Form 4473: Anyone made a mistake?

[PILMAN]

Not sure about this but has anyone ever made a mistake on a form 4473? I've filled out 2 of them in the past and for some reason, I keep on thinking I might have filled something wrong and i'm wondering if that could come back and bite me in the butt. I know that it is illegal to falsely enter any information but generally if it is a mistake, will anything happen to you? I know once the forms are filled out, there's nothing you can do.

 

[Wil Terry]

The last I knew any mistake in an FFL'S records, even a typo, was a felony.

 

[CarpeInferi]

First time I filled one out I wasn't paying attention and checked the wrong box on the yes/no questions even though I was answering them correctly out loud. It'd been a long crazy day at work and my brain was fried. I realized what I was doing and asked the guy behind the counter for another copy of the form, paid more attention to what I was doing and got it filled out correctly.

 

[PILMAN]

Yeah I remember when I bought my receiver, I had to come back the next day because NICS was down. I think I remember the guy reviewed the form, I entered correct SSN, name, address and stuff like that. For some reason though, I think I may have entered a yes or no question wrong though I am not a felon and haven't even had a speeding ticket. This was a number of months ago. I don't think I filled anything out wrong, it could just be me being paranoid. IIRC I think the FFL dealer read through the form and called it in, so I don't think I entered something wrong like Y to are you taking substances or Y to being mentally defective, etc. etc.

 

[CDignition]

Forget it... The dealer may get a demerit for it, but you wont have anything to worry over(unless you lied and you're a felon)

 

[loumarch]

Mistakes on 4473s are very common. It is OK to correct the mistake by striking through and initialing the correction.
The 4473 does not leave the store. It is kept until the store goes out of business.

 

[kingpin008]

The 4473 does not leave the store. It is kept until the store goes out of business.

I thought 4473's were only kept for 5 years? Was I told wrong?

 

[alucard0822]

to error is human, unless .gov is involved, then it is unacceptable and possibly a felony.

And ignorance of the law is no excuse, but to NOT be ignorant of the law requires up to a decade in law school and to pass the bar exam.

There are undoubtably mistakes made all the time, and the vast majority will never cause any inconvenience at all, but the mountain of paperwork, the waiting periods, the background checks, and new for MD the waiver to allow police acess to medical records, not just criminal and public records, are not intended to stop crime, they are a deterrant for law abiding citizens to own firearms, give the government authority to deny your rights, and can even be used to generate a criminal record. Many people think there is going to be a battle royale in congress, leading to a firearms ban, confiscation, and mass non complyance in a giant show of pro 2A force, but in reality all they have to do is stop answering the phone at nics.

 

[Dave in PA]

I bought a shotgun at a Walmart in Florida, The clerk studiously told me 'NO ABBREVIATIONS" on the 4473. He sternly scolded me for using PA in my address instead of spelling out 'Pennsylvania'. On the blank about immigration status, I left blank, he wrote N/A. I asked him (only slightly smart-assedly) what that was for, he said "Not Applicable" I then said "I thought you said NO ABBREVIATIONS". The best (worst) part was their book showed 2 shottys in the back plus the one in the case, but they couldn't find the ones in the back. Oopsy. It took a hour and a half to complete the sale. I would have to save some serious dough to ever buy another firearm from a WalMart again. The hassle wasn't worth the $25 I saved.

 

[LAR-15]

4473s where a sale was NOT made can be kept for 5 years

4473s where a sale WAS made have to be kept 20 years and then can be shredded or handed over to the BATFE

 

[AirForceShooter]

Ever wonder why the customer doesn't get a copy of the Form?

AFS

 

[hksw]

I also answered one of the yes/no boxes incorrectly. It was at a time when the 4473 had gone through a revision with an aditional question and I had filled it out as like the previous version. Told the dealer, he ripped it up (it was not totally filled and signed) and I filled out another reading all of the questions more closely.

 

[sacp81170a]

but in reality all they have to do is stop answering the phone at nics.

I haven't had to have a NICS check called in for about 7 years now. All I do is show my DL and my CCW. Food for thought...

 

[PILMAN]

No, I am not a prohibited person from owning a gun and not a felon. I think I may have answered one of the yes or no questions wrong however and that's what i'm concerned about. The questions like "Are you mentally defective", "Is this a straw purchase" etc. etc. I called the FFL and asked if it's possible to correct it if it is infact wrong, he's looking for the file as we speak. Just want to make sure everythings correct. I would hate for the ATF to end up doing a random check and then find out I marked something wrong and get screwed for it.

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

but in reality all they have to do is stop answering the phone at nics.

Except for firearm permit holders in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, Texas, Utah and Wyoming.

 

[LAR-15]

And for those states that do their own checks like CA.

 

[Im283]

Back in April I was attemptning to purchase a handgun from Gander Mtn in Farrugut TN. I accidently wrote in my old address, I noticed it right away and asked for a new form. I was told no new form, I would not be buying that gun that day. Best they advice they could give me was to come back the next day and do it again.

I asked if it was store policy or law and was told it was law. I later learned that it is not against the law to make an error and start a new form. Just a mis-informed employee. Was very annoying at the time, but I got the pistol the next day.

I now hold the drivers license in hand and do not participate in small talk while filling them out.

 

[Ithaca37]

I thought 4473's were only kept for 5 years? Was I told wrong?

Read this:
http://www.gunsandammomag.com/second_amendment/rkba0403_0421/

 

[PILMAN]

I called in and the guy told me what I filled in the 4473, it was all correct.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

I too made a mistake on a "yes/no" box and was just told to strike it out with an X and initial it. The "no abbreviations rule" is something new, varies from store to store and even between personnel in the same store. Surely there can be no problem with universally recognized state postal code abbreviations, "Ave." for "Avenue" and so on.