"Further review" on NICS check

[kd7nqb]

Earlier this week I decided that the time had finally come for me to join the .380 revolution and get myself a Ruger LCP. This was the first gun I had ever purchased in Washington state since I moved about a year ago. I knew that Washington had a stupid waiting period on handguns unless you are a CCW holder. This was not an issue since I am a permit holder. So I went back to the gun counter and chose my LCP filled out the 4473 and then the second Washington State pistol transfer form. The sales guy called in my NICS check and while he was on the phone he said it came back as "pending further review" I thought this meant delayed but it wasn't all that happened was whoever he was talking to on the phone transferred him to somebody else he repeated my information to that person and then I was approved.

Long story short I took my gun home a few moments later and all was well.

Anybody know what this further review is and why I would have gotten it? Is it because I recently moved?

 

[Mike1234567]

You're marked as "evil" because you post on gun forums.

 

[hso]

Dunno, but it is reasonable to guess that the recent change of address triggered a double check. If you didn't provide your SS# there might have been a similarly named individual that was prohibited from purchasing that they had to clear up before proceeding. I'm out of ideas.

 

[kd7nqb]

yea I assume it has to do with the change of address, I do use my SSN on my 4473's because although my name is not common there are a bunch of people in my family with my name and none of us are Jr/SR ect and our birthdays also end up kinda clumped. I figure my ssn gets misused and abused for everything else if it saves me a few minutes of hassle its worth it.

 

[Dueling1911s]

i used to sell guns for a bass pro in texas. i dont know why they had to call you in to NICS. with a texas CHL you were exempt from background check since you all ready had a huge background check done to get the license. NICS is a federal system. but i dont know washington laws. in texas with the chl its automatic pass go collect $200

 

[NavyLCDR]

Anybody know what this further review is and why I would have gotten it? Is it because I recently moved?

The initial NICS check is simply a phone answering person, or NICS e-check, entering your info into a computer. If the computer finds nothing at all, it will come back with a proceed. If the computer can't figure it out, then the call is transferred to a human screener that will look at whatever the computer can't figure out and determine if you are good-to-go. That's what happened in your case, there was something the computer couldn't figure out - maybe your state of residence due to the recent move, and your call was transferred to a human who looked at the info and said you were good-to-go.

 

[dogtown tom]

Dueling1911s i used to sell guns for a bass pro in texas. i dont know why they had to call you in to NICS. with a texas CHL you were exempt from background check since you all ready had a huge background check done to get the license. NICS is a federal system. but i dont know washington laws. in texas with the chl its automatic pass go collect $200

A NICS check was required because not all state firearm permits meet the ATF/FBI standards as an exemption to the Brady Law.

If you are a Texas resident with a Utah permit you do not get an exemption from the NICS check.....the permit must be from your state of residence.

NavyLCDR

Quote:
Originally Posted by kd7nqb
Anybody know what this further review is and why I would have gotten it? Is it because I recently moved?

The initial NICS check is simply a phone answering person, or NICS e-check, entering your info into a computer. If the computer finds nothing at all, it will come back with a proceed. If the computer can't figure it out, then the call is transferred to a human screener that will look at whatever the computer can't figure out and determine if you are good-to-go. That's what happened in your case, there was something the computer couldn't figure out - maybe your state of residence due to the recent move, and your call was transferred to a human who looked at the info and said you were good-to-go.

Almost.
Every call to FBI NICS is answered by a real, live human being. The initial call is answered by a call center customer service representative. If the information provided to the CSR results in potentially disqualifying information the call is forwarded to an FBI Examiner (this is where the CSR says "this transaction requires further review"). The FBI NICS Examiner IS an FBI employee and authorized to make decisions regarding the transaction.

In no case does "the computer" make a decision regarding that transaction.

 

[kd7nqb]

thanks for the information. Looks like it may have just been the fact I had recently moved. I guess we will see next time I buy a gun.

 

[loud-mouth shnook]

If you get a "pending" having given your social, I was once told by an ATF agent that if a felon gave a false SS# during an arrest and then the real owner of the SS# filled out a 4473, there'd be some extra attention given to that inquiry.

 

[PCGS65]

How is the CCW permit check different from the NICS? Don't they have all the necessary info on file/computer already? How do they dig deeper?

 

[dogtown tom]

PCGS65 How is the CCW permit check different from the NICS? Don't they have all the necessary info on file/computer already? How do they dig deeper?

NICS is an "instant" check.....meaning there is no way for the buyer to provide his fingerprints at the point of sale. FBI NICS uses databases (criminal history, immigration, etc) to make its decisions.

Some states require photo, fingerprints and a background check before a permit is issued. If the depth of the background check and other requirements meet a certain standard ATF/FBI may accept the permit as an exemption to the NICS check.

 

[Twiki357]

I don't know that the recent move to Washington would have been the cause. Granted, it was 8 years ago, but when I moved to Arizona I purchased a hand gun. I had not gotten my AZ drivers license yet and naturally was told that I could not make the purchase with California ID. I got my AZ license that afternoon and returned to the shop and made the purchase the next day. No problems with the NICS check.

 

[45_auto]

I've lived at the same address over 20 years, former military, former law enforcement, no criminal record at all. Had a new local FFl open up about a year or so ago and I've transferred 10 or 12 guns I purchased online since then through him. Every one of mine has had the "further review required" phone transfer to someone else to be approved. Takes about 2 minutes every time.

The FFl holder said that every NICs check that he's done since he's been open has been that way, not one has gone straight through.

From the FBI NICS website:

The NICS is a national system that checks available records on persons who may be disqualified from receiving firearms. The FBI developed the system through a cooperative effort with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and local and state law enforcement agencies. The NICS is a computerized background check system designed to respond within 30 seconds on most background check inquiries so the FFLs receive an almost immediate response.

If no matching records are returned by any of the databases, the transaction is automatically proceeded. If the NICS returns a match of the prospective firearm transferee’s descriptive information to that of record information located in any of the databases, the FFL is advised that the transaction is delayed. While the FFL is still on the telephone, the call is placed on hold and transferred to the NICS Section in Clarksburg, West Virginia, for a quick review and evaluation by a NICS Legal Instruments Examiner (NICS Examiner). If the record information returned by the NICS presents a valid match to the descriptive information of the prospective firearm transferee, the NICS Examiners, who have access to protected information (as opposed to Call Center personnel who do not have such access) review the information to determine if state and/or federal firearm prohibitive criteria exists. If the information matched by the NICS is not a valid match or no prohibitive criteria exists, the NICS Examiner will advise the FFL they may PROCEED with the firearm transaction.

 

[NYH1]

i used to sell guns for a bass pro in texas. i dont know why they had to call you in to NICS. with a texas CHL you were exempt from background check since you all ready had a huge background check done to get the license. NICS is a federal system. but i dont know washington laws. in texas with the chl its automatic pass go collect $200

It used to be the same way here in New Yorkistan. I have a concealed carry pistol permit so the Sheriff's office who handled all pistol permit transactions would give use a NICS card that was valid for 5 years. If I went to buy a rifle or shotgun we just showed the dealer our NICS card and they didn't have to call to get and approval. That all changed a few years ago though. They don't give use a NICS card anymore. Now they have to call to get an approval on every transaction.