Nics Firearms Licensee Manual 111811

• Department of Justice/ Federal Bureau of Investigation Criminal Justice informations Services Division
• National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS)
• /
• Section 1 – Introduction
• Section 2 – Participating in the NICS
• Section 3 – Background Check from a Place of Business
• Section 4 – Background Check from a Gun Show
• Section 5 – Receiving, Recording, and Communicating a NICS Response
• Section 6 – Handled Denied Responses
• Section 7 – Following Security Guidelines
• Section 8 – Accessing the NICS Customer Service
• Section 1 – Introduction
• A. The Gun Control Act of 1968
• B. The Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act (Brady Act)
• A. Permit Exception
• B. Gunsmith and Repair Services
• Section 2 – Participating in the NICS Program
• Section 3 – Requesting a Background Check from a Place of Business
• I. Assembling Information Needed to Initiate a Background Check
• A. The FFL must assemble the following information prior to contacting the NICS Section from a place of business to request a background check:
• B. It is the responsibility of the FFL to review questions 11(a)-11(l) on the ATF Form 4473 to determine whether the NICS check should be initiated.
• II. Reaching the NICS Customer Service by Telephone
• A. During the NICS Section's operating hours, the FFL can reach the NICS Customer Service via telephone by dialing 1-877-FBI-NICS (324-6427).
• If you are calling to request an FBI NICS background check, press 1;
• For fax-on-demand options, press 4;
• For guidance on appealing a firearm transfer denial, press 5;
• For mailed copies of NICS forms or brochures, press 7.
• B. Requesting a Background Check
• Proceed and the NTN
• Delayed/Transfer and the NTN
• Can you verify the status I provided was a Proceed or Transfer?
• C. The Transfer Process
• Section 4 – Requesting a NICS Check from a Gun Show
• I. Assembling Information Needed to Initiate a Background Check
• II. Reaching the NICS Customer Service by Telephone From a Gun Show
• III. Security Procedures in Providing Responses to FFLs at Gun Shows
• IV. Reaching the NICS Customer Service by the NICS E-Check from a Gun Show
• Section 5 – Receiving, Recording, and Communicating NICS Responses
• I. Receiving a NICS Response
• II. Recording and Communicating a Proceed Response
• A. Procedures for Completing ATF Form 4473
• B. FFLs Make Final Transfer Decisions for Proceed Transactions
• II. Recording and Communicating a Delayed Response
• A. Procedures for Completing ATF Form 4473
• B. The NICS has Three Business Days
• C. NICS Examiner Unable to Reach the FFL
• D. No NICS Response within Three Business Days
• E. Transferee Decides Not to Acquire the Firearm
• Section 6 – Handling Denied Responses
• I. Procedures for Completing ATF Form 4473
• Federal Bureau of Investigation
• Appeal E-mail: a_nics@leo.gov
• Facsimile: 1-888-550-6427
• Electronic Submission: http://www.fbi.gov/nics-appeals
• 2. More than 30 Days from the Original Background Check
• II. Helpful Hints Regarding Appealed Transactions
• III. Voluntary Appeal File (VAF)
• Section 7 – Following Security Guidelines
• I. Authorized Use
• II. Unauthorized Use
• III. Code Word
• IV. Access
• V. Additional Security Precautions
• Section 8 – Accessing the NICS Customer Service
• I. The NICS Customer Service
• II. Information About the NICS Program
• Glossary of Terms and Acronyms
• Appeal: The process employed for a transferee to challenge a denied firearm transfer.
• Denied: The response provided when a disqualifying record is identified by the NICS.
• ET: Eastern Time (includes Eastern Standard Time and Eastern Daylight Time).
• FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation,
• USCIS#: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service Number.
• NICS Privacy and Security Regulations