Just a curiousity about being "flagged"

[98C5]

How many firearms do you think it takes to be "flagged" by the feds? I bought many over the years(some have been sold). I have a Virginia CCW permit which allows me to purchase multiple handguns at once and NO 30 day waiting period. I bought 2 pistols 2 weeks ago and just purchased another pistol and AR this week.

Anyone worry that they may be flagged at any time? Would the Fed background check show signs to the FFL dealer that 'this guy buys a lot'?

Nah, don't need a foil hat......................yet.

 

[jaholder1971]

I know that at one time, if you had ever had a fingerprint card on file with the FBI you were flagged. There are two different cards, red and blue. Reds are for criminal bookings while blues were for backgrounds check, security clearances, etc.

NICS at one time didn't distinguish between the two, so having one on file flagged and delayed you until they determined the reason.

I've had several blue cards done for background checks for CMP rifles, Civil Air PAtrol membership and one Red card for 2 misdemeanors that were later dismissed. I was delayed every time until the charges were dropped on the misdemeanors, I get PROCEED on the first pass every time since then.

 

[Hanzerik]

None of the 3 guns I bought/traded for in the last week had to be called in. The benefits of having a CWP in Wyoming. Just fill out the 4473, show your CWP, and sign it, no check/call required. They just file it.

But even before that I had never been delayed, or had had any issues purchasing multiple firearms in a short period of time.

 

[Slugless]

A friend of mine is big into fully auto rifles, machine guns, buying vast quantities of ammo (once by the ton), etc. Had a tank once. You think the Hollywood robbery was bad news? Throw a tank into the mix.

He hangs out at machine gun shoots with a lot of fellow souls.

I asked him the same question & he said he's not worried about it & that his crowd generally isn't either.

There are lots of guys like us. See GunTech's pics sometime. For some people it's a business. Many here could outfit a full platoon of dudes.

I don't really know how they picked up on Koresh & they lied so much about him it's hard to tell the truth. But it seemed that those guys had some illegally converted weapons.

In the Reno days I would have been more worried about it because of the militia thing. After 2008, who knows but the Feds have johnny jihad to worry about, not jimmy gun nut.

If they're that worried about you they just got you on your posting....

 

[Big Boomer]

Ooops

Yea, got a "BIG red flag" when I was "caught" with some unlicensed destructive devices...almost lost my 2A rights for that one...

That was 15 years ago, nowadays I would be in gitmo, with a laundry list of terroristic charges against me.

 

[kimigirl]

I actually was flagged because I bought a 9mm Ruger P95DC and a Romanian WASR-10 within the same week. Didn't mean much, just a few more minutes because they had to call the FBI office instead of wherever they call for the NICS check.

 

[usp9]

What does "being flagged" mean? I've purchased multiple guns in one day and others the same month in Virginia with no problem.

 

[98C5]

It means the Feds are monitoring your buying habits. Doesn't mean your doing anything wrong, they're just doing a little more homework on you. I'll be curious what happens this week when I get my AR & another pistol.

 

[1man]

Not trying to be a smart a**, seriously.
I keep seeing "NICS", can someone tell what that stands for?

Do you mean NCIC(National Crime Information Center - FBI database, Washington DC)

 

[usp9]

What does "being flagged" mean?

It means the Feds are monitoring your buying habits.

How would one know one was being flagged? Does the FFL realize this in some way?

 

[1man]

The FFL and the Gov do not communicate with each other as far as business that deal with person(s) or things they feel are of special interest.
"Flagged-Business" is In-House Business within whatever Fed agency. Look at the FBI & CIA. I know there's a lot stuff the CIA does not want the FBI to find out about.

 

[40SW]

Look, there are two schools of thought on this.

1. The post apocalyptic "they are coming to get my guns" mindset, the conspiracy theorists, every round of ammo and every firearm is that I have is being flagged by a satellite and the ATF and the Phoenix Phalanx computer tied into the Skull & Bones archive.

2. We all know that BATF abuses exist,but in the end, KNOW the laws, comply with them, and collect/shoot what you enjoy. If you are ever a victim of government abuse, then challenge and fight it legally. yes, multiple firearms purchases on the same day are a potential red flag. BATF concerns about straw purchases are real, but the average citizen does not have to worry about it, again, BATF abuses are real, but stay vigilant and enjoy collecting firearms.

 

[Walkalong]

Mine is delayed every single time. It goes through every single time. There must be someone out there with my name who is someone who can't own guns or something and they double check my name etc. I don't know. My dealer asked one time if there was something he could do or additional info he could provide to skip the delay and they said "no" but would not tell him why I get kicked to the next level or whatever. It is a very short delay. Less than a minute, just there.

 

[AtticusThraxx]

I personally haven't seen the kind of competence from the Feds that would worry me. With the possible exception of the IRS.
If your really concerned I'm told you can under some conditions request access to your "records" mandated by the Freedom of Information Act. I don't have any personal experience but it may be worth a look. Of course the very request may get you flagged. Seems that's how it works with the government sometimes.

 

[Soybomb]

None of the 3 guns I bought/traded for in the last week had to be called in. The benefits of having a CWP in Wyoming. Just fill out the 4473, show your CWP, and sign it, no check/call required. They just file it.

But even before that I had never been delayed, or had had any issues purchasing multiple firearms in a short period of time.

The dealer must report it even if they don't have to do a nics call.

(F5) As a licensed dealer, must I advise ATF if I sell more than one handgun to an individual? [Back]

If you sell or dispose of more than one handgun to any non-licensee during a period of 5 consecutive business days, the sale must be reported on ATF Form 3310.4, Report of Multiple Sale or Other Disposition of Pistols and Revolvers, not later than the close of the business day on which you sold or disposed of the second handgun. The licensee must forward a copy of the Form 3310.4 to the ATF office specified thereon, and another copy must be forwarded to the State police or local law enforcement agency where the sale occurred. A copy of the Form 3310.4 also must be attached to the firearms transaction record, ATF Form 4473, documenting the sale or disposition of the second handgun.

A business day for purposes of reporting multiple sales of pistols or revolvers is a day that a licensee conducts business pursuant to the license, regardless of whether State offices are open. The application of the term “business day” is, therefore, distinguishable from the term “business day” as used in the NICS context. Example: A licensee conducts business only on Saturdays and Sundays, days on which State offices are not open. The licensee sells a pistol to an unlicensed person on a Saturday. If that same unlicensed person acquires another handgun the next day (Sunday), the following Saturday or Sunday, or the Saturday after the reporting requirement would be triggered, the subsequent acquisition of a handgun would have to be reported on a Form 3310.4 by the close of the day upon which the second or subsequent handgun was sold.

[18 U.S.C. 923(g)(3), 27 CFR 478.126a]

To my knowledge thats the only real "flagging", the stuff people talk about related to nics calls seems like tin foil hat stuff.

Do you mean NCIC(National Crime Information Center - FBI database, Washington DC)

National Instant Criminal Background Check System