What Causes A Delay When Buying A Firearm

P

pipoman

New member
I am just curious. Every time I buy a gun there is a 2 minute delay. I have been told my approval required a supervisor to get the go ahead. I have always walked out of the gun shop with my purchase.

I have had an FBI and Treasury Dept. background check and security clearance in my past as well as having a concealed carry license for years.

Any ideas what causes this little hiccup in my approval?
 
Since we have a seven day waiting period for handguns and such in Maryland...I won't lose any sleep over your 2 minutes.
 
Pip is the guy on the phone running your background or is he just waiting for a supervisor/owner to sign off on something.

7 days in MD...ugghh I feel for you. Just north of you in PA, you fill out some paperwork (a pain the first time, but if you buy enough guns you get use to it ) and a phone call is made to check your background. The whole process only takes a few minutes and your out the door.
 
I've noticed its happening more often at the shop. I noticed it about a month ago, every one I've called it gets 'additional screening', so to speak.

I am assuming that it is merely a different fed agency that runs the name through to make sure the person is cleared to make the purchase.
 
The extra two minutes is the time it takes to enter your name into the federal registry of gunowners and update the log of what guns you own.

Just kidding (I hope...)
 
I'm with 1BadF350. As a lifelong Californian, it's mind-boggling to me that someone would question a 2-minute delay in a gun purchase. That said, I suppose one could go hog-wild and actually contact the agency responsible for the check and ask them what is going on, since no one here could possibly know.

Tim
 
Don't get me wrong. I appreciate that I can go into any gun shop in Kansas and walk out with as many guns as I can afford. I am not complaining.

Some of the shop owners act like it is unusual. On two occasions the shop owner was told the Fed needed a supervisor's approval. I have never had to wait for a call back or anything, just this little delay every time.

I am not loosing any sleep over it, I thought someone here may know what is going on at the other end of the phone when the transfer is called in.

Thanks for your input.
 
Doesn't the same federal agency do the background check for every gun purchase regardless of the state?

I realize there may be some states or municipalities who also do their own background checks or have their own requirements.

F350 and Tim, sorry about your luck on the ridicules state requirements you guys have to endure.

I recently had a very pleasant conversation with the Sheriff of my county. He said he has requested to be notified by FFLs in his county if anyone buys more than 2 guns at one time.
 
Sometimes state and Fed systems have delays or crashes.
You may also have a common name, or a name that was flagged. Even though you might put down your SSN and have put down your state ID, this might (speculating) require a supervisor to sign of on the approval - they think you are you and not somebody they are watching.
 
As I understand it, the two minute delay, (which is about the same here in New Mexico), is for the clerk to call in to the NCIC center. I THINK, it's the NCIC center, I'm not sure and I don't even know what NCIC stands for. Basically what they are doing is checking to see if the social security number you submitted has any outstanding wants or warrants on it. What it DOESN'T check, is whether you are a convicted criminal or not, or even if the SSN belongs to an actual living person. Theoretically you could submit a dead relative's number if you shared the same name and noone would be the wiser. This is where the system, I think, needs to be reformed, if it hasn't been already.:cool:
 
Nbt

"One word can answer the topic question

*Liberals*"


We have a republican President, a republican dominated Congress and a mostly chosen by republican Supreme Court. Ever wonder why they don't do anything about 2nd Amendment issues?
 
But a person doesn't need to submit their social security number. Their state id number or driver's license is recorded though.

Liberals? As if a two minute delay slows the sales of guns?
 
In November 1993, the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act (Brady Act) was signed into law. The Brady Act requires Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) to request background checks on individuals attempting to receive a firearm. The permanent provisions of the Brady Act, which went into effect on November 30, 1998, required the United States Attorney General to establish the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) so that any FFL may contact for information to be supplied immediately as to whether the receipt of a firearm by a prospective transferee would violate Section 922 (g) or (n) of Title 18 of the United States Code or state law.

The NICS Section, located at the FBI's Criminal Justice Information Services Division in Clarksburg, West Virginia, provides full service to FFLs in 27 states and four U.S. territories. Upon completion of the required Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Form 4473, FFLs contact the FBI NICS Section, via a toll-free telephone number or electronically through the NICS E-Check System via the Internet, to request a background check with the descriptive information provided. The NICS is customarily available 17 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays (except for Christmas).

Fourteen states have agencies acting on behalf of the NICS in a full Point-of-Contact (POC) capacity. These POC states, which have agreed to implement and maintain their own Brady NICS Program, conduct firearm background checks for FFLs' transactions in their respective states by electronically accessing the NICS. Upon completion of the required ATF Form 4473, the FFLs conducting business in the POC states, contact a designated state agency to initiate a NICS background check in lieu of contacting the FBI NICS Section.

Additionally, ten states are currently sharing responsibility with the NICS Section by acting as partial POCs. Partial-POC states have agencies designated to conduct checks for handguns and/or handgun permits, while the NICS Section handles the processing of the state's transactions for long gun purchases. The NICS Participation Map, as illustrated below, depicts each state's level of participation with the NICS.

http://www.fbi.gov/hq/cjisd/nics.htm

The NICS section probably has the lowest paid contractor or clerks money can buy...
 
2 mins?

Mine took five minutes today getting a new CZ 452. The only thing I didn't like was the guy gave my info over the phone in front of three people standing there. He should of went into another room. But I would of waited an hour for the tack driver I got today, WOW! I bought a gun on 06-06-06 and didn't even get a tee shirt. The rifle turned out to be a tack driver and Murphy is scratching his head, and I got 1/4 clover leafs @ 50 yds. with iron sights!
 
Croyance,
Your right, the SSN is optional on the 4473. I just remembered that. I always put it in to speed the process up. Maybe it's just the driver's license number they call in.

Yeah thanks Eghad, that clears stuff up for me.:cool:
 
The only thing that causes a delay in buying guns in my case is the lack of money. I don't know how all you guys manage. Union wages, I imagine.

Where I buy guns here in Virginia, at Gilbert's in Lorton, all the paperwork and checking is done right in front of you and the checking itself with the state police is done on-line, also right in front of you. The employee does not double check with another employee. At least for me.

One local gun shop (Dawson's) actually relocated to the next county to avoid the local Fairfax County waiting period but that was eliminated because the so-called instant background check was considered sufficient.

I still have trouble buying one gun a year and even then I have to trade something in. Lucky I don't need any.
 
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