976,000 GUN SALES BLOCKED IN THE USA

(WITHOUT A GUN REGISTRY!)

THE KANSAS CITY STAR

Breaking News  

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/breaking_news/6803114.htm

Posted on Thu, Sep. 18, 2003  

U.S.: System Blocked Some Gun Purchases

Associated Press

WASHINGTON - About 1.7 percent of potential gun purchases were blocked last year by the nation's background check system, slightly below the 2001 level, according to new Justice Department figures.

About half of the 2002 rejections by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System were for people who were convicted felons or who had been indicted for a felony. Another 14 percent were blocked because of a domestic violence conviction or restraining order.

All told, about 136,000 of the 7.8 million background checks were rejected in 2001, the Bureau of Justice Statistics said in a report released Wednesday. That compares with 151,000 rejections out of 7.9 million checks in 2001, a rate of 1.9 percent.

Since the system began in 1994, about 976,000 of the 45.7 million background checks have resulted in rejections, for a total rate of 2.1 percent.

The system is run jointly by the FBI and state agencies, some of which have longer waiting periods for firearm purchase approval than the three business days used by the federal government. Background checks are required for purchases at all federally licensed gun dealers, but not at gun shows and some other venues.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives reported retrieval of 4,000 firearms that were sold to disqualified people before a background check was completed.

ON THE NET

Bureau of Justice Statistics: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs