Appendix II presents more information about the categories of persons ineligible to purchase firearms and the extent to which criminal history records are used to determine an individual’s eligibility to purchase firearms. The states’ criteria for restoration typically required a certain waiting period before being eligible to apply for relief. Of these, 1 person was subsequently convicted of a felony. Handgun concealed carry permits, including the extent to which concealed carry permits exempt permit holders from a National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) check when purchasing firearms, differences among the states in how they issue permits and monitor permit holders, and what actions the states take to revoke permits if the permit holders subsequently commit new crimes. Persons convicted of a domestic violence misdemeanor. Each of these four methods can have a different effect on a prohibited person’s underlying criminal conviction and the extent to which firearms rights are restored. Differences in Domestic Violence Laws and Procedures in Selected States

In the six states we visited, we looked for various approaches used by the states that could make it easier to identify domestic violence convictions in state criminal history records for purposes of NICS background checks.
Why GAO Did This Study

The National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) searches state criminal history records to prevent gun sales to ineligible persons.

What GAO Found

GAO found that state firearm laws and procedures may affect how these records are used by NICS. Each of the six states GAO surveyed had some mechanism by which persons with criminal convictions could have their rights to own a firearm restored. The six states typically require a waiting period before someone can apply for relief, and some criminal convictions make a person ineligible for restoration. In 26 states, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms has determined that a concealed carry permit may exempt permit holders from an NICS background check when they are buying a firearm. This situation underscores the need to carefully screen applications and monitor permit holders to ensure their eligibility to own firearms. The six states used various approaches to make it easier to identify individuals convicted of domestic violence. Despite these efforts, NICS failed to detect more than 2,800 persons convicted of domestic violence who bought firearms during the first three years the system was in operation.