FBI Blunders Gun Control Push – Makes a Big Mistake
(LibertySons.org) – The FBI is in charge of running background checks whenever someone wants to buy a firearm from a licensed dealer. According to a new report, the agency is struggling to keep up with the excessive number of requests. The volume of inquiries has increased significantly in the last two years. In fact, it’s up from 16.4 million between 2018 and 2019 to 23.9 million in 2020 and 2021.
The Statistics
Investigators took more than 3 days to process 1,002,274, or 4.2% of the request, in 2020 and 2021. Federal law requires a three-day wait when buying firearms from a licensed vendor for the background review process. After that time period, the dealer can sell the gun, even if the agency did not complete the report (unless state law says otherwise).
The bureau only completed about one-fourth of the delayed checks. In doing so, they discovered 11,564 people who did not pass. Agents had to seize the weapons sold to those individuals, and that’s not even the worst part. There were 734,604 left unreviewed because it took the team more than 88 days to complete the reviews. On day 89, the system purges any unfinished work.
Delays can occur due to incomplete records, but representatives declined to provide further details about what caused such serious backlogs. Former FBI Criminal Justice Information Services Division Assistant Director Tom Bush explained the organization typically has incomplete data and poor documentation, including the lack of mental health records and domestic violence charges.
Trying to run down all the data is difficult, and it is often impossible under the time limit.
Another issue is that the system deletes completed files within 24 hours. So, every time a person wants to make a purchase, the agents must start from scratch. If they could refer back to a previous purchase, that would save time for repeat buyers.
Adding to the distressing situation, information about failed background checks only shows part of the picture. In 19 states, state agencies conduct part or all of the reviews for firearms buyers. At times, it’s difficult for those on the federal level to get data from the state, causing even longer delays.
Creating a Safety Issue
Everytown for Gun Safety Federal Legal Director Rob Wilcox explained the sale of guns without a completed criminal record review is unacceptable. He called the number of uncompleted requests “staggering.”
Verifiable cases where incomplete examinations lead to violence unfortunately exist. Most notable is the 2015 church shooting in Charleston, South Carolina. The shooter was not legally allowed to own a gun, but his report didn’t come back within three days. He then obtained the firearm, shot up the church, and killed nine people.
Due to this case, some people call the three-day time limit the “Charleston loophole.”
Congress Attempts to Help
Recently, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act extended the background check deadline from 3 days to 10 for buyers under the age of 21. At the same time, the legislation increased the work agents have to do during the verification process, which may not help with the backlog issue. In addition, it doesn’t affect the timeline for buyers over that age.
What do you think the government could do to improve the process?
~Here’s to Our Liberty!
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