Delay on shotgun purchase

[Hogtamer]

Bought a gun through Bud’s Gun Shop and was delivered to local FFL dealer. Filled out the form and they said FBI had put a delay on purchase. Whaaat? What reason I asked, Dunno but you can pick up on the 9th. Never had a problem before but this really hacks me off. What right do these people have to delay a legitimate constitutional purchase of a 28 ga shotgun to an old fart like me? Anyone experienced this?

[jdgabbard]

Sometimes this happens when another person that is flagged shares your name. Or, at least that is what I have been told. They actually suggested there is some type of registration you can do to help expedite it. Can't remember what it is called. But I'd look into it.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

maybe your signature line has come true
:holysheep

[contender1]

Thanks to the wonderful computer world,,often different things pop up. When it comes to guns,, it seems the gov'ment loves to throw in glitches.
As noted above,,, most likely someone with the same name has a record. It requires a Fed to actually work & look stuff up.

Heck, even though I've worked with LEO's in several counties,, many years ago when I went to get my CCW, I kept getting told; "We are waiting on the State & their background check." I finally cornered the sheriff on the phone. I asked him why the long delay. He finally asked me if I'd ever been to a certain County. When I replied that if I had,, I drove through & didn't recall it. He said a guy with the same name as I, had a lengthy criminal record & was from that County. I POLITELY asked the sheriff to look up that thug. he did. Then I asked him a simple question; "Is he black or white?" I heard the punching of keys,, and a slight chuckle. The sheriff said; "Come get your permit."
You see, my first name is often one used by many black people. Yet, I'm white. (I've had girlfriends who's friends have asked them if I was a black guy.)

So, most likely just a slight glitch.

[Hogtamer]

JonB, Hah you may be right! A list I am proud to inhabit. But when I was 8 I did steal some candy from a little store. But I think the whipping I got when the store owner told Daddy and statute of limitations would absolve me by now. Maybe because I bought one 3 weeks ago?

[Daver7]

I had a purchase delayed once. I had recently moved, we figured that was the hiccup

[Hogtamer]

We moved to new house in June but have bought a gun since.

[kerplode]

It happens all the time. Could be that someone with a name similar to yours recently did something naughty and now the NICS has to look a little deeper to separate you from them. Or maybe the system just had high volume and they bounced you to delay. No way to know. It's just part of the game.

Likely not related to you having purchased a firearm recently. In fact it's quite the opposite in my experience...Frequent buyers have faster processing times and fewer issues with delays.

The FFL gets no information from the FBI regarding why you were delayed or denied, so don't be an ******* to anyone there about it. They are just a middle man and just doing their job. We've refunded money and told people to leave and never return because they got mouthy at our employees about NICS related stuff...

Hell, to be perfectly honest, the vast majority of people who are denied are denied in error and subsequently get it overturned. Be glad you didn't fall into this category as it is a complete bureaucratic pain in the ass.

Here's the thing that's really going to torque you off, though...As a result of the "Bipartisan Safer Communities Act of 2022", FFLs are required to provide physical address information for any purchaser that goes on delay or is denied.

[kerplode]

Sometimes this happens when another person that is flagged shares your name. Or, at least that is what I have been told. They actually suggested there is some type of registration you can do to help expedite it. Can't remember what it is called. But I'd look into it.

You can apply to be added to the NICS Voluntary Appeal File and get a UPIN. It requires submitting fingerprints and filling out some forms.
NICS VAF (https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/more-fbi-services-and-information/nics/national-instant-criminal-background-check-system-nics-appeals-vaf)

I've still seen people with UPINs go on delay. I think it's mostly useful for preventing future false denials.

[Scrounge]

Thanks to the wonderful computer world,,often different things pop up. When it comes to guns,, it seems the gov'ment loves to throw in glitches.
As noted above,,, most likely someone with the same name has a record. It requires a Fed to actually work & look stuff up.

Heck, even though I've worked with LEO's in several counties,, many years ago when I went to get my CCW, I kept getting told; "We are waiting on the State & their background check." I finally cornered the sheriff on the phone. I asked him why the long delay. He finally asked me if I'd ever been to a certain County. When I replied that if I had,, I drove through & didn't recall it. He said a guy with the same name as I, had a lengthy criminal record & was from that County. I POLITELY asked the sheriff to look up that thug. he did. Then I asked him a simple question; "Is he black or white?" I heard the punching of keys,, and a slight chuckle. The sheriff said; "Come get your permit."
You see, my first name is often one used by many black people. Yet, I'm white. (I've had girlfriends who's friends have asked them if I was a black guy.)

So, most likely just a slight glitch.

Could have been worse. I was laying on the side of the road under a friends 60's Econoline 100 van, much like mine, which was parked behind it, working on getting her starter out to replace it just outside of Las Vegas, NV. Cop pulls up behind us, and asks for ID, goes back to his vehicle, and sits there until another cop arrives. They both ask me for details on my birthdate, social security number, etc. I also showed them my military ID, because they were acting somewhat nervous. I'm wearing a well worn white t-shirt that was not quite transparent. They asked me to raise up the t-shirt so they could make sure there were no tattoos, though they were pretty sure there weren't already, after they got a response over the radio. I've never had a tattoo, and not even much in the way of scars back then. The reason they were nervous at first was because someone with same name and birthdate was wanted for killing a cop... Fortunately, he was heavily tattooed. Original reason for the stop was that they thought I might be stripping the van for parts for mine. Only I had a spare starter sitting there. Could, however have gotten rather nasty. And though I shot a lot in those days, I did not carry, since it was not allowed there/then.

A decade or so back, I did a search on my own name, and got over 5 million hits. I was several pages into the list before I found one that was actually me. VERY common first name, pretty common surname among those descended from Germany. Strangely, it's never come up again, and so far, I've never had a delay. Yet.

Bill

[15meter]

I'm lucky, to the best of knowledge, I share my first and last name with exactly 1 other person in the country. And I believe he is considerably older than me, respectable businessman kind of guy. And a lifetime resident of Louisiana.

I am so stable, a letter sent to me at the address that I was born at would have found it's way to me from August 1955 until May of 2022.

Pretty tough to get us confused.

Even with a government computer involved.

[Bloodman14]

Every once in a while I would get a call from a bill collector/law firm. After volunteering (CAREFULLY!!) selected information, they agreed that I was not the one they were looking for. After some quick google-fu, I discovered there are 5(!) other people with my first and last name in this area!

[jsizemore]

Maybe the hogs in your area have filed a complaint against you!

[popper]

IRS called me once about a tax return. Told them it wasn't mine and got a polite thanks and hang up.

[45_Colt]

IRS called me once about a tax return. Told them it wasn't mine and got a polite thanks and hang up.

The IRS never calls, they do all business via USPS mail. My guess is that someone was trying to scam you.

45_Colt

[Recycled bullet]

Maybe NCIC does not approve of what you have been reading.

[MrWolf]

Did you put your social security number on the 4373?

[megasupermagnum]

Did you put your social security number on the 4373?

In my experience your social security number has no effect on the outcome. The NICS check is garbage, and at best racist. How question 10a is still on a government form in 2023 is is amazing.

Myself, I've never once been delayed. What's really odd is that my dad, who has the exact same first middle and last name, is delayed more times than he isn't. No criminal record at all for either of us, not even a DUI. Another example of someone I know has a very common name. I'm not sure he has ever not been delayed. It's messed up. If you put your social security number into the FBI NICS database, it should be an instantaneous pass or failure. Nothing else should matter, form 4473 should be nothing but a formality for their database. But that's not how it is, government is slow and useless, and the FBI is worthless even by government standards.

[Alex_4x4]

Everyone is suspicious, but those who have not been noticed in anything suspicious are especially suspicious!

And further:

The fact that each of us is at large speaks not of our innocence, but of the insufficiently thorough work of law enforcement agencies.

:-)

[Nazgul]

Several years ago while at lunch from work I stopped at a big gun shop. There was a rifle I wanted and had decided to buy it. The shop had a lot of people standing there, turns out NICS was delaying everyone. I told them what I wanted and was advised of all the delays but he would try anyway. I was approved in less than 30 seconds in front of all the others!! Got some disbelieving looks on the way out.
I worked on the road servicing material handling equipment. Having the rifle in my truck, out of sight, was not really an issue for the company. After picking up the rifle, my next service call was to a big US Mail center nearby. Had to go thru a gate onto US Gov't property where it was a huge issue. Went back inside, explained it and was able to leave it there several more hours.

Don

[WRideout]

Quite some time ago, I googled my name just to see what would pop up. The first thousand or so hits were for an RCMP officer in Nova Scotia, who had the same name. He was the Public Information Officer.

Wayne

[Thin Man]

Several years ago our son-in-law was denied for a firearm purchase. He ran the request through our state's instant check system 2 more times with the same result. The remedy for denials is a thorough check with the "keeper of the records" at the state level. He called and very politely inquired about the denials. The clerk he was speaking with finally asked if he had ever been in a specific county and had any problems there, to which he answered "no." The clerk suggested he check with the sheriff's office of that county for any record in his name. He drove to the county in question and learned that a person with his same first and last name (no middle name listed) had been involved in a rather serious matter many years earlier. In fact, it was so far back that the Sheriff's records did not include that person's DOB or SOC, either of which would have ended the search. SIL got the complete ID on the offender and discovered that person was his father! When he spoke with dear old dad about the event the old man admitted to his involvement . With enough information sharing between the county and state officials the SIL got his purchase application approved.

[Thin Man]

I also recall that a local FFL shop was getting all of their personnel vetted to work on their property. One employee was denied for his involvement in a felony level sexual offense. The employee denied any such involvement so an inquiry was sent to the county where the offense had occurred. The records clerk who was tasked to enter violation records was new at her job when this event record came across her desk. She read the narrative about the incident and checked off on it for the "closest match" among the listed variables in sex violations. The state had the boy listed in the felony class of offense. Locally, the event should have been listed as indecent exposure because the boy was caught "skinny-dipping" in a local creek. This is a good example of "failure to train" a records entering clerk.

[jonp]

I had a 22 delayed for an hour or so with no explanation. Bought dozens of guns over the years then 1 delay and several after with no problems. Strange things happen.

Top Secret Military
HazMat Endorsement
TWIC Card
Concealed Carry Permit
Passport

All required separate background checks and still a delay

[jonp]

Several years ago our son-in-law was denied for a firearm purchase. He ran the request through our state's instant check system 2 more times with the same result. The remedy for denials is a thorough check with the "keeper of the records" at the state level. He called and very politely inquired about the denials. The clerk he was speaking with finally asked if he had ever been in a specific county and had any problems there, to which he answered "no." The clerk suggested he check with the sheriff's office of that county for any record in his name. He drove to the county in question and learned that a person with his same first and last name (no middle name listed) had been involved in a rather serious matter many years earlier. In fact, it was so far back that the Sheriff's records did not include that person's DOB or SOC, either of which would have ended the search. SIL got the complete ID on the offender and discovered that person was his father! When he spoke with dear old dad about the event the old man admitted to his involvement . With enough information sharing between the county and state officials the SIL got his purchase application approved.

I was at the Canadian Customs a number of years ago, at the time i was in Canada 4 days a week. The officer was looking at his screen doing background and my paperwork when he asked out of the blue
"When was the last time you were in Texas"?
" Uh...must be 7 or 8 yrs, had a load and drove through on my way to LA"
" You know **** ****"?
"Yeah, my Uncle but havnt seen him since my dads funeral 20yrs ago. He do something down there"?
"Yes, bad..very bad"

[dverna]

Many years ago when I was buying a lot of guns I got delayed once. It was a surprise but I guess stuff happens.

I think answered the questions in a Southern accent and that raised the red flag on him...LOL.

[farmbif]

after reading all this its makes more sense why local auctioneers sell so many guns and get premium prices. one auctioneer told me that as long as they sell to a Tennessee resident there is no ffl or background check needed and no delays once cash is paid.

[Duckiller]

You asked what right they have to delay your purchase. Ask your Congressman. Congress passed the law that lets them delay your purchase. The delays cited here and not much. I recently purchased a Colt Python new. Oregon requires a background check but has no tine limits. I paid for the gun on Nov10th and picked it up on Dec 30th. When I paid for the gun I was told I was about 6600th on the background list. A week or so laster I was about 12000 on the list. I eventually passed the background check but it took more than 30 days so got to start all over. Redid the federal form and got the gun the next day. The fact that the good citizens of Oregon passed what is probably an unconstitutional law in the last election didn't help with my background check. Proposition 114 is still in limbo.

[gc45]

In my state we must wait 10 days on all purchases of any and all firearms. been like that now since 2014.

[shooting on a shoestring]

Here in Texas with my carry permit, no further check of any sort.
And the wait is only as long as it takes me to fill out the 4473 and lay my money down.
Same for all Texans with a CHL/LTC.

[RugerFan]

Sometimes this happens when another person that is flagged shares your name. Or, at least that is what I have been told. They actually suggested there is some type of registration you can do to help expedite it. Can't remember what it is called. But I'd look into it.

Yes, this happened to a buddy of mine. Had to get a special UPIN number to use when buying guns.


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[Hogtamer]

All’s well, I guess. FFL called Saturday (delay happened on Friday) to say the approval was issued, I could come pick up my gun. They never get an explanation about delays he said. Maybe a test of my blood pressure meds.311243

[white eagle]

oh yeah I have had that happen before
it's their game got to play by their rules I guess

[kerplode]

All’s well, I guess. FFL called Saturday (delay happened on Friday) to say the approval was issued, I could come pick up my gun. They never get an explanation about delays he said. Maybe a test of my blood pressure meds.

Like I said before, the FFL NEVER gets any information from NICS about this stuff. Never have, never will.

It happens...Let it go. Live your life, enjoy your shotgun.

[Hannibal]

I used to never get delayed and now I get delayed every time. Always get approved eventually so apparently it's something at the Fed level.

Doesn't matter to me really. The FFL I use is a personal friend and he says most everyone is getting delayed these days.

[geezer56]

NC is a lot like Texas. Show up, hand over drivers license and CCW permit, along with cash, then pay and fill out the paperwork. Not even a phone call needed.