Felony, Change of Name, NICS

[eric.cartman]

It just hit me like a ton of bricks

When I applied for my US Citizenship, I was given an option to change my name. My Polish first name was Marcin. I changed it to MarTin. No questions asked. None. I could have changed my last name as well (but it's so uncommon it causes me no delays with NICS , thank God). The change was retained by the immigration services only (I was told it was my responsibility to take care of the change of name everywhere else). Then, I used my naturalization certificate to get new set of documents: DL, Passport, CWP, you name it.

So, if one was a felon, and couldn't pass the NICS check... couldn't one change his/her name in court, get the court document (the same one i got, the immigration officer was authorized to approve change of name) then get a new state ID based on that. Then, what would stop one from buying a gun at a dealer??? I somehow doubt that the court notifies the NICS of the change of name. Moreover, the SSN is not required, so if one picks a unique enough last name, like mine, and provides no SSN, then there is no link in NICS between former and current names.

Any questions, comments, great thoughts?

 

[JesseL]

Just goes to prove what we all knew all along:
Laws only affect honest people and nothing can stop anyone from getting a gun (or any other prohibited item/substance) if they want it bad enough.

 

[PTK]

I believe that most states have restrictions on name changes to the effect of "felons need not apply".

 

[W.E.G.]

Hardly seems worth the effort to go to the trouble of committing a whole host of identity-fraud felonies, and forgeries just to facilitate the commission of a firearm-transfer felony.

If the objective is the illegal procurement of a pistol, one would find the task much easier just breaking into pickup trucks at the Ramada Inn on Country-and-Western Karaoke Night.

Criminals (even ones operating under fake names) don't like to acquire their weapons from the same sources as law-abiding folk.

 

[PRazz]

Martin, one comment, you could have changed your name to Eric Cartman. Respect my authorit"i".

 

[Art Eatman]

All I've ever seen pertaining to a legal change of name is that it not be done with the intent to commit some fraud.

Now, how it would be known about future fraud is beyond my understanding. Does the court have a mentalist on staff?

Would a court necessarily know if an applicant were a felon?

If it IS known, it might well be that the name change would be part of the state's records. It then might be that this information would go to NCIC and be available to NICS.

Bottom line: I dunno.

Art

 

[JeffKnox]

You have an AKA on file.

There is a legal paper trail on all of your name changed documents. Your DL might say Martin, but when NICS looks at it I'm sure it says "Martin, aka Marcin" and shows them any records relating to Marcin.

Stichawas ten cavat o Poloku i o gorku?

I'm sure my spelling is atrocious, but can you still make out the joke?

Best,

Jeff

 

[El Tejon]

Why go to court when a short drive to Chicago and $50 on Halstead Street will get you a new ID, including a DL and SS #.

 

[lacoochee]

+1 El Tejon

Then you wait for illegal immigrant amnesty and apply for amnesty as Ernesto Hernandez. Done, fresh start.