Background Checks to Purchase Firearms
Background checks to purchase firearms is of paramount importance in determining the right persons own firearms. Under the current law, the kind of gun one desires to purchase depends on where they live. If one considers purchasing a firearm from a federal firearms licensee, they are bound determine and a sure the licensee if they have been convicted of a crime, and give their reasons to own a firearm. Notably, individuals who are prohibited from buying guns from data acquired by the NICS background check include the following; fugitives from justice, convicted people and felons under indictment for felony, drug addicts and unlawful drug users, and persons under domestic violence restraining orders. Notably, NICS is a database that checks information about persons when purchasing guns. It ensures that persons such as the mentally ill and felons are denied the right to purchase firearms for security reasons (Vigdor 46).
Granting a person license to purchase a gun involves a number of procedures. One must be cleared by the federal or state government of any criminal records. Once an individual decides to purchase a firearm from national chain or a local chain, the administrator of the store enters their name and information into NICS or National Instant Criminal Background Check System through the internet or a toll-free number, to check if the buyer is eligible. Ideally, the check normally takes several minutes to complete the process. Notably, the NICS system is connected to a number of databases that are managed by the FBI and runs the name of the individual through the state or federal criminal records. After requesting for the license, the outcome could be positive or negative. Possible outcomes of a brandy act background check may include the following results;
Immediate Proceed: an immediate proceed could be determined if the check finds no disqualifying information in the NICS. This result can carry on laws imposed by the State.
Delay: background checks that are delayed for a number of reasons are normally completed in duration of 2 hours if the FBI determines that data that is not available at present in the NICS needs to be traced.
Defaults proceed: Once the NICS check is electronically completed, it is the duty of the FBI to contact and identify local and state law enforcement officials. The FBI is given 3 business days by the Brandy act to complete a background check. However, if there are hitches in checking the information in three business days, the transfer or sale could be completed by potentially disqualifying information. However, in such circumstances, the dealer should refrain from enacting other proceeding and wait for the FBI to continue reviewing the case for two weeks or more (Sumner 18).
Firearm Retrieval: After the FBI discovers that a dealer has consciously handed a gun to a prohibited person from a default precede, ATF and local law enforcements agencies must be notified that efforts have been made to repossess the gun.
Basically, use of NICS in researching credential information is not a necessary procedure of selling firearms in private stores. It is found that this makes close to 20% of all firearm dealings. Ideally, purchasing of a firearm is a risky business involving a number of procedures and protocols that must be adhered to.
The Path Forward
Universal background checks are the determinants of successful screening systems. If prohibited purchasers are allowed to acquire firearms with zero and no background accountability, they will avoid screening and exploit that loophole all together. When enacting the process of purchasing a firearm, it is important to consider issues with security such as the number of shooters with legally purchased guns. Such initiatives ensure certainty of records, and correct information in government databases. Laws that apply to both unlicensed and licensed dealers are the strongest laws of the state. For instance, background checks that are conducted by local or state are thorough compared to those performed by the FBI (Smith 114).
The straw man purchase is an issue addressed by universal background checks. This purchase involves an act of determining persons who acquire firearms illegally. If one considers purchasing a firearm from a federal firearms licensee, they are bound determine and a sure the licensee if they have been convicted of a crime, and give their reasons to own a firearm. Granting a person license to purchase a gun involves a number of procedures. One must be cleared by the federal or state government of any criminal records. Once an individual decides to purchase a firearm from national chain or a local chain, the administrator of the store enters their name and information into NICS (Webster 12). The NICS system is connected to a number of databases that are managed by the FBI and runs the name of the individual through the state or federal criminal records. After requesting for the license, a person can be granted or denied the license. Background information of purchasing firearms is important in ensuring the safety of citizens. Only screened people are allowed to own firearms after undergoing a purchasing procedure involving the State or federal government, and the FBI.
References
Sen, B., & Panjamapirom, A. (2012). State background checks for gun purchase and firearm deaths: An exploratory study. Preventive medicine, 55(4), 346-350.
Smith, T. W. (2007). Public attitudes towards the regulation of firearms. National Opinion Research Center.
Sumner, S. A., Layde, P. M., & Guse, C. E. (2008). Firearm death rates and association with level of firearm purchase background check. American journal of preventive medicine, 35(1), 1-6.
Vigdor, E. R., & Mercy, J. A. (2006). Do laws restricting access to firearms by domestic violence offenders prevent intimate partner homicide?. Evaluation Review, 30(3), 313- 346.
Webster, D. W., Vernick, J. S., & Bulzacchelli, M. T. (2009). Effects of state-level firearm seller accountability policies on firearm trafficking. Journal of Urban Health, 86(4), 525-537.
