Is three day wait for handgun universal?

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Prof Young

New member
I just heard first hand information that in a "Pacific North Western" state one can buy a handgun and as soon as the back ground check clears (ten minutes) one can walk out of the store with the gun. Is that true? I thought the three day wait for a hand gun was a federal minimum. Talk to me.

Life is good.
Prof Young
 
The 3 day wait refers to the current verbiage about background checks. It states roughly that should the background check not be completed (approved/disapproved) within 3 days the vendor can complete the sale. I have never waited more than an hour or so to obtain any type of firearm.
 
Don't know the laws elsewhere, but here in Texas I walk in choose desired guns or rifles (yes plural) wait a few minutes pay if approved and walk out.
 
Last handgun I bought in Idaho I left the store with the pistol about 20 minutes after made the decision to buy on an impulse purchase.

Somewhat cheating with a CC license; no background check needed because of the way the license is processed.
 
No problems in Arizona. Just give them your money and they give you your gun after the 4473 is approved. They don't even have to call it in if you have your CCW,
 
The TBI does the checks in TN, not the feds. We're also charged $10.00 for the service. No wait if you pass.

Bill
 
There is no minimum federal waiting time. I have gone to an FFL on my lunch hour, bought a gun, and been back at work before the hour is up.
 
Note that the dealer MAY let you have your gun after three days with no reply from background check. He doesn't have to, maybe you look too shifty eyed and he is glad of an excuse not to sell you a gun.

Before the present "instant check" there was a five day waiting period.

My state had a two day waiting period for many years before federal restrictions were tightened.
 
My last 2 here in Oregon were a short wait for the background check to clear and then take it home. Both times it was around a half hour like it was for my last couple rifle purchases. It's been a few years since I haven't been buying guns like I did 10 or more years ago...

Tony
 
Thanks. And . . .

Wow. Cool beans. Living in the the Liberal Land of Lincoln (Illinois) I've always waited three days to pick up a handgun and one day for a long gun. They recently changed to three days for any gun.

On the other hand, we have CC now and it wasn't all that long ago that we didn't.

Life is good.
Prof Young
 
It's generally same day around here, except ...

So many people are buying guns that the FFLs can't get through to the telephone number to run the background check. I stopped by one local gun shop on Saturday. The two owners were both trying to get through. They would call, get a busy signal, hang up and redial. Rinse and repeat.

The guy I know better decided that he needs to install an auto-redial app on his cell phone just for getting through to call in the background checks.
 
You guys make me sick! ;) My last gun purchase, a handgun here in Illinois, took 17 days for approval. Normally it's 3 days, but now they blame it on being understaffed due to pandemic.
 
I'm in Leftern Washington State. Even if you have your CCL, you must fill out federal and state questionnaires (you pay extra for the state paperwork), then even after the feds approve the sale, paperwork is submitted to the local Sheriff for their approval...even if it's the same Sheriff which issued your CCL.
Only after that paperwork is approved, can you obtain your firearm.
Don't I just love my anti-gun bureaucracy? No, I don't.
 
Prof Young .... I thought the three day wait for a hand gun was a federal minimum. Talk to me.
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No such law.
The Brady Law of 1993 imposed up to a five day waiting period on purchases. With the implementation of FBI NICS in 1998, the waiting period disappeared.

Colorado Redneck The 3 day wait refers to the current verbiage about background checks. It states roughly that should the background check not be completed (approved/disapproved) within 3 days the vendor can complete the sale.
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Not even close.


RayVa If the FEDS use Delay it could be an indefinite wait.
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That depends on the dealer, not the Feds. The Brady Law does not prohibit the transfer of the firearm after the MDI (Missing Disposition Information) date as long as state law doesn't prohibit.

Some dealers, chose to not transfer until the NICS updates to a "proceed".




The "three day waiting period" is a myth.
It's actually "three business days, beginning the next business day and does not include weekends, holidays or days that state offices are not open.


That "three day wait" could be for a NICS check run on a Friday:
Saturday doesn't count
Sunday doesn't count
Monday is day one
Tuesday is day two
Wednesday is day three
Thursday is the first day the Brady law does not prohibit the dealer from transferring the firearm. The FBI NICS will tell the dealer the actual date the firearm may be transferred.
If that Monday is a holiday.......your three day delay is a week.:D
 
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Prof Young said:
I just heard first hand information that in a "Pacific North Western" state one can buy a handgun and as soon as the back ground check clears (ten minutes) one can walk out of the store with the gun. Is that true? I thought the three day wait for a hand gun was a federal minimum. Talk to me.

Life is good.
Prof Young
Click to expand...
Currently here in Michigan, the dealer makes a call to the Feds and when it clears in a few minutes you do the paperwork, pay and walk out the door with your gun...no waiting period. However, I have not bought a gun during the pandemic.
 
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