Ex Military? This is scary!

D

DepOne

New member
I sure would like an explanation of what happened to me today. I went into a local gun shop to buy a firearm they had in stock at a very nice price. Florida law is very clear that if you do not have a license to carry a concealed weapon you must buy the gun and then wait 3 business days while a more thorough background check is done before you can take the gun out of the store. Those with concealed weapon licenses can take the gun that day, but still go through an "instant" background check because they have been thoroughly cleared already in order to qualify for the concealed license. That seems to make sense and I have been here for 20 years buying a gun occasionally with no wait.

Today I went through all of the paperwork, paid for the gun and the background check and the clerk called the state office to get my purchase cleared. He was on the phone over 20 minutes and when he hung up he told me that they had told him I would have to wait the 3 days that someone without a carry license would normally be required to wait. When I asked what the reason was for the wait he told me they said since I had been in the military and had a security clearance they had to do a more thorough check? Yes I was in the military and yes I had a security clearance due to a law enforcement job. I spent over 27 years in law enforcement ending my career as a sheriff's department major. I was also a police academy certified firearms instructor. It would seem that someone with that background would be easier to clear, not more difficult. But, because I had a security clearance in the military, I had to be checked more thoroughly, even though I'm licensed to carry a concealed weapon?

Funny, the Department of Homeland Security recently determined that ex military people were likely to have terrorist leanings. I wonder if this is in any way related and if you are ex military with a security clearance you are now deemed suspicious? Sounds a bit silly and a bit discriminatory to me, and I think veterans should start asking some pointed questions of their legislators. This is scary! :mad:
 
IF you have a FL CCW, then there is something more to the story - like your name is similar to someone else's with whom they have trouble - you should have walked out of the store
 
When I asked what the reason was for the wait he told me they said since I had been in the military and had a security clearance they had to do a more thorough check?
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Something smells here. The operators never tell the proprietor why a delay or denial is issued. They're essentially data entry clerks, and they reiterate the answer the computer gives them after entering the information.

Yes I was in the military and yes I had a security clearance due to a law enforcement job.
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There's some suspicion that folks with clearance get delayed more often. Several acquaintances of mine do on a regular basis. I doubt it's due to anything discriminatory so much as it's due to having a flag of some sort (good or bad) on your record that needs to be checked by a human being.
 
I work in a gun store part time.

In my experience... The FDLE operator will never give a reason for the delay. The response is release the gun, conditional release, or denial. I've never had one tell me why. I have seen where some people are given a conditional based on their military or other service. Having a current clearance could delay. I have one customer who is retired from government service... and he is allways given a conditional. He is well aware of why, and will not share. Who knows. I'd suggest you try a different store. Perhaps use your SS# when making the purchase.

Glenn
 
I've seen someone in the process of re-newing their clearance get delayed since the computer shows an open investigation on the person. Takes them a bit of time to see that it's an open clearance investigation and not something criminal.

The shop owner was giving you his best guess, nothing more.

Sounds like a computer glitch. If it starts to happen every time then I would look into it more.
 
Why I am glad that in Texas the FBI background check is used. I am ex military and the usual wait is about 3-5 minutes to get approved via phone.

If you are military that information about clearances is stored on JPAS which a state of Florida clerk should not have access too. If you were law enforcement with a clearance then when you retired your civilian clearance may have been revoked and that is what the clerk is looking at. Wanting to find out if it was revoked due to an administrative action or an adverse action.
 
Thats strange...because; I am a Florida resident, I have a Florida CC License, I was in the military, I currently work as a U.S. Navy contractor, I have a current Security Clearance, and I have never been hassled over taking a gun out of a shop or gun show within minutes.

The above comment from Glenn Dee sounds reasonable.
 
I always give my SS for nics. I have a pretty common name and it just saves a lot of time and effort.
 
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Florida has a state wide law requiring a three day wait for Everyone buying a handgun, unless they have a concealed carry license.
Those with the license still have to suffer the background check, though, but not the wait.
Some of the areas, like around Miami, have a five day wait.
And those are working days, not counting weekends and holidays.
A three day wait can, in some months, turn into a week.
Some other counties have wait periods for everything, not just handguns.
Goofy, ain't it?
So, even with a CCW, they still find a way to hassle folks.
 
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Florida has a state wide law requiring a three day wait for Everyone buying a handgun, unless they have a concealed carry license.
Those with the license still have to suffer the background check, though, but not the wait.
Some of the areas, like around Miami, have a five day wait.
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State law now says cities cannot preempt state laws - three days is three days
 
I get a 3 or 4 hour delay on every firearm I have ever bought. I held a security clearance and acted as a border guard during the cold war and even guarded nukes... I have zero convictions and I retired from the military and I have a current CCW permit... so dont feel alone...

Im not sure what the deal is but usually I tell the clerk right before they call it in that it will be delayed and I will come back later in the day... I have been right 100% of the time since it happened during my first pistol purchase.
 
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I'm retired Navy I had a high clearance in the Navy and as a civilian. I don't have an active clearance and have never had a hold when buying here in PA.
 
This seems to show total lack respect for your past service. if there is any reason to delay your purchase over a more ordinary customer, one would wonder what do they expect to find? are they looking in broad daylight instead of the shadows? thank you for your service and i am sorry for your inconveniance.
 
Florida has a state wide law requiring a three day wait for Everyone buying a handgun, unless they have a concealed carry license.
Those with the license still have to suffer the background check, though, but not the wait.
Some of the areas, like around Miami, have a five day wait.
Click to expand...
State law now says cities cannot preempt state laws - three days is three days
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I thought the same thing when I read his post, glad to see all those junior laws going the way of the dodo. That said, the new law effectively banishing more restrictive local ordinances doesn't go into effect until October 1st.

Ryan
 
Ah HA! Answers

Very interesting. I called FBI/NICS and spoke to a very nice lady in Customer Service, believe it or not. She listened to my tale of woe and said that they would never do such a thing and, she wasn't trying to blow me off but could not answer my question. The FBI and federal government has nothing to do with Florida background checks. Florida has their own system and our friendly feds are out of it. She did also say that she can't imagine either them or Florida discriminating against any veteran and that your congressman would explode if he ever heard of such a thing.

I will do a little investigating at the state level and let you know what I find. My dealer did call again today and try to run the check again and got his butt chewed out for trying to sneak around the system. Maybe I will have to have a legislator or even the state's attorney's office look into the practice (after I get approved.) Something still stinks!
 
Thats strange...because; I am a Florida resident, I have a Florida CC License, I was in the military, I currently work as a U.S. Navy contractor, I have a current Security Clearance, and I have never been hassled over taking a gun out of a shop or gun show within minutes.
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That is because your clearance information is on JPAS which is a DoD system.

If Dep was a local law enforcement official in the State of Florida. His official records for the state may indicate that he had a Federal Security Clearance that was revoked. A clearance may be revoked because of an adverse action such as a criminal conviction or an administrative action such as retirement. If the record just says revoked then the clerk is probably to check the reason for the revocation and make sure it is not a criminal charge.
 
I'm an Army veteran and I held a security clearance when I was in. My state is one of those in which a carry permit basically is the background check. The gun shop calls the state police, the state police confirm that my permit is valid, and I walk out with a firearm.

I guess I never realized how fortunate I am. It's sad when serving one's country faithfully gets used against you for the rest of your life.
 
I've only heard of this happening during clearance renewal investigation periods... speaking of which, mine should be coming up in a few months. It will be interesting to see if there are any issues at that point.
 
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