Firearm and explosives background checks involving terrorist watch list records / [Eileen R. Larence].

Format:

Book

Government document

Author/Creator:

Larence, Eileen Regen.

Contributor:

United States. Government Accountability Office.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Gun control--United States.

Gun control.

Terrorists.

Explosives.

United States.

Firearms ownership--United States.

Firearms ownership.

Explosives--United States.

National security--United States.

National security.

Terrorists--United States--Identification.

Criminal records--United States.

Criminal records.

Genre:

Field guides.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (45 pages, digital, PDF file)

Other Title:

NICS and terrorist watch list records

Place of Publication:

Washington, DC : U.S. Govt. Accountability Office, [2009]

System Details:

text file

Summary:

This report formally transmits a briefing in response to a Congressional request. Specifically, Congress requested that GAO update our January 2005 report entitled, Gun Control and Terrorism: FBI Could Better Manage Firearm-Related Background Checks Involving Terrorist Watch List Records, GAO-05-127 (Washington, D.C.: Jan. 19, 2005). Under the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act and implementing regulations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and designated state and local criminal justice agencies use the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) to conduct checks on individuals before federal firearms licensees (gun dealers) may transfer any firearm to an unlicensed individual. Also, to assist the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the FBI conducts NICS background checks on individuals seeking to obtain a federal explosives license or permit. Under current law, there is no basis to automatically prohibit a person from possessing firearms or explosives because they appear on the terrorist watch list. Rather, there must be a disqualifying factor (i.e., prohibiting information) pursuant to federal or state law, such as a felony conviction or illegal immigration status. In response to the request, this report addresses (1) the number of NICS background checks involving terrorist watch list records, the related results, and the FBI's current procedures for handling these checks and (2) the extent to which the FBI has taken action to collect information from NICS background checks involving terrorist watch list records and share this information with counterterrorism officials to support investigations and other counterterrorism activities. In summary, from February 2004 through February 2009, FBI data show that 963 NICS background checks resulted in valid matches with terrorist watch list records; of these matches, approximately 90 percent were allowed to proceed because the checks revealed no prohibiting.

Authority. In October 2007, we reported that age.

Delineating how the Attorney General could use any new authority would help DOJ and its component agencies (1) provide accountability and a basis for monitoring to ensure that the intended goals for, and expected results of, the screening are being achieved and (2) ensure that terrorist watch list records are used in accordance with requirements outlined in the Presidential directive. In response to our questions, DOJ was noncommittal on whether it would develop guidelines if legislation providing the Attorney General with discretionary authority to deny firearms or explosives transactions involving subjects of terrorist watch list records was enacted.

Notes:

Record is based on bibliographic data in ProQuest U.S. Congressional Research Digital Collection. Reuse except for individual research requires license from ProQuest, LLC.

Includes bibliographical references.

Electronic reproduction. [Bethesda, Md.] : ProQuest, 2004. digital, PDF file. ProQuest U.S. Congressional Research Digital Collection. Mode of access: World Wide Web via ProQuest website.

Other Format:

Print version: Firearm and explosives background checks involving terrorist watch list records

Microfiche version: Firearm and explosives background checks involving terrorist watch list records. CIS 2009 J942-451

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license.