Background check delays?

[joshk-k]

Hey all....

Last fall, I took a buddy shooting for the first time and he had a blast. He's now made the decision that he would like a handgun for home defense. I went with him yesterday to the gun shop to look around and help him pick out a first gun. He finally settled on a gun, filled out the paperwork, paid the $10 for the state's fee for the background check, and it was called in.

The phone call took longer than any of mine ever have, and at the end of it, the store clerk told us that there would be a delay, of up to a week. He said that about one in fifteen checks has some delay to it, and that the state might call back in an hour, might call back in a few days, or might call back on the date (the 19th) that they said they would and delay it again. He said one fellow was delayed for almost a year!

The only thing that we can think of in my friend's background that might explain this is a misdemeanor from his adolesence that involved running from the cops. (One of those high school house parties where the cops show up and everyone bolts situations.)

I feel like with the technology and surveillance skills that the govt. has, and the amount of info. (essentially everything) that they know about us, they should be able to come up with a "yes" or "no" answer immediately.

I'm wondering whether anyone else has ever experienced a delay in their background check, how it turned out, and whether the misdemeanor mentioned above seems like the logical possibility.

Thanks,
Josh

 

[sloo50]

Funny... Last night I went to pick up my new Browning Hi Power and I was also "delayed". FFL called later and told me to come pick her up. My delay only lasted several hrs. and luckliy not several days.

 

[Ala Dan]

Usually, in most cases an FFL delay only last three working days~! Many
times they have called back before the 72 hour expiration was up, and
released the weapon to the purchaser early. On a few occassions they
have changed the delay to a DENIED response; but that is a worst case
scenario~!

 

[Eightball]

They're crapping you. If the FBI hasn't called them back within three working days, they are not legally prohibited from transferring the firearm to you--however, if they transfer it to you, and then the FBI calls back and the person's denied, then the FFL informs the FBI of where you live, and the FBI does their friendly "hello, you have an illegal weapon" routine, if I am to understand that process correctly (never had it happen where I work). Unless your friend's a criminal, or unless the .gov has NOTHING on him (i.e. he's never come up for any reason whatsoever, not even credit card information), he'll probably get a proceed in a few days. But a week? They're yanking your chain.

Usually, the FBI calls back in a day or two, or the guys at the store can call the FBI--which they don't tell you--to check on your buddy's status. It's an option other than "#1" on the phone line they call, and some less-than-awesome employees miss it sometimes.

The only reason I bring up "if the .gov has nothing on your buddy" is because that's happened a few times to customers at the shop I work in. If it's about the first thing they've ever done where they've needed to fill out a form, *OCCASIONALLY* they'll get a delay. Doesn't happen often, and it could just be something about Kentucky, but it has happened in the past. Very unusual, but it happens. Could be that your buddy's name bumps against someone else's that has a less-than-stellar record, so they're just checking their files.

 

[bogie]

Also, you're not required to put your social security number on the form. Whoopee. If you leave it off, there's a better chance of being delayed.

 

[shc1]

Times are indeed a changing…

Couple of years ago I was refused at a gun shop because it had been less than a week since my last handgun purchase.
This was with my up to date concealed carry permit.
With the permit VA law says I was legal to buy. A shop however may have a different view.

 

[Rustynuts]

Tell him to do a voluntary file with the FBI. They go through the routine on any possible blemishes, and if you turn out OK, they give you a UPIN number. This number gets put in section 6 of the transfer form. Might take an extra minute or two while they check that file, but no more big delays. I had to do that after my first purchase was delayed MONTHS (OK, maybe 5-6 weeks) in Florida. Mine was for a bogus charge (no conviction) from years back that I had expunged and the files weren't up to date.

 

[MErl]

I expect a 3 hour wait minimum (in CO) whenever I purchase something. Considering calls from collection agencies looking for names same as mine cept the middle initial, my guess is that someone out there with a name similar to mine has been a bad boy.

sucks to have to plan a day around getting a gun if its not in town where I can go back easily.

 

[Top_Gunn]

Sometimes I get delayed, usually not. Seems like just a roll of the dice.