What gets checked during background?

[heyjerr]

Like all law-abiding citizens, I wait my ten days while a background check is being performed, but I never ask about what is being looked at. Is the check run on the seller as well as the buyer? Is a history run on the gun itself? What if the gun sold is ancient and doesn't show up in any records up to that point?

Aside from criminal history, what would cause a background to fail or be flagged?

I really am just asking out of curiosity. I have no hidden agenda in these questions. I've never run into any problems with my purchases.

[thinkinblue613]

I've heard unpaid tickets can affect it.

Correct me if I am wrong, I highly doubt the history of the gun is checked. Since its in the shop and under a new name, it shouldn't affect you if it had history. It will only affect you after you pick up the gun. And the sellers won't be flagged unless they violated gun sale laws.

Other than that, the usual checks on sanity, criminal history and renouncement of the country are checked.

[halifax]

Since the firearm would need to be returned to the Seller as soon as a Buyer is denied, if denied; the Seller is also checked during the process.

Used handgun serial numbers are also checked.

More...

[randy]

They check child support, DMV, criminal local, state national, military, mental, handgun s/n.

[jkgts1]

Don't forget they check your 4th grade report cards too, lol

[heyjerr]

They check child support, DMV, criminal local, state national, military, mental, handgun s/n.

I personally have an honorable discharge but have always wondered why having any other type of discharge would automatically prevent you from ever being able to own a gun. I've known people who were given a "general" discharge, and wonder why they'd be treated the same as someone with a "dishonorable".

Does having a non-honorable discharge, regardless of the offense, prevent firearm ownership for life, when a violent criminal can have that right reinstated later down the line?

[heyjerr]

Since the firearm would need to be returned to the Seller as soon as a Buyer is denied, if denied; the Seller is also checked during the process.

Used handgun serial numbers are also checked.

More...

http://ag.ca.gov/firearms/forms/pdf/prohibcatmisd.pdf is a very interesting list. Some of the items seem odd but I'm sure there's a reason for them.

Don't forget they check your 4th grade report cards too, lol

Well, it IS your permanent record.....

[holyhandgrenade]

So how much checking is done on the seller and the gun itself? I know the buyer obviously gets checked out to make sure they dont have a criminal history or whatever, but what about the seller?

For example, I know sometimes people go to other states to buy guns because its cheaper, if they bring them back to CA and dont go through an FFL, would they be in trouble if they should ever try to PPT them? Or would the state not even know (I kinda assume they would know somehow... and not be pleased)?

[Shane916]

Don't forget they check your 4th grade report cards too, lol

Academic or Citizenship!?!?!?!

[Subotai]

I personally have an honorable discharge but have always wondered why having any other type of discharge would automatically prevent you from ever being able to own a gun. I've known people who were given a "general" discharge, and wonder why they'd be treated the same as someone with a "dishonorable".

Does having a non-honorable discharge, regardless of the offense, prevent firearm ownership for life, when a violent criminal can have that right reinstated later down the line?

Only a Dishonorable Discharge is denied. This is considered equal to a felony. A Bad Conduct Discharge, while punitive, is considered a misdemeanor. Since there is no equitable civilian crime in many cases for BCD's, it isn't a barrier to gun ownership. Other Than Honorable, or General, are non-punitive.

[freonr22]

[DukeofSD]

[winnre]

For a used handgun why not check the ballistics too? If the seller used the gun in a crime but was never caught but the ballistics are on file, then the gun is indeed bad news. The serial number is never left at the scene of the crime. Imagine if they found out it was your gun years later.