Knowledge — 6 months ago

What is a Gun Background Check and How Does it Work? We Explain!

by Billy T.K.

What is a Gun Background Check, How Does Gun Background Check Work

Gun Background Check Explained

Over the past several decades, IS authorities have tried to regulate the gun purchase and used with gun laws and regulations. In 1968, The Gun Control Act was enacted, and according to the law, certain people in the US are prohibited from purchasing firearms.

In 1993, another gun control act was enacted (The Brady act), and it required firearms dealers to perform background checks on the people who want to purchase guns. The ever since, gun background checks have become mandatory, and here is what you need to know about them.

What are Gun Background Checks?

Gun background checks are public records checks that are performed to find out if a certain person has a criminal past. According to the Brady Act, these are the people who cannot purchase guns in the US:

  • People who have been convicted of a crime and given a sentence of over a year in a correctional facility
  • People who have been convicted of a misdemeanor and given a sentence of over two years in a correctional facility
  • People who have given up their US citizenship
  • Addicts
  • People who have been declared as fugitives of the law
  • Illegal residents in the country
  • People who have been diagnosed as mentally ill (including people who were found guilty of a crime because of insanity, people who have been that have been found unfit to stand trial and people who have been involuntarily committed to a mental health facility)
  • People who had a restraining order issued against them
  • People who have been charged and convicted of domestic violence
  • People who have been discharged from the military with dishonor
What is a Gun Background Check

Who Performs Gun Background Checks in the US?

Gun vendors that want to sell guns with a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) are required to perform a gun background check on prospective clients. Vendors in this group include and independent sellers as well as firearms retailers that want an FFL.

If a particular person wants to purchase a gun online, he/she are not required to undergo a gun background check. Aside from national gun rules, there are also individual rules and regulations in each US state when it comes to gun background checks.

How is a Gun Background Check Performed?

If you want to purchase a gun, you will need to fill out a form that allows gun vendors to perform a gun background check on you. The ATF Form 4473 contains questions about identity and personal histories, such as age, race, address, your criminal record data, and more.

You will need to show your ID when you submit the ATF Form 4473 for the identity verification process. Once you submit the ATF Form 4473, the gun vendor will contact the FBI. The FBI will then run a background check on you and tell the gun vendor whether or not you have a criminal record.

The FBI a performs gun background check via the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).

How Does Gun Background Check Work

Performing a Gun Background Check on Yourself

If you want to purchase a gun from a licensed vendor, you can find out what comes up on your gun background check report by performing a check on yourself. How? By using GoLookUp's background check directory. Once you put your name in the site's directory, the search engine will scan your public records and provide you with a detailed report on your criminal history.

If you see anything that can affect your chances of getting a gun, you will know whether or not you can purchase a gun. If you have been denied from purchasing a gun because of your gun background check, you can find out if there are any false details in your public records that prevent you from becoming a gun owner. You can then request to change the data, so you will not be denied a gun.

A gun background check allows vendors to find out if an individual person has a criminal record that can prevent them from purchasing a gun. You can find out what your gun background check contains in advance to find out what your chances are for getting a gun, and with GoLookUp, the check is quicker and easier than ever.


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