Reguarding the "NIX check" (gun)

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Ok, this stuck me as odd. I was in New York state (on September 11th no less) and attempted to purchase a used 30/30 rifle. I had been after a 30/30 for a while prior to that and finally had enough cash, plus I had panes falling out of the sky to my east and west- I figured right then might just be the time to buy... The guy at the gun shop asked me for my ID and told me he couldn't sell me a gun because I had out of state ID, plus, he was unsure if the NIX check would go through- due to phone line tie ups. Whats the deal here, was the guy bluffing me for some reason- I have never been IDed when buying a rifle before. I thought the NIX check (whatever it stands for) just covered assult type rifles and handguns. If I had a valid ID (which it was and is) why would they care if you are out of state!? (especially if this is a national thing- which I think the NIX check is b/c I saw a box in walmart- behind the counter with NIX lettered on the side here in NC. Someone clue me in please. PS never did get a 30/30- I had to use the money for gas to get home- gas stations along 95 had doubled and then some their prices- overnight.

-- Kevin in NC (Vantravlrs@aol.com), December 04, 2001

Answers

Kevin, best that you get youse to the nix thing.....Your going to get that even if your only trying to get a single shot 22 or a 410......That's one more step to control >YOU<

-- Jim-mi (hartalteng@voyager.net), December 04, 2001.

Kevin, just how long has it been since you last purchased a firearm from a dealer? Dealers have been required to ID customers since the 1968 Gun Control Act, and the start of using BATF Form 4473 (Firearm Transfer AKA that big yellow paper with all the nosey questions). Also, NIX stands for National Instant Cross Check, where you have to get approval from a government office that has criminal records from all over the country. If your name appears in their database, you don't get your gun. New York would probably be the last place I'd want to try making a firearms purchase, you should have tried Conneticut or Virginia.

-- Paul D. (pd-personal@qwest.net), December 05, 2001.

Supposedly if it it legal where you live to buy a gun and legal where you want to purchase it, there should be no problem. However the dealer may not want to because there is a big pile of paperwork to go with it. I know that in PA there is a $15 fee for the police check, on top of taxes and everything else. Also the call in does get tied up at times and it seems like when there is a big gun show somewhere the system is down...

-- Dave in Ohio (dr43147@yahoo.com), December 05, 2001.

Don't even think about coming to VA. to buy a gun from a dealer. They will just laugh at you. REQUIRED ARE TWO FORMS OF OFFICIAL IDENTIFICATION SHOWING THE SAME ADDRESS AND PROVING THAT YOU ARE A STATE RESIDENT. THEN THERE ARE STATE AND FEDERAL FORMS TO FILL OUT . NEXT COMES THE PHONE CALL TO THE DATA BASE ---WAIT, WAIT AND IF NO ONE MATCHES YOUR DESCRIPTION AND IS NOT CLOSE IN NAME THAT HAS A FELONY, YOU GET YOUR GUN. ONE PISTOL A MONTH. ALSO, IF YOU HAVE A RECORD AND ATTEMPT TO BUY A GUN IN VA. THE POLICE( STATE BOYS) COME TO THE STORE WHILE THE DEA;ER TELLS YOU THAT THERE WILL BE A DELAY ON THE SEARCH AND THEY ARREST YOU. I HAVE WITNESSED THIS TWICE IN THE PAST 2 YEARS SINCE I AM FRIENDS WITH THE OWNERS OF ONE OF THE LARGEST GUN SHOPS IN OUR AREA. I bought a shotgun at K Mart last year and had to wait 3 days to get it. It seems that a bad guy matching my general description had a record and that prevented me from getting it on day of purchase. VA. does not use S.S.# for initial ID in backgrd. search

-- Fishdawg (gold@rcs.k12.va.us), December 05, 2001.

My husband bought our 10 yr old a gun from a pawn shop. It only took him about 20 minutes to get the paper work through. He picked out the gun, then went over to the bank, took out the money and while I did a little grocery shopping they did the paperwork and we left with the gun. No hassles. Maybe there was just trouble getting it done with all the stuff going on that day.

-- Vanessa (tvhayes@aeneas.net), December 05, 2001.


I will answer to you individually in the near future, or at least to as many of you who wish a response. The Administration of Despicable Bill, and his many despicable whores (I'm not talking sex here - just their willingness to sell themselves) has created an atmosphere of distrust and displeasure with our government. I am not a Republican, although I more often align myself with them than the Democrats. I am a Libertarian. Less gov't = better gov't. Believe it! When is the last time you thought the gov't knew better what to do with your life (or MONEY?!) than you do? If you think just a few minutes ago, then you are a democRAT. If you think seldom, you might be a Republican. If you can't remember the last time your gov't helped you beyond your abilities, you are likely a Countrysider and a Libertarian. GL! And lets all try to make all of our friends a little more self-sufficient!

Good Luck to All!

-- Brad (homefixer@SacoRiver.net), December 05, 2001.


Well, still some answers missing, and I realise the NIX is about who controls what. A side not has come to mind: Clinton supposedly made it a federal offense to posses more than 2 weeks worth of food at any given time. If you are suspected of having more than that, federal officers may enter and search you home to check for such offenses. Again, I will say that iwas trying to purchase a Hunting rifle, not a handgun. The last time I purchased a gun it was a new 22 cal. rifle as a present for my dad. I recall (I think I was 15 or 16) they clerk carding me to see if I was old enough- Which I wasnt. My mom was in the store and I had to go and get her... I dont remember alot, if any, paperwork. The sale was immediate, no waiting for 20 minutes. That was at a Sears in York, PA in 1991 or so. I guess, if it comes down to it, i dont mind waiting the 20 minutes, but as I stated, this guy would not sell me the gun because I had an "out of state license". If NIX is NATIONAL- then out of state licenses should certainly be accepted! If NIX checks criminal records, I might just be in for a wait- a few months ago I was boxed into a parking space by a trooper- who told me to get out of the car with my hands up. I had my wife and kid in the car with me and this guy has me at gunpoint. I get out, he asks if I have ID. I told him yep, got it out, and handed it to him. He runs it and get out of the vehicle.. I Knew I wasnt in trouble with the cops, no warrants, etc- so what is this guy after me for?? He starts asking me questions about OHIO of all places- If I have been there, etc. He said, later, that ther had been a murder there and they were after someone with the same name as me- and looked similar, too. My car had an apb or something out on it due to that- which he supposedly cleared up.

-- Kevin in NC (Vantravlrs@aol.com), December 05, 2001.

As someone earlier stated, a picture ID has been required to purchase a firearm for at least the last couple of decades. This is an attempt to keep felons from filling out the yellow form with someone else's information. When the Gun Control Act was passed, it mandated a 3 day waiting period for handguns to be replaced a couple of years later by a computerized background check. Unfortunately, that's about all it said, and it left most of the details up to the executive branch. When the NIX was rolled out, our friends at the BATF declared that instead of just replacing the handgun waiting period, the NIX would be required for all firearms (including long guns), there would be a $15-25 fee, and anytime a FFL holder touched a gun he had to do it (i.e. you take your rifle to a gunsmith to have a broken spring replaced and he just happens to be a FFL holder, so before he returns your rifle, he has to run a background check and charge you the fee). After a huge public outcry, the fee and background check for non-sales were dropped, but the NIX check for long guns stuck.

There are 3 possibilities for the outcome of the check:

1.approved - you can take your gun.

2.deferred - your name is probably similar to a convicted felon. They have 3 days to figure it out and approve or disapprove, or the gun is your's after 3 days, even if they don't have their act together.

3.denied - you are a convicted felon or something, and will probably get this answer after they put the handcuffs on.

These are the FEDERAL requirements - the STATE requirements may vary greatly from this to include waiting periods, fees, or monthly limits. The gun shop owner had to make sure that it was legal for you to purchase the gun not only in NY, but also in your state of residence, wasn't sure what NC requirements were and didn't want to run the risk of accidentally selling you a gun illegally.

BTW, it is NOT a federal offense to stock up on food - they would have to arrest every Mormon, and most of the people that shop at Sam's/Costco.

-- Steve - TX (steve.beckman@compaq.com), December 06, 2001.


it may also been that many places won't accept out of state licenses because of problems with counterfeit i.d. They can probably determine the legitimacy of their own state licenses but have no idea when it comes to others.

-- Dave (something@somewhere.com), December 06, 2001.

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