background checks

[Tom Kent]

I have purchased firearms for over fifty years, mostly since the background check requirement became effective. During the various high use, everyone's buying firearms, times I have never had a significant wait time until recently. About six weeks ago I went into a local gun store to look around and there was my grail gun. A model 27-2 with a three and a half inch bbl. Needless to say I bought it on sight. Always before this my background is complete before I finish the paper work. Not this time. I waited in the store for an hour and then left and told the owner to call me when I could pick up my pride and joy. He called about two hours after I left and told me I could come back and pick up my gun. That was a total of about three hours for my background to clear.
Today I was in another shop and purchased a Colt AR-15. Again I had a three hour wait for my background to clear. It cleared with no problem but why so long? Have they found out my GGfather was in the Confederate Army? Is anyone else having these long waits?

 

[quikdraw67]

Does Florida use NICS, or does it have a separate background check system like PA (PICS)?

I have ALWAYS been sent to an operator when calling in, or go into "pending" for the online check. I have no criminal record. A speeding ticket doing 70 in a 55 back in 1989 doesn't count. My name is somewhat common in my part or Penn's Woods, but all the same named guys I know are all decent fellows.

I think my brother and I got on Gov. Ed Rendell's "frequent flyer" list when we were purchasing a lot of guns BITD. Maybe they though we were gun runners, IDK. But it wasn't like we were buying a dozens Jennings .25ACP pistols at the time. Mostly S&W wheelguns.

So hard to say. I would guess sheer volume would overload the system

With all the gun ban and control talk coming out of DC, I suppose that even more guns will be bought, ergo more background checks being done.

I'll let you know this weekend when I go to pick up the PPK I got off GB.

 

[lihpster]

Three hours? Sheesh. You were lucky. I have had to wait 2 weeks.

 

[quikdraw67]

Three hours? Sheesh. You were lucky. I have had to wait 2 weeks.

Is that SOP in your state, or did you hit some sort of glitch?

 

[Rustyt1953]

Gun sales are up. Operators are not always standing by to take your call.

 

[lihpster]

Is that SOP in your state, or did you hit some sort of glitch?

Usually by the time the paperwork is done. Sometimes you get "put in the queue". Last couple of times I've been put in the queue it took 2 weeks.

 

[mrchick]

I think the longest I have waited is 10 minutes it always goes quickly here in Idaho.

 

[quikdraw67]

Usually by the time the paperwork is done. Sometimes you get "put in the queue". Last couple of times I've been put in the queue it took 2 weeks.

Damn, that sucks. The longest I had was 5-1/2 hours. I won't complain any more after hearing that.

I did learn a trick though. If a gun comes in on a Friday, I stop on the way home from work and fill out all the paperwork.

When I stop in Saturday, the PICS check has cleared, so I can just pay my FFL for the transfer and go on my merry way,

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Ohio uses the NICS system, BUT if you have a Current Concealed Cary Permit, You just walk out once your paperwork is filled in.

That's one reason I will keep renewing my CCW after we go Constitutional Carry in 14 days.

Ivan

 

[Kevin J.]

About 15 minutes for me to clear last week when I picked up a new Springfield SA 35 (yea…!). Mine was on a Wednesday morning. I would imagine a weekend purchase would take longer with a higher volume of purchase’s along with less background staff working being a weekend.

 

[doublesharp]

I used to be in and out in 10 minutes, Since covid every transfer I've done has been a call back, usually within 30 minutes but once, on a Saturday, I had to leave it overnight when the proceed call didn't come until after the store closed. Pain in the rear.

 

[Sevens]

Ohio uses the NICS system, BUT if you have a Current Concealed Cary Permit, You just walk out once your paperwork is filled in.

Only kind of…

It’s at the FFL’s discretion.

Vance’s for example, and Vance’s always has to be the example in central Ohio for obvious reasons… will NEVER let you take anything that could ever be construed as a shortcut.

Vance’s used to be infamous for shredding your 4473 and having you start over fresh if you wrote “St.” when they demanded that you wrote “Street.”

 

[krsmith58]

Ohio uses the NICS system, BUT if you have a Current Concealed Cary Permit, You just walk out once your paperwork is filled in.

That's one reason I will keep renewing my CCW after we go Constitutional Carry in 14 days.

Ivan

Ivan, that is the same reason i renewed my LTC even after texas went to constitutional carry.

worth every penny. kenny

 

[Kevin J.]

Wow. I live on an avenue much hard to spell than street and the 4473 doesn’t have spell check. I would be in trouble.

 

[digi-shots]

Virginia uses NICS and Virginia State Police… (you have to fill out 2 forms) there can be a few hours delay if it’s a weekend and there are gun shows going on within the state.

A few years back, a fellow attempted to buy a gun, filled out the paperwork and since there was a delay, he went to lunch. When he came back the State Police was there and they grabbed him. Didn’t even have a chance to get denied!

 

[zeke]

Back when was actively buying guns, the people doing the checking recognized my name. It is pretty distinctive and not common. Hardley ever waited more than a couple minutes. The only time waited longer was when changed my written eye color to blue instead of hazel. Couple extra minutes the first time.

 

[jeffrefrig]

The last three weeks or so I had about 2 hour wait for one gun then 1 hour for the second gun I bought a week later. I've never been on the fast train when I've bought anything the past 2 1/2 years; always pending. I blame it on the spike in sales. About 3-4 months ago I bought an old .22 single shot rifle and had to come back the next day. Just luck of the draw.

 

[Engineer1911]

Oh the suffering!!!! I get called when my latest purchase shows up, hand over my driver's license and carry permit. Then I take the gun and 4473 over to the table, write down all the information for me, complete the firearm questions, return to the counter, write license number down, and I'm done.

I pick up my new to me gun, pull a bore snake through it, go onto the range and fire 50 rounds. When I come out, the guys tell me I can have a job at the counter -- No Thank You. No NICS check in Georgia if you have a carry permit.

A package of 'cold pills' took 35 minutes at Wal-Mart for paper work for over the counter pills.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

Here in NJ they are done by the State Police now. You pay, fill out the forms, the dealer informs you when it goes through. My last one-for a 22-was 3-4 days.

 

[pharmer]

Florida uses the FDLE "system" rolled out in 1991. Used to be about instantaneous but has slowed with massive use. I got delayed 2 hours last year buying my CZ P07 (put in my middle initial that's not on my DL) and once before at the Orlando show for a couple hours buying several AR lowers. Joe