First time being delayed, why?

hoardingthemanual

hoardingthemanual

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Joined
Oct 15, 2022
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432
Location
Tx
Hi everyone, like the title says I was delayed on a gun purchase for the first time. This would be my 16th firearm purchase and first delay. Full transparency, this is the third pistol I've bought in a four week span, and the 16th since June '22. I also used my social number like I always do. Does anyone have ideas as to why this 16th purchase would delay? Has this happened to you?
 
A delay can be caused by a lot of things. The most common delay is having a last name that is common with a prohibited person. And sometimes people get delays when the system is extremely busy all at once.

Depending on your state laws, I would wait the 3 business days per federal law or state waiting periods (if any) and then go pick up your firearm. Now if the delay gets changed to a deny then you will have a chance to appeal the denial. There is no way to find out why one gets delayed so you will just have to wait it out.
 
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It’s just so peculiar. Less than two weeks ago I picked up a TX22 with no problem. I also have two registered SBR’s which asked for more intrusive info than the 4473. It’s just so peculiar.
 
I was delayed once . The guy putting in the call in information missed spelled my name I believe he said . I had to come back the next day .
 
I am delayed on most of my purchases. To the point where I just tell the gun store workers "okay, I'll be back in a few days." So it is a surprise when my checks go through as normal. As long as you haven't run afoul of criminal law...being arrested counts. Then it sounds like the background check process ran into name/information of a prohibited person that is similar to yours, and they have to look a little more. I wouldn't worry about it unless it happens more often.

If it keeps happening, you can fill out a Voluntary Appeal File or VAF. What this does is, when approved, gives you a UPIN. Like using your SSN, but only for gun purchases. Haven't had a single delay since getting mine. There is a spot on the 4473 where you enter in the UPIN. It is a small box so just make sure the clerk doing the check knows you wrote it in.

www.fbi.gov

Voluntary Appeal File Application | Federal Bureau of Investigation

The Voluntary Appeal File (VAF) process permits applicants to request the NICS maintain information about themselves in the VAF to prevent future erroneous denials or extended delays of a firearm transfer.
www.fbi.gov www.fbi.gov

12Bravo20 said:
Depending on your state laws, I would wait the 3 business days per federal law or state waiting periods (if any) and then go pick up your firearm.
Click to expand...

Certain big box stores that operate in multiple states will not transfer a firearm unless they receive a clear "proceed" from NICS. This happened when I tried to buy a shotgun from Academy but got delayed, as per my usual. They refused to go through with the transfer anyway in accordance with the Brady law. I pulled a Karen and talked to the manager, pulling up the Brady law on my phone saying transfers can happen when NICS doesn't call back. Transfer refused. At least I hadn't paid for the shotgun yet so no money out of pocket.
 
For the OP, I would just wait it out since this is the first time getting delayed.

For those that constantly get delayed or denied (victim of identity theft) then filing a Voluntary Appeals File and getting a UPIN issued will definitely help.

I had to file a VAF and get my UPIN due to having my ID stolen by someone that is a prohibited person which caused me to get denied every time. I have only been delayed three times. Twice was because either the Clerck did not give NICS my UPIN or the computer system somehow overlooked my UPIN. The computer error was when shops first started doing the online 4473 years ago. The third delay was simply due to the system being extremely busy back in April of 2020.
 
hoardingthemanual said:
Less than two weeks ago I picked up a TX22 with no problem. I also have two registered
Click to expand...
Ah, but, the NICS does not look at any of that.

It's compare a given name to the list of Prohibited people. As noted above, is the system is getting heavy traffic, the prompt on the screen for the person at the other end of the NICS call will get a recommendation to Delay, rather than to tie the phone line up.
Sometimes.

The NICS check gets called a "background check" but nothing about your background is actually investigated--it would just take too long.
 
My experience is the opposite. I have been delayed every time except this last time. This goes back 10 years or more. Many transfers. I even wrote a letter to the state police a number years ago. It made no difference. Last time, I was shocked when the person looked up and told me I had been approved. I had grown to assume that I would always be delayed. Go figure! Best wishes!
 
I usually get "researching" when buying a gun and have to wait around for a good 15-20 minutes.
I have been formerly delayed in the past. I think most delays come from whoever is doing the BGC being short handed, etc.

When traveling home from working overseas, I almost always got stopped at Border Patrol & Customs. That resulted in being pulled into a side waiting room while the BP ran additional checks on me.

Turns out the #2 man for Al-Qaeda in Africa, used my name as an Alias on a phony US Passport. They blew him up at a checkpoint years ago, but I still get stuck in Customs.
 
Delay is a way of life for me. Every purchase, sometimes for 15 minutes, sometimes they never call back on a proceed, at which point I have to wait the 3 business days. Bear in mind I do have a CPL(CCW), and they always renew it.
Near as I can figure in my case is because I was an expat for alot of years(lived and worked overseas)in some pretty rough countries where one wouldn't think of being a tourist.
I don't get too upset about it, I always get my transfer in the end
 
It’s a coin flip for me as to whether I’m getting delayed approval. I go in assuming I’ll have to wait and when it goes through immediately I’m happy. If I do get delayed it’s usually approved within 24 hrs. One time a couple of years ago it went almost 3 days but that was due to heavy volume at the time
 
herrwalther said:
Certain big box stores that operate in multiple states will not transfer a firearm unless they receive a clear "proceed" from NICS. This happened when I tried to buy a shotgun from Academy but got delayed, as per my usual. They refused to go through with the transfer anyway in accordance with the Brady law. I pulled a Karen and talked to the manager, pulling up the Brady law on my phone saying transfers can happen when NICS doesn't call back. Transfer refused. At least I hadn't paid for the shotgun yet so no money out of pocket.
Click to expand...
And that is the reason I'll never ever make another purchase at a big box store. I went round and round with one who's name I won't mention. Unfortunately they got my money up front , and after the delay, still wouldn't transfer without a proceed. Another BGC, another delay, another no proceed, and they tried to charge me a restocking fee. Finally contacted the corporate office and got my $$ back after 3 weeks of BS, and told them never see another penny from me and whoever I can convince not to shop with you
 
bigpower491 said:
Delay is a way of life for me. Every purchase, sometimes for 15 minutes, sometimes they never call back on a proceed, at which point I have to wait the 3 business days. Bear in mind I do have a CPL(CCW), and they always renew it.
Near as I can figure in my case is because I was an expat for alot of years(lived and worked overseas)in some pretty rough countries where one wouldn't think of being a tourist.
I don't get too upset about it, I always get my transfer in the end
Click to expand...
Absolutely nothing to do with an FBI NICS check.
 
herrwalther said:
Certain big box stores that operate in multiple states will not transfer a firearm unless they receive a clear "proceed" from NICS. This happened when I tried to buy a shotgun from Academy but got delayed, as per my usual. They refused to go through with the transfer anyway in accordance with the Brady law. I pulled a Karen and talked to the manager, pulling up the Brady law on my phone saying transfers can happen when NICS doesn't call back. Transfer refused. At least I hadn't paid for the shotgun yet so no money out of pocket.
Click to expand...

Nothing in the Brady Law requires a dealer to transfer a firearm. In fact, when NICS tells the dealer it's delayed, this what they say: " NTN# ABC0123456 is delayed while NICS conducts additional research. The Brady Law does not prohibit the transfer of this firearm on October 17, 2023".

So Academy WAS in compliance with the Brady Law. "can happen" is different than must happen.
While I gladly transfer when the Brady Law allows, I fully understand why others don't.
 
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