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Slow firearm approval

toughdaddytoughdaddy Member Posts: 39 ✭✭
edited January 2012 in General Discussion
I live in Virginia and have been waiting for 4 days to get a handgun approved.Even my FFL dealer had to wait for 4 or 5 days. 4 years ago it was 10-20 minutes-then 2 hours-4 hours. I heard the staff was cut in half and it looks like the ones they kept don't want to do their job! Anyone else having this problem?

Comments

  • buckstarbuckstar Member Posts: 1,163 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    All the ones I bought recently took only the time for them to call somebody on the phone, say some of the stuff that was written on my application and drivers license, and ask for the instruction to "proceed".... Far too long for something I am supposedly guaranteed the right to own in my opinion.
  • bpostbpost Member Posts: 32,669 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    If you have a common name, something like John David Smith you will wait for approval. Me, I get through with flying colors, sometimes having the name Bruce Moderator Gunbroker Politics Forum has its advantages.....[:D]
  • jwb267jwb267 Member Posts: 19,664 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    the ffl dealer can issue your gun after 3 working days if you been delayed.
    if he chooses not to, find another dealer
  • llamallama Member Posts: 2,637 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Guy I know who had been in some trouble but now has a UPIN was approved for one handgun instantly, a month later he was denied for a second. Dealer called every week to try to get him approved, finally got approved after 2 months... and that phone call was 5 minutes.
  • andrewsw16andrewsw16 Member Posts: 10,728 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Federal law requires the dealer to wait no more than 3 working days for a "proceed". If NICS cannot provide a definite yes or no in that time frame, a dealer is authorized to go ahead and issue the gun. BUT...that doesn't mean he MUST. My local Wallyworld says corporate policy is NOT to exercise that procedure. Wallyworld wants a confirmed PROCEED or you don't get the gun. If you can find a more reasonable FFL, use him. In my case, there is a guy out there with my name and an active felony warrant. It holds up my NICS about half the time, until the dealer asks to confirm other identifying features besides the name, such as height, weight, age, etc. Fortunately the dirt bag on the run is twenty years younger and 150 pounds lighter. [:D] I won't have to deal with that anymore. BATFE recently reinstated NV's exemption for NICS for any NV CCW holder. So, no more NICS checks when I buy.
  • diver-rigdiver-rig Member Posts: 6,338 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    No nics call in Iowa with a ccw. [;)]
  • dongizmodongizmo Member Posts: 14,477 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    IIRC VA does not use NICS, they have their own check....
    Don
    The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly, is to fill the world with fools.
  • buckstarbuckstar Member Posts: 1,163 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by llama
    Guy I know who had been in some trouble but now has a UPIN was approved for one handgun instantly, a month later he was denied for a second. Dealer called every week to try to get him approved, finally got approved after 2 months... and that phone call was 5 minutes.




    Does this mean that it is ok to try to buy a gun after you have been denied? The reason I ask is because I have a friend who has not been in trouble and was surprised when the lengthy check came back denied. He thinks it's because of his common name and that he exercised his right to not put down his SSN.
  • shilowarshilowar Member Posts: 38,811 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I am friendly with a pawn shop owner and he said all his customers have been delayed 5 days since last week. That's in Roanoke. I was supposed to buy one today, but figure I'll try it next week. He was told the same thing, that the staff had been lowered.


    I should have bought it today to see if I got delayed.
  • llamallama Member Posts: 2,637 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by buckstar
    quote:Originally posted by llama
    Guy I know who had been in some trouble but now has a UPIN was approved for one handgun instantly, a month later he was denied for a second. Dealer called every week to try to get him approved, finally got approved after 2 months... and that phone call was 5 minutes.




    Does this mean that it is ok to try to buy a gun after you have been denied? The reason I ask is because I have a friend who has not been in trouble and was surprised when the lengthy check came back denied. He thinks it's because of his common name and that he exercised his right to not put down his SSN.


    Yup. Against the law to lie on the 4473 though... but my friend didn't lie ...
  • OakieOakie Member Posts: 40,565 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Last handgun I bought in NJ I waited Four MONTHS for the paper work. The time before that I waited 18 Monthes. Beat that.[;)] Friggen communist state
  • andrewsw16andrewsw16 Member Posts: 10,728 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by buckstar
    quote:Originally posted by llama
    Guy I know who had been in some trouble but now has a UPIN was approved for one handgun instantly, a month later he was denied for a second. Dealer called every week to try to get him approved, finally got approved after 2 months... and that phone call was 5 minutes.




    Does this mean that it is ok to try to buy a gun after you have been denied? The reason I ask is because I have a friend who has not been in trouble and was surprised when the lengthy check came back denied. He thinks it's because of his common name and that he exercised his right to not put down his SSN.

    Not if he was DENIED. That means no gun. But, if the NICS operator gives a STANDBY and doesn't convert it in three business days, you don't have to "stay on hold" as it were indefinitely. The FFL can go ahead and sell you the gun legally, IF HE WANTS TO. But, if a few days later, the NICS status changes to DENIED, then there are procedures for the FFL to contact you and tell you to bring back the gun. How often does THAT happen? I don't know. What if he doesn't reach you? What if you move or change your phone number? Any FFLs out there ever have that sequence of events?

    If your friend did get DENIED he can find out why. There is an established procedure for that. Have him talk to the FFL for details. [:)]
  • andrewsw16andrewsw16 Member Posts: 10,728 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by dongizmo
    IIRC VA does not use NICS, they have their own check....
    Don

    All FFL purchases go through NICS one way or another unless your state has an exemption, like NV does for CCW permit holders. VA might be like NV where the FFL does NOT call the free NICS number themselves. NV FFLs have to call a NV Department of Public Safety number and wait while that NV DPS operator runs state checks AND then also runs the NICS check. For that little bit of bureaucratic inefficiency, we get screwed out of $25 each time. That alone makes it worthwhile to get a CCW permit and skip the whole NICS process.
  • nutfinnnutfinn Member Posts: 12,808 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I always get approved instantly [:D]
  • jamesjojamesjo Member Posts: 2,242 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Nebraska is pretty good.
    Apply for a firearm purchase permit. ( They used to call it a handgun permit)
    Local sheriff approves it after a check.
    If approved, good to go, no waiting or call ins.
    $ 5.00, and good for 3 years.
  • jwb267jwb267 Member Posts: 19,664 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote: if a few days later, the NICS status changes to DENIED, then there are procedures for the FFL to contact you and tell you to bring back the gun. How often does THAT happen? I don't know. What if he doesn't reach you? What if you move or change your phone number? Any FFLs out there ever have that sequence of events?

    yes one time. the agent told me if the customer would not bring the gun back to me, that they WOULD TRACK HIM DOWN and he would do prison time
  • hunter86004hunter86004 Member Posts: 1,222 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I had a customer a couple of years ago get a "delayed" NICS check, waited five days and did the transfer. About a week later, got a call from the FBI asking if I had transfered the gun and I told them I did. Gave them all the info on the buyer from the 4473 and thought that would be the end of it for me. A week later, I get a call from the Phoenix FBI office (I live in Flagstaff) and they wanted the buyer's info again. Gave it again and three days later I got a call from the Flagstaff FBI office and they wanted the buyer's info AGAIN.
    Now I know why the LEOs I do business with hold the FBI in such high regard. LOL!
    Anyhow, it's not up to the dealer to chase down the firearm, as andrewsw16 stated.
  • toolmaniamtoolmaniam Member Posts: 3,213
    edited November -1
    If someone out there has the same name as you and have done naughty things, you'll probably get delayed. Somewhere in the great U.S. a person with the same name as I has been a bad boy. I've been delayed the last two purchases. It's a pain in the * because I have to make another trip back to the store to pick up firearm. This return trip to the store is hazardous because I usually buy something elase.[:D]
  • buckstarbuckstar Member Posts: 1,163 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by hunter86004
    I had a customer a couple of years ago get a "delayed" NICS check, waited five days and did the transfer. About a week later, got a call from the FBI asking if I had transfered the gun and I told them I did. Gave them all the info on the buyer from the 4473 and thought that would be the end of it for me. A week later, I get a call from the Phoenix FBI office (I live in Flagstaff) and they wanted the buyer's info again. Gave it again and three days later I got a call from the Flagstaff FBI office and they wanted the buyer's info AGAIN.
    Now I know why the LEOs I do business with hold the FBI in such high regard. LOL!
    Anyhow, it's not up to the dealer to chase down the firearm, as andrewsw16 stated.


    He probably wasn't at that address so they were checking in to see if the form updated with the new one.
  • dongizmodongizmo Member Posts: 14,477 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by andrewsw16
    quote:Originally posted by dongizmo
    IIRC VA does not use NICS, they have their own check....
    Don

    All FFL purchases go through NICS one way or another unless your state has an exemption, like NV does for CCW permit holders. VA might be like NV where the FFL does NOT call the free NICS number themselves. NV FFLs have to call a NV Department of Public Safety number and wait while that NV DPS operator runs state checks AND then also runs the NICS check. For that little bit of bureaucratic inefficiency, we get screwed out of $25 each time. That alone makes it worthwhile to get a CCW permit and skip the whole NICS process.

    No, some states the state is the POC...
    http://www.atf.gov/firearms/brady-law/state-lists.html
    Don
    The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly, is to fill the world with fools.
  • 41 nut41 nut Member Posts: 3,016
    edited November -1
    I have had 2 different customers given a proceed and then a few days later I get a call from NICS saying that it should have been a denied. Both times NICS took their address and a day or two later an agent and the state police paid them a visit.
  • lpaalplpaalp Member Posts: 951 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by dongizmo
    quote:Originally posted by andrewsw16
    quote:Originally posted by dongizmo
    IIRC VA does not use NICS, they have their own check....
    Don

    All FFL purchases go through NICS one way or another unless your state has an exemption, like NV does for CCW permit holders. VA might be like NV where the FFL does NOT call the free NICS number themselves. NV FFLs have to call a NV Department of Public Safety number and wait while that NV DPS operator runs state checks AND then also runs the NICS check. For that little bit of bureaucratic inefficiency, we get screwed out of $25 each time. That alone makes it worthwhile to get a CCW permit and skip the whole NICS process.

    No, some states the state is the POC...
    http://www.atf.gov/firearms/brady-law/state-lists.html
    Don

    Just for clarity: Even states that act as POC or partial POC use the NICS data base - these states use state data in addition to the NICS database. My understanding is some states fear NICS may not be as current as their data... e.g., if a buyer had a domestic violence incident in the past few days, it won't be reflected in NICS, but will be contained in their more local/timely data. Therefore, they essentially do two checks, although their software may integrate the checks, making it seem that a single check is being performed.
  • dongizmodongizmo Member Posts: 14,477 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by lpaalp
    quote:Originally posted by dongizmo
    quote:Originally posted by andrewsw16
    quote:Originally posted by dongizmo
    IIRC VA does not use NICS, they have their own check....
    Don

    All FFL purchases go through NICS one way or another unless your state has an exemption, like NV does for CCW permit holders. VA might be like NV where the FFL does NOT call the free NICS number themselves. NV FFLs have to call a NV Department of Public Safety number and wait while that NV DPS operator runs state checks AND then also runs the NICS check. For that little bit of bureaucratic inefficiency, we get screwed out of $25 each time. That alone makes it worthwhile to get a CCW permit and skip the whole NICS process.

    No, some states the state is the POC...
    http://www.atf.gov/firearms/brady-law/state-lists.html
    Don

    Just for clarity: Even states that act as POC or partial POC use the NICS data base - these states use state data in addition to the NICS database. My understanding is some states fear NICS may not be as current as their data... e.g., if a buyer had a domestic violence incident in the past few days, it won't be reflected in NICS, but will be contained in their more local/timely data. Therefore, they essentially do two checks, although their software may integrate the checks, making it seem that a single check is being performed.

    They can tie up a approval over and above what the NICS does and blame it on budget constraints per the OP [;)]
    Don
    The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly, is to fill the world with fools.
  • WEASEL-88WEASEL-88 Member Posts: 998 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by diver-rig
    No nics call in Iowa with a ccw. [;)]


    Same in Kentucky
  • n/an/a Member Posts: 168,427
    edited November -1
    Too many cracks in the system.. I was approved in one shop one day, Delayed in another shop just two days later.
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