txinvestigator wrote:
Gun Purchases don't go thru the ATF. The FBI does them.
The 4473 asks if you have ever been adjudicated as mentally defective. However, they don't ask about being diagnosed with specific conditions or prescribed medication for specific conditions like the CHL does.
You are right once again. Let me rephrase myself.
The
TRANSFER of a firearm from a
Federal Firearm Licensee (FFL...ie, gun dealer) to a
PURCHASER (Average Joe) goes through the
ATF. Since part of their job is
the enforcement of Federal requirements for gun purchases, then the FFL has to adhere to certain procedures.
One of those procedures is the execution of
ATF Form 4473 (Firearms Transaction Record). Federally licensed dealers must comply with the
Brady law prior to the transfer of any firearm to a non-licensed individual.
[18 U.S.C. 922(t), 27 CFR 478.102 ]
Part of the Brady Law has the requirement for licensees to initiate background checks of individuals to whom firearms are transferred by contacting the
National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).
NICS is operated by the FBI. Licensees initiate NICS checks through the State point of contact (POC) and not always NICS as some states act as a point of contact. In some States, the POC conducts background checks for all firearms transactions. In other States, licensees must contact the POC for hand-gun transactions and the FBI for long gun transactions. In some POC States, NICS checks for pawn redemptions are handled by the FBI.
Thanks for the correction.
