United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2001-03-19 monographic deposited born digital 22 p. GA 1.13:GAO-01-427 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-427 P0b002ee18039f4f7 f:d01427 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-24 GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-427 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-427 GAO-01-427 Firearms Fraud Gun control law Identification cards Internet Law enforcement information systems Licenses Arizona FBI Interstate Identification Index FBI National Instant Criminal Background Check System Other Written Product The Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993 required the Attorney General of the United States to establish the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). Referred to as an instant background check, NICS is a computerized system operated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Based on inquiries from federal firearm licensees (FFL), NICS searches the backgrounds of prospective firearms purchasers for criminal and other information that would disqualify them from purchasing firearms. GAO, acting in an undercover capacity, purchased firearms from five states--Virginia, West Virginia, Montana, New Mexico, and Arizona--using counterfeit driver's licenses with fictitious identifiers. In these states, the FFLs GAO contacted, with the possible exception of one, adhered to existing federal and state law regarding the mechanics of such a purchase. Consistent with the Brady Act, in the five states GAO found that the instant background check does not positively identify purchasers of firearms. Rather, it is a negative check that cannot ensure that the prospective purchaser is not a felon or other prohibited person whose receipt and possession of a firearm would be unlawful. Similarly, in one state--Virginia--the additional step of requiring a state criminal history was also a negative check. Further, in one state when GAO purchased a revolver, the salesperson advised GAO that the NICS check was not required because the firearm had been manufactured over 100 years ago. GAO also made inquiries of private entities that advertised firearms on the Internet. Of the 10 advertisers GAO contacted, two individuals agreed to sell their firearms with no background checks. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-427/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-427.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-427/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-427.pdf GAO-01-427 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-427 Other Written Product GAO-01-427; Firearms: Purchased From Federal Firearm Licensees Using Bogus Identification; Firearms Fraud Gun control law Identification cards Internet Law enforcement information systems Licenses Arizona FBI Interstate Identification Index FBI National Instant Criminal Background Check System