[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 78 (Monday, April 26, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22074-22075]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-08587]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Office of Justice Programs

[OMB Number 1121-0314]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comments Requested; Reinstatement of a Previously Approved Collection: 
Firearm Inquiry Statistics (FIST) Program

AGENCY: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Office of Justice Programs, 
Department of Justice.

ACTION: 30-Day notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), Office of Justice 
Programs, Department of Justice (DOJ), will be submitting the following 
information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995. The proposed information collection was 
previously published in the Federal Register. BJS received one comment 
in response. The comment supported reinstatement of the FIST 
collection. It also suggested that FIST could collect information on 
how often firearms are transferred without a passed background check 
due to checks not being completed in the allowable time. However, 
information on this may be found in NICS Operations Reports. The 
comment also suggested a study of NICS data flow that is outside the 
scope of the immediate FIST project but would affect the data FIST 
collects from various sources.

DATES: Comments are encouraged and will be accepted for 30 days until 
May 26, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of 
this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular 
information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Written comments and suggestions from the 
public and affected agencies concerning the proposed collection of 
information are encouraged. Your comments should address one or more of 
the following four points:

--Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary 
for the proper performance of the functions of the Bureau of Justice 
Statistics, including whether the information will have practical 
utility;
--Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used;
--Evaluate whether and if so how the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected can be enhanced; and
--Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic 
submission of responses.

Overview of This Information Collection

    (1) Type of Information Collection: Reinstatement of a previously 
approved information collection for which approval has expired.
    (2) The Title of the Form/Collection: 2019-2022 Firearm Inquiry 
Statistics Program.
    (3) The agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of 
the Department sponsoring the collection: The form number is FIST-1. 
The applicable component within the Department of Justice is the Bureau 
of Justice Statistics, Office of Justice Programs.
    (4) Affected public who will be asked or required to respond, as 
well as a brief abstract: Through the Firearm Inquiry Statistics (FIST) 
Program, the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) obtains information 
from state and local checking agencies responsible for maintaining 
records on the number of background checks for firearm transfers or 
permits that were issued, processed, tracked, or conducted during the 
calendar year. Specifically, state and local checking agencies are 
asked to provide information on the number of applications and denials 
for firearm transfers received or tracked by the agency and reasons why 
applications were denied. BJS combines these data with the Federal 
Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) National Instant Criminal Background 
Check System (NICS) transaction data to produce comprehensive national 
statistics on firearm applications and denials resulting from the Brady 
Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993 and similar state laws 
governing background checks and firearm transfers. BJS also plans to 
collect information from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and 
Explosives (ATF) on denials screened and referred to ATF field offices 
for investigation and possible prosecution. BJS publishes FIST data on 
the BJS website in statistical tables and uses the information to 
respond to inquiries from Congress, federal, state, and local 
government officials, researchers, students, the media, and other 
members of the general public interested in criminal justice 
statistics.
    (5) An estimate of the total number of respondents and the amount 
of time estimated for an average respondent to respond: A projected 
1,073 respondents will take part in the 2019/2020 FIST data collection 
with an average of 30 minutes for each to complete the FIST survey 
form. A projected 1,006 respondents will take part in the 2021 and 2022 
data collections with an average of 25 minutes for each to complete the 
FIST survey form.
    (6) An estimate of the total public burden (in hours) associated 
with the collection: The estimated public burden hours associated with 
this collection is 537 hours for the 2019/2020 data collection and 419 
hours annually for the 2021 and 2022 data collections.
    If additional information is required contact: Melody Braswell, 
Department Clearance Officer, United States Department of Justice, 
Justice Management Division, Policy and Planning Staff, Two 
Constitution Square, 145 N Street NE, 3E.405A, Washington, DC 20530.


[[Page 22075]]


    Dated: April 21, 2021.
Melody Braswell,
Department Clearance Officer for PRA, U.S. Department of Justice.
[FR Doc. 2021-08587 Filed 4-23-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-18-P