility in order to render a final decision on an individual’s constitutional right to possess a firearm. Members of both units share responsibility of making entries into the NICS Indices for court orders, or when non-fingerprinted prohibiting events are discovered during the course of a background check.
RCW 9.41.041(3)(d) requires County Prosecutors to obtain written verification from WSP that a petitioner for a restoration of firearm rights petition would be eligible should the petition be granted. This statute requires FBD personnel to perform essentially the same background check that an individual would undergo if they were to transfer a firearm, and report back to the prosecutor prior to the restoration petition being presented to the court.