“Abstract:
The Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act (Brady Act) requires a background check on an applicant for a firearm purchase from a dealer who is a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL). During the permanent Brady Act period, from 1999 through 2018, background checks were conducted on over 237 million applicants for firearm transfers or permits. During this period, nearly 3.5 million applications for firearm transfers or permits were denied by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) or by state and local agencies. This report summarizes the number of applications for firearm transfers and permits, denials that resulted from background checks, reasons for denial, rates of denial, appeals of denials, and arrests of denied persons during the permanent Brady Act period. Statistics are presented at the FBI, state, and local levels. The report also provides a summary of significant changes in federal and state laws and regulations
related to firearm sales. Statistical highlights are presented in the body of the report, and complete details are included in an appendix”
This report is available here. What are some of the highlights?
- From 1999 to 2018, the FBI conducted more background checks on applicants for firearm transfers or permits (129 million) than state and local agencies (109 million). The FBI had a lower denial rate (1.2%) than state and local agencies (1.7%).
- A felony conviction, indictment/information/charge, or arrest was the most common reason (51%) for denial of a firearm transfer or permit application from 1999 to 2018. The second most common reason was being a fugitive from justice or having an active warrant (10%).
- Among all agencies conducting background checks, 47% of denials were due to a felony reason (conviction, indictment/information/charge, or arrest) in 2018 compared to 73% in The percentage of denials for non-felony reasons increased from 27% in 1999 to 53% in 2018.
Unfortunately, there is no detail on the type of felonies that were committed. In the future, I would like to see at least violent/non-violent distinctions.