FBI NICS Background Check Information
The National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) is a federal system for determining eligibility to purchase a firearm in the United States of America.
Prohibitions apply to any person who:- Has been convicted in any court of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year
- Is under indictment for a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year
- Is a fugitive from justice
- Is an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance
- Has been adjudicated as a mental defective or committed to a mental institution
- Is illegally or unlawfully in the United States
- Has been discharged from the Armed Forces under dishonorable conditions
- Having been a citizen of the United States, has renounced U.S. citizenship
- Is subject to a court order that restrains the person from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner or child of such intimate partner
- Has been convicted in any court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence
The National Instant Criminal Background Check System has been an established and aggressive plan to help improve the safety of the general public, cut down on crime, and keeps guns, weapons, and explosive materials out of the hands of those with the high risk potential to use them inappropriately.
The objective of the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) is a straightforward attempt to prevent those who do not qualify for the purchase of a firearm or explosive to be able to purchase a weapon. There are state and federal requirements that a potential arms bearer must meet, and once they fail to meet those requirements, their name goes on a denial list. This list is known as the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.
Anyone who wishes to purchase a firearm or an explosive device must first pass the National Instant Background Check System (NICS) in order to complete their purchase. While most firearms dealers still need to place a quick phone call to the NICS toll free number to complete their instant check, computer access is just around the corner.
If you believe you have been erroneously denied a firearm transfer based on a match to a record returned by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), you may request an appeal of your deny decision.
An individual may obtain a copy of his/her FBI criminal identification record, upon request, for review and correction purposes, to challenge the information on record, or satisfy certain legal requirements and/or other court-related matters.
NICS Information
Customer Service
1-877-FBI-NICS (324-6427)
Facsimile
1-888-550-6427
Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD)
1-877-NICS-TTY
NICS Website:
NICS E-Mail Address
a_nics@leo.gov