Denied at the background check

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engineermike

Moderator
I struck a deal with a local dealer to purchase a hand gun, I filled out the paper work and the dealer makes a call. He came back and said he could not sell me the gun as I had be denied at the back ground check. I went down the list of things that would have prevented me from purchasing a hand gun and saw none that pertained to me. The dealer said I could appeal but he did not have the pamplet that told me what I would have to do to appeal. Does this mean I'll never be able to buy a gun?
 
Absolutely not, make the effort and file the appeal. This is a frequent occurrence (at least here in Florida) for those who have fairly common names.

It doesn't necessarily mean you were denied, it means they didn't approve you.
 
This is a frequent occurrence (at least here in Florida) for those who have fairly common names.
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If you have a common name, the social security number can make all the difference. The SSN on the form can prevent you, an outstanding law abiding citizen, from being mistaken for a convicted serial axe murderer with the same name.
 
First, we have to throw the 2nd out of the equation.... has nothing to do with the

original question. The way things 'aught to be' has nothing to do with this person's current dilemma.

If you are not a convicted felon (penalty could have resulted in over a year in prison) or have been convicted of domestic violence then you can own a gun*.... and we assume you are over 21 and a resident of the same state as the seller (he would not have let you fill out the form if either of those were not so).

*it's actually more complicated than that, but don't fret it.

It is more than likely just government name matching or you coming close on a list somewhere....

I would have put my SS# on it and that might have helped, can't see how it would hurt... if you think the folks on the other end of the line who are working for the government can't get it, then... I'm sorry must be a different world.

You need to follow up on it. is not a question that needs to be left hanging.
 
I would go back to the dealer and ask them to re-run NICS with your SSN added. If it is again denied, then obtain the transaction number, which WILL be needed for an appeal.
Good luck.
 
The state has nothing to do with it because the OP is from Oklahoma. Oklahoma is a free state that does not require a background check to buy a firearm. It is a Federal issue.
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Here in Florida, the check is being run through FDLE (a state agency) but I'm reasonably certain they too are obtaining the information through/from the NICS database.
 
I'm in FL, have a CCP, and recently bought a couple of pistols a couple of weeks apart. I didn't give my SS# because of the principal of the thing and was allowed to purchase. It is probably easier if you already have a CCP but I'm unsure if that would make a difference. The fact that your name may be similar to that of someone with legal issues may have been the deciding factor so I would appeal for sure.
 
Guys,

The government already knows your SS number.... they GAVE IT TO YOU!

There is no "principle of the thing". There is positively no reason not to put it on these forms and there are good reasons, as the OP found out, for putting it on.

If you don't want to use your SS number in other ways as a form of ID "for the principle of it" then, fine, do as you wish. In this case, it's silly.
 
The government already knows your SS number.... they GAVE IT TO YOU! There is positively no reason not to put it on these forms and there are good reasons, as the OP found out
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I agree. The agencies running the background check still won't be able to differentiate you from the bad guy with the same name because he has a SS# also. When giving your SS# you distinguish yourself from him.
 
Instructions for the appeal process are here. Call the dealer and request your NTN (transaction) number. It should be a sequence like 1L23-D12.

There can be any number of administrative snafus causing this, so it doesn't hurt to get it cleared up.
 
I trust the govenment with my ssn but I am a little suspect of the dealer. He has not returned my call giving me the transaction number yet. But the paper work went from me to him and he giving it to the person checking over the phone and that person putting the information into some computer so there is plenty of room for mistakes.
 
Try going to another dealer, or asking your local police, or sheriff dept. to run your name and lic. # to see if anything comes back.

As far as providing your SSN goes, I would think the odds of it being stolen during this process would be small indeed.
 
I would go back to the dealer and ask them to re-run NICS with your SSN added. If it is again denied, then obtain the transaction number, which WILL be needed for an appeal.
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I work part-time in a PA gun shop. I don't know about other states, but we will not re-run a background check. The buyer has to file the appeal with the Pennsylvania State Police. We give the denied buyer an appeal form to fill out and send in.

Try going to another dealer, or asking your local police, or sheriff dept. to run your name and lic. # to see if anything comes back.
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If OP has a buddy on the force, this could be one way of finding out the nature of the problem, but otherwise, unless the buyer is VERY sure he hasn't got a warrant or a PFA against him, this could be a good way to check in at the graybar hotel. Going to another dealer and trying to make a purchase after denial could end badly. It could be perceived as a prohibited person trying to make an illegal purchase. File the appeal and get the record corrected!


Absolutely not, make the effort and file the appeal. This is a frequent occurrence (at least here in Florida) for those who have fairly common names.
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True! File the appeal within the allotted time frame. If you are, in fact, not prohibited, the appeal process will correct the mistake that got you a denial in the first place.
 
surbat6 said:
Going to another dealer and trying to make a purchase after denial could end badly. It could be perceived as a prohibited person trying to make an illegal purchase. File the appeal and get the record corrected!
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Yes, that could present that type of problem, best to follow proper procedure.

surbat6 said:
unless the buyer is VERY sure he hasn't got a warrant or a PFA against him, this could be a good way to check in at the graybar hotel.
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Well, if the OP does have an outstanding warrant, or some other problem, then he/she needs to take care of it.
 
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