[Newt]

One of my friends is a gun dealer in a small town where everybody knows everybody. Not the gun shop kind of gun dealer... we live in the backwoods of Arkansas, so he sells guns out of his feed store. He was telling me that one of the locals had been put on hold by the FBI on an extra waiting period before aquiring his new rifle. The local who this happened to said that this has happened on 6 or 7 different occasions before while purchasing a new rifle. He has no criminal background and I was wondering why the FBI would do something like this. Any ideas?

Newt

[Black92LX]

they could have the same name as someone that did do something wrong?? if he has a fairly common name.

[AJ Dual]

Similar or same name as a criminal can do it.

Usually DOB or SSN clears that up. But it still puts you on the "check" queue or whatever so a human looks at the record to be sure you're not that person.

Also, a security clearance, current or past, seems to do it every time. Probably because you have an FBI file when investigated, and it gets flagged so a human looks at it to be sure you have an FBI file for a "good reason" (i.e. serving your country) and not a "bad" one like being a criminal.

Etc.

[CWL]

Here in the great state of California, unpaid traffic citations and such will hold up your background check.

[another okie]

Military background, especially in any kind of sensitive job.

[Cosmoline]

It happened to me about a dozen times. Then I got wise and stopped putting in my SSN. No more delays in the past twenty transactions.

[veloce851]

Then I got wise and stopped putting in my SSN

???? you mean that's not required???

[Fed168]

If you have been fingerprinted, I believe that holds you up as well.

[Cosmoline]

It's optional on the standard FFL forms I've seen.

[4v50 Gary]

What Black92LX says - probably a criminal with the same name.

[anapex]

Wierd that a security clearance would set that off, mine hasn't for the past 7 purchases.

[TallPine]

???? you mean that's not required???

Nope, I have never given an SSN and have never been delayed.

(well, except when the whole dam system was down :( )

[BB93YJ]

The space for giving your SSN on the form is optional, not required, a little note in the box says something to the effect that it will speed up the check...hah...

I've never been delayed on the background check. Top Secret Clearance, USN AntiSubmarine Warfare Operator. Even better is the CCW, no check needed...

[litman252]

I belive up here you can write in your Drivers lic. # instead of SSN, both are optional.
Tony

[DigMe]

I've been delayed. I assumed it was due to two stints of living in China.

brad cook

[NewShooter78]

I don't think figerprinting does it because I've been fingerprinted before for a "minor" issue, and it hasn't held up my gun purchases.