What Is an American Background Check for a Gun?
Before buying a gun, you have to pass a criminal background check. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the check is designed to save lives by keeping guns out of the hands of criminals.
Other People Are Reading
-
Function
-
According to Minnesota Public Radio, felons, drug addicts, illegal aliens and anyone suffering from a serious mental illness are prohibited from buying a gun.
NICS
-
According Minnesota Public Radio, background checks are performed using the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, or NICS.
-
Features
-
Before selling a gun, the cashier is required to call the FBI and make sure that the customer is eligible to legally buy a gun, according to the FBI.
Results
-
In the last decade, more than 100 million background checks have been performed, resulting in 700,000 denials, according to the FBI.
History
-
According to the FBI, criminal background checks are required under the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993.
-
