How long are the NICS Checks taking?

Took less than 60 seconds to get a "proceed" after the information was given.

This Bersa is a beauty. Just cleaned it up and lubed it, it's ready for a test tomorrow
 
You are right dogtown, but stevelyn was just being facetious in his post, he knows that too.
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I wasn't being facetious.

I have a squeeky clean background, I'm a cop about halfway through my career and a state certified police firearms instructor. I also have a .mil background working around things back in the day that required me to have a secret clearance.

Everytime I go through a dealer to buy a gun, there is a NICS delay where they have to go an find a "higher level examiner" to access my records. Why is that?

Look up PRP.
 
How do you reconcile your experience with those of us that also have a clean background, as well as a *current* Top Secret/SCI clearance, that have never received anything other than an instantaneous "proceed" from our NICS checks?

Or have I just gotten lucky that there's always been a "higher level examiner" within arm's reach when I've bought guns?
 
Couldn't tell ya. I do know that NICS is available for Alaska puchases up until 8pm AK time which is midnight on the east coast and could have to do with the number of personnel available verse anticipated requests after certain hours.
 
I wasn't being facetious.
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Sorry Stevelyn, didn't mean to misrepresent you.

I have a squeeky clean background, I'm a cop about halfway through my career and a state certified police firearms instructor. I also have a .mil background working around things back in the day that required me to have a secret clearance.
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Being a LEO does not mean you have a government security clearance and your military secret clearance is expired so what ever delay you are having has nothing to do with that. Like has been said, I have a TS and others have posted that they have TS/SCI's and have no delay. I have bought a lot of guns, especially recently, and I find it hard to believe that they have had a "higher level examiner" standing by to clear me instantly. Heck, my Dad spent 35 years working for a 3 letter government agency that shall not be named and still works for that same agency as a contractor and I have never seen him get anything but an instant "proceed" when he buys guns.

Look up PRP
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Sorry, I don't know what that stands for. I googled it and got a lot of hits for "Platlet-Rich Plasma" but I don't think that is what you are talking about. :D

As I said in a previous post, I don't understand how the NICS checks work or all the criteria or circumstances that would cause a delay, but I do know holding a security clearance, or being in the military, in and of themselves, are not reasons to be delayed when purchasing a gun.
 
The more I think about it, the less idea I have regarding what goes into getting a "proceed", "delayed", or "denied" response.

Looking back at my last two handgun purchases, they were only six days apart. I'm not sure what difference that makes, but the second dealer said that he "would have to run the check differently". I also have a pending court date for a speeding ticket. It's not an outstanding warrant or anything like that - I just haven't paid the ticket yet, so the case was still open during both purchases. Regardless, the result in both cases was an instant "proceed", just like in the half-dozen purchases before those two.

At this point, I think I'm going to stop worrying about it and just be glad that whatever the criteria are, I don't seem to be getting flagged.
 
stevelyn ...Everytime I go through a dealer to buy a gun, there is a NICS delay where they have to go an find a "higher level examiner" to access my records. Why is that?

ScottRiqui ..Or have I just gotten lucky that there's always been a "higher level examiner" within arm's reach when I've bought guns?
....I don't understand how the NICS checks work or all the criteria or circumstances
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Scott, you are in Virginia.......your dealers do not contact the FBI NICS for background checks but a state "point of contact"...their procedures and methods may be entirely different.

When a dealer contacts FBI NICS, the initial call is answered by a Customer Service Representative at a NICS Call Center.
The CSR will ask for the dealers FFL# and then ask for the following information from the Form 4473:
Buyer Last name
First name
Middle name
Cadence (Jr, Sr, III or anything after the last name)
Place of Birth
Height
Weight
Gender
Birthdate
Social Security Number (optional)
Race
State of Residence
Country of citizenship
Type of firearm

The CSR will then review the results of the background check

Then they will give the dealer the NICS Transaction Number (NTN), followed by either:
"This transaction may Proceed" (and then they ask the dealer to confirm the status as a "proceed") The call is over, the dealer hands the gun to the customer.
or
"This transaction requires further review by a NICS Examiner" (and they will again ask the dealer to confirm "further review")

The CSR will then transfer the call to a NICS Examiner who is an FBI Legal Documents Examiner, and will compare data that resulted in multiple persons on the check or review records that may prohibit this sale. If the buyer was not a US citizen the NICS Examiner will contact INS to verify immigration status.

The NICS Examiner will often place the dealer on hold for a minute or two and then return with:
-"This transaction (giving the NTN #) is a Proceed". The dealer can then give the gun to the customer.
OR
-"This transaction is Delayed while NICS conducts additional research. The Brady Law does not prohibit the transfer of this firearm on (gives date that is three business days beginning the next business day)." Often NICS will never contact the dealer to issue a staus change from Delayed to Proceed. It is possible for NICS to Deny a transaction AFTER the three day delay has expired, the dealer then records this onto the Form 4473.
OR
-"This transaction (giving the NTN #) is Denied". The dealer should then give the buyer the NTN # and a NICS Appeal brochure.

FBI NICS will not tell the dealer why the customer was delayed or denied, nor will they tell the customer over the phone. The customer can contact FBI NICS via email, fax or in writing to find out the reason for the denial....they have five days to respond with the reason, usually it is prohibiting factors in the persons records OR there are multiple people with the same or similiar names....and one of them is a prohibited person.

If the buyer chooses to appeal the NICS Denial, they would submit fingerprints and any documentation to the FBI. NICS appeals currently take 120-150 days from the date you submit your appeals documents.
 
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Like KC Rob, I had (I am now retired) about as high a security clearance as there is, and I never waited more than a few minutes for the OK to come through.

What it seems to involve is the name and other info. If you are unlucky enough to have the same name as that of Public Enemy # 2 7/8, it takes a while to double check to make sure you aren't him (or to make sure you are!).

I know a guy who was in that position and one time the dealer (who knew the man) read out the name and said, "No, it isn't the bad guy with the same name." The NICS guy laughed and approved the sale.

Jim
 
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