Firearms Industry Recognizes
10th Anniversary of NICS

The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) -- the trade association for the firearms industry -- and its National Association of Firearms Retailers (NAFR) division -- recognized yesterday the 10 year anniversary of the FBI National Instant Criminal Check System (NICS). The NICS system went into effect on November 30, 1998, with the support of the firearms industry, and is designed to screen out those persons who are prohibited by law from purchasing firearms. NICS checks are run by the FBI or state police on all customers attempting to make firearm purchases from federally licensed firearms retailers.

"NICS is an effective tool that helps prevent those prohibited by law from obtaining firearms from licensed retailers," said NSSF President Stephen L. Sanetti.

In its 10 year existence, NICS has fielded more than 92.9 million inquiries. The immediate determination rate -- the percentage of transactions that receive a "proceed with or deny the purchase response" without delay -- is greater than 91 percent.

"For the last 10 years, FBI-NICS has provided firearms retailers with outstanding customer service all the while making continual improvements and enhancements to the instant check system," said National Association of Firearms Retailers President Larry Ahlman. "We congratulate FBI - NICS on 10 years of minimizing complications and delays, thereby benefiting America's firearms retailers, law-abiding gun owners and the general public."

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