This report provides an overview of the firearm check procedures in each of the states, summarizing the initial responses provided by 40 states and verbal discussions with the non-responding states; it is a prelude to ongoing data collection efforts that will focus on the number of applications received, the number rejected, the reason(s) for the rejection, and other processing information associated with each application to purchase a firearm. This is the first report to be published as part of the BJS Firearm Inquiry Statistics (FIST) project, which is part of the BJS National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP). The project is being conducted by the Regional Justice Information Service (REJIS) of St. Louis, Missouri. The purpose of the project is to develop statistics that describe the implementation of the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act (Brady Act). It is anticipated that data will be obtained from more than 500 state and local CLEOs (Chief Law Enforcement Officers, i.e., any agency designated as authorized to perform criminal record checks for handgun purchases under the Brady Act or, in the case of Brady Alternative States, under its own legislation). Data will be used for national projections.
Survey of State Procedures Related to Firearm Sales
NCJ Number
160763
Date Published
May 1996
Length
65 pages
Annotation
This study provides an overview of how the firearm check procedures work in the various States to help in measuring the impact of the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act.
Abstract