NICS has blocked more than 600,000 people convicted of a crime from acquiring a weapon since 1998. When the background check system flags a purchaser for a felony or another qualifying conviction, the transaction is stopped. A surprising number of people with open arrest warrants attempt to buy a gun.
Patrick Swayze died Monday after battle with pancreatic cancer, publicist says; Swayze's doctor revealed in March 2008 that Swayze had the disease; Swayze broke through with his performance in 1987's Dirty Dancing Co-star Jennifer Grey: He was a real cowboy with a tender heart
That studio was where Patrick Swayze met his future wife, Lisa Niemi, another of his mother's students. Patrick Swayze spoke later of his mom's strictness -- he felt she was harder on him than on anybody else. But after Dirty Dancing, he realized why, Don Swayze said. She made sure he kept his nose to the grindstone and learned that technique, Don Swayze said.