How to handle DENY

Denials are extremely rare - we get one, maximum two of them per quarter.

Most DENY results on the background check result from two things. First is a forgotten offense (such as drunk driving) or a mental health issue (such as anger management class) that a customer might have had a long time ago. Second is misidentification.

For privacy reasons, NICS does not share the "why" of a denial with us. They will, however, share it with the customer.

Please give the customer the NTN of his or her transaction, and refer him or her to the following page which explains what customer could do: https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/nics/appeals/nics-appeals-process/reasons-nics-background-checks-are-denied-or-delayed.

If you have the customer in front of you, you can print them the following brochure: https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/nics/appeals/nics-guide-for-appealing

When DENY happens, the status needs to be recorded in the appropriate part (21c or 21d) of form 4473, the form itself filed in the special folder for DENIED applications where it will be kept for 7 years.

Remove the firearms from the transaction (as well as any transfer fees, if applicable), note in the description that the transfer was DENIED.

If the guns were ours, they should be put back on the shelf. If this was a transfer, the seller will need to arrange for the shipping label for us to ship the firearms back.