NCJ Number
199033
Journal
USA Bulletin Volume: 50 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2002 Pages: 50-51
Date Published
January 2002
Length
2 pages
Annotation
This article describes the operation of the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), which was established in November 1998 to facilitate the implementation of the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act's requirement that background inquiries be conducted on prospective gun buyers before gun dealers can sell them a gun.
Abstract
NICS background checks are initiated by gun dealers, who contact either the FBI-contracted call centers or a designated State point-of-contact, who performs the checks on behalf of the FBI. The NICS program has established an Operation Center and Program Office within the Criminal Justice Information Services Division of the FBI located in Clarksburg, W V. To date, the NICS has processed over 23 million transactions; it has denied over 190,000 sales to felons and other fugitives from justice. Each name-based NICS background check generates a search of 3 FBI-managed databases that contain over 42 million criminal history records and other information that would prohibit the sale of a firearm to a person. The information returned by this search is used to determine whether the prospective buyer is allowed to purchase a firearm. Currently, the NICS is engaged in efforts to increase the speed of a background check and remedy the problem of incomplete criminal history records. This article describes four actual cases in which the NICS has been instrumental in preventing a prohibited person from obtaining a firearm legally.