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Delayed Background Checks

Fairlane66
I recently purchased a shotgun on the auction side and had it sent to a Colorado Springs gun shop. I dropped in to fill out the background check paperwork, expecting to be out the door with the gun in the usual 30 minutes to an hour. Not so fast! Guy behind the counter says we'll call me when the background check comes through...anticipate 7 to 10 days! What the....!?!? OK, I know gun sales are up 400% or so since Sandy Hook, but what's the real deal with delayed background checks? I'm not necessarily looking for opinions or to start a political diatribe, but really want to know if anyone can voice an objective reason for the unreasonable delay. Is it sales volume? Is Uncle slowing down checks for political reasons? Is there any statuatory guidance on the maximum time a background check should take? I was under the impression that when background checks were instituted, the maximum time was supposed to be 24 hours. Again, is there anyone out there who really knows what's causing these disturbing delays?
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Comments

10 comments

Date Votes
  • 62fuelie
    The CO system is run thru the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. Not to excuse things, but they are trying to process a huge increase in traffic with the same number of personnel that they had "optimized" for "normal" traffic over the past few years. I don't know what their training entails, but I would guess it is more than simple key-punching. I know it is no comfort, just the fact of people preparing for the Obama/Holder onslaught.
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  • Fairlane66
    Shows my ignorance, I thought all these forms were centrally screened at the Federal level.
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  • andrewsw16
    They all are, eventually. NV is similar. Our FFLs call the state Department of Public Safety number, instead of the federal 800 number. The state employee runs a check of state databases, THEN runs the check through the federal NICS system, THEN gives the DENY or PROCEED to the FFL. They are still working with the staff level of late 2012. That results in a backlog here too. FORTUNATELY, Nevada is one of those states where we don't have to wait on a NICS check if we have a current CCW permit. [:)]
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  • Emmett Dunham
    I don't the idea of using the name Sandy Hook in the post, the thing that started this rush was a government that could not pass a gun bill because they did not have the votes, letting everyone go into the panic mode. There were 2.9 million back ground checks in December. The report is that the government was so over powered with paper work that they could not keep up. January and February until this rush to buy firearms and ammo slows down no reason not to expect a delay. The ban that they are proposing in California will only fuel things here. We will see people lining up for the button release weapons and ammo as long as they put them on the shelves.
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  • Dokey
    In NJ all checks have to be done by Fax, no more calls
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  • Oakie
    quote:Originally posted by Dokey
    In NJ all checks have to be done by Fax, no more calls


    Where did you here that???? I live in NJ and just bought a rifle last week and the guy called in my nics check. I think you are wrong.We are running about 3 to 5 days behind for a nics check as of today.
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  • pirate2501
    Was at the local gun shop last night. Guy walks in and 30 seconds later buys a Ruger LCR. Dealer writes it up and says " I hope your not in a hurry to take this home - gonna be about 10 days before the paperwork goes through." Guy just looks at him and says " I guess I'm not gonna be in a hurry then." Pays and walks out in a pissed off mood.
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  • He Dog
    Just took me three days for a federal check, and I get a delay about 75% of the time. States doing their own checks adds a lot of time.
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  • nmyers
    It's called the POC (Point Of Contact) program. Any state can request participation from ATF. Most have different programs, some even register the gun to you.

    You are at the mercy of your state government. [V]

    Neal
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  • MBK
    It is the Hamsters.


    They are just not spinning the cages like they used to.[:p]

    Seriously, week long checks are going to cause hell on Colorado private sales.....seller will probably have to give up control to an FFL. Then if buyer fails, seller will have to pass his own check just like in a pawn return.
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