§925B Reporting of Background Check Denials to State Authorities

Summary

When the national instant background check system (NICS) says a person should be denied a gun because federal, State, local, or Tribal law would be broken, the Attorney General must tell local law enforcement where the person tried to get the gun and, if different, the local law enforcement where the person lives. The notice must say that a denial notice was given, which law or prohibition applied, the date and time, the location of the seller or licensee, and who the person is. When practical, prosecutors in the place where the transfer was tried should also be told. The report must be made within 24 hours after NICS denies the transfer, unless a delay is needed so it does not harm an ongoing investigation. If the FBI later decides the person would not be prohibited, the Attorney General must tell every law enforcement agency and prosecutor who got the original report. The law does not require sending the report to the same State officials who first made the denial decision.