Exclusive: Feds issue 4,000 orders to seize guns from people who failed background checks

[DonViejo]

Source: USA Today




Kevin Johnson, USA TODAY Published 2:04 p.m. ET Dec. 4, 2017 | Updated 2:12 p.m. ET Dec. 4, 2017

WASHINGTON— Federal authorities sought to take back guns from thousands of people the background check system should have blocked from buying weapons because they had criminal records, mental health issues or other problems that would disqualify them.

A USA TODAY review found that the FBI issued more than 4,000 requests last year for agents from the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives to retrieve guns from prohibited buyers.

It's the largest number of such retrieval requests in 10 years, according to bureau records – an especially striking statistic after revelations that a breakdown in the background check system allowed a troubled Air Force veteran to buy a rifle later used to kill 26 worshipers at a Texas church last month.

The FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) vets millions of gun purchase transactions every year. But the thousands of gun seizure requests highlight persistent problems in a system where analysts must complete background checks within three days of the proposed purchase. If the background check is not complete within the 72-hour time limit, federal law allows the sale to go forward. ATF agents are asked to take back the guns if the FBI later finds these sales should have been denied.



Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/12/04/exclusive-feds-issue-4-000-orders-seize-guns-people-who-failed-background-checks/901017001/?csp=breakingnews

[Achilleaze]

1. But, but, but I thought Obama was going to take their guns away?

Freaking republicans speak always with freaking forked tongues. Deplorable.

[LakeArenal]

5. Oh no, years before Obama

Years before she ran for president... We got a call from the NRA telling us that Hillary Clinton was coming for our guns.

Why do republicans think only they have guns? My husband said, Hillary Clinton isn't against guns. She just doesn't think there is any need for automatic weapons made to kill humans. My husband went on to say, I'll make a deal with you. When Hillary Clinton comes for my shot gun, I'll stand with you and fight her. Then you agree to quit the sale of assault rifles.. NRA hung up.

[Hortensis]

8. Of course they did. We proud liberals keep a semi-auto

shotgun loaded under the bed. To make me feel better more than my husband. But we're rural empty-nesters in an area county sheriff deputies and everyone else often get lost in, and our attic bedroom has no exit except the stairs that thing would be aimed at (plus a fire ladder by a window that's not exactly an immediate-response plan even if it didn't take us down past the living room's view windows and then the lower-level bedroom windows).

But the first thing autocrats, almost 100% conservative plus, in far less numbers, left-wing extremists, need to do is take away weapons. Of course.

[Igel]

19. "4,000 requests last year"

I infer you think this is for 2017.

[mobeau69]

2. Did Flynn own any and, if so, did he turn them over to the FBI? n/t

[IronLionZion]

3. Obama's coming to get your guns!

oh wait....

Better buy a bunch more just in case.

I would not want to be the cops charged with seizing guns from mentally unstable criminals or whoever failed the very weak background checks

[L. Coyote]

4. Trump is coming after people's guns.

[getagrip_already]

6. don't worry, they will only take them away from

non-whites, and non-christians. oh, and librals and democrats ...

[Corgigal]

7. Holy hell

They will lose their minds. Someone run a commercial.

Yeah, I know but I'm tired to this fair crap and let's meet them at the battle field fair and square.

[BigmanPigman]

9. I'm with you.

Tom Steyer is running a new commercial with his own money opposing the Tax Scam along with his Impeach Trump campaign. We need more people that have guts to do something like that. I would like to win fairly and we did win the popular vote. This is an illegitimate election and they are getting away with murder.

[Kimchijeon]

10. LOL

OMG this is hilarious... Just imagining the nutbaggery and furious outcry if this happened under Obama. Oh well, suck it up trumpdumps.

[keithbvadu2]

11. So the guns were legally sold... even though they should not have been

So the guns were legally sold... even though they should not have been

"If the background check is not complete within the 72-hour time limit, federal law allows the sale to go forward"

Funny how that loophole works to the benefit of the NRA and gun manufacturers.

[bluedigger]

12. You betcha.

The Office for Application for Refund is open from 2-5 on alternate Tuesdays, except in months with an R.

[metalbot]

15. They were legally sold, but not legally bought

The distinction sounds small, but it's not.

The law says that a licensed dealer may not sell a firearm to someone who fails a background check. If the delays last over 72 hours without an answer, they can go ahead and sell. That much is clear.

If you want to purchase a firearm, you need to fill out a form, and that form asks 10 questions, ranging from "have you ever been convicted of a crime for which you could have been jailed for more than a year" and "are you a fugitive from the law" to "are you an illegal drug user". The applicant then signs the form UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY, and then the form is submitted to the background check system. Signing that form and perjuring yourself happens even when the background check doesn't block you.

How many of those 4,000 people who need to turn in their guns are going to be arrested?

Statistics say about 4 of them.

Right now, there are 35,000 failed background checks every year, and fewer than 30 people are charged with lying on the forms.

[keithbvadu2]

16. Yep... enough distinction to benefit the NRA and the gun industry

[metalbot]

17. So why are we not prosecuting?

That seems to be completely independent of the gun industry or the NRA.

What possible incentive could the justice department under 4 different presidents have for not going after people who commit felony perjury?

[keithbvadu2]

20. The NRA and gun industry care about sales, not prosecuting.

[metalbot]

25. Does either the NRA or the gun industry make decisions about prosecuting?

Somehow I thought that was the justice department that would choose whether or not to prosecute people...

[keithbvadu2]

27. They make their own decisions about supporting prosecuting.

They make their own decisions about supporting prosecuting.

[metalbot]

28. You are arguing in effect that the Justice Department is looking to the NRA for support?

Or they won't do their jobs?

That's insane. The NRA has long used the argument that "if you aren't going to enforce current gun laws, why should we pass new ones?" If I were to write that on a post here, I'd be accused of being a shill for the NRA.

So again, I'd ask, why do you think the DoJ under four presidents from two parties has decided it isn't worth prosecuting convicts who want guns so bad that they will lie on government forms? Isn't that an easy conviction that literally takes 35,000 dangerous people off the street?

Is your answer really "because the NRA doesn't want them to?"

[keithbvadu2]

29. NRA supporter, eh?

Go ahead. Make your excuses for them.

[groundloop]

18. I'm sure the gun dealer gets to keep the cash if their buyer gets through the 72 hr loophole

If a potential buyer doesn't pass the background check then obviously no sale. If the background check doesn't come back within the 72 hours the dealer gets to make the sale, and I'm sure there's no way in hell they have to give the money back if an individual has their gun-toy taken away. That's definitely a win for gun dealers and manufacturers thanks to the NRA and repubs writing the law.

[Voltaire2]

13. #trump-gungrabber

the irony, it hurts.

[marble falls]

14. ABOUT F'in TIME. That should only be the beginning.

[FakeNoose]

21. If these people failed the BG check, why do they have guns now?

The whole purpose of the background check is to prevent them from purchasing the guns.
I guess this is another way of saying the background check doesn't mean shit.

[riversedge]

22. Trump is taking our guns away!!

[dembotoz]

23. If this had happened under Obama

The NRA would have been calling for folks to take to the streets

[riversedge]

24. yes, Sigh!

[EarthFirst]

26. Wait. Is this a gun round-up?!

Guns.
Liberals.
Obama...