How does this make sense?, My update is below dated 1 Sep

Col Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 31 Aug 2014 16:11:42 -0400

So I went to the local sporting goods store and purchased a tactical shotgun for home defense. I completed the necessary paperwork and provided the appropriate documentation to satisfy the politicians. The clerk then said he had to "call it in" (I assume to FBI or NSA) for approval. About 10 minutes later he comes back and asks me if I have a "clearance" I said "yes, most military members do". Then he said "Because you have a clearance, it will take longer to check my background and complete the process, so wait 3 days". I was dumbfounded. So a customer without any clearance can go right in, purchase a weapon(long gun), and walk out of the store with it that same day, but an AD member with a clearance has to wait longer? It should be the other way around...or am I missing something?

Response by SGT Richard H. made Aug 31 at 2014 4:17 PM

SGT Richard H. — Sun, 31 Aug 2014 16:17:51 -0400

Maybe because of the clearance, your information is more difficult for a civilian entity or agency to gain access to? (i.e....needs approval from "higher" for them to access)

Just a guess.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 31 at 2014 7:58 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 31 Aug 2014 19:58:42 -0400

That's BS, Major, and it's the federal firearms licensee's (FFL..the sporting goods store) BS.

Depending on the state in which you reside, long gun sales over the counter are usually one day transactions. FFLs will make you wait three + days for handguns because they're required to do so. I've seen some insist on five...that's their prerogative. They run the information on the ATF Form 4473 (the paperwork you fill out) through the FBI's NICS Branch. If the NICS Branch doesn't find anything prohibiting you from owning a firearm (felony counts, misdemeanor convictions of domestic violence, or orders of protection), or if they don't return a favorable background check in three days, the can legally transfer the gun to you.

Of course, the NICS Branch can take longer than three days (federal government entity with databases, and all). If the FFL releases the gun to you and then you have an unfavorable background check, then the ATF will call and you'll have to surrender the weapon.

But that's handguns. Long guns are usually same day purchases. Your security clearance is irrelevant. The sporting goods store is yanking your chain.

Response by SGT Richard H. made Aug 31 at 2014 8:04 PM

SGT Richard H. — Sun, 31 Aug 2014 20:04:14 -0400

I just noticed that you are in DC Col Private RallyPoint Member I'm amending my guess to now assume that the close proximity to the BS (bureaucracy/subjugation) capital of the world may be the problem.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 31 at 2014 10:31 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 31 Aug 2014 22:31:59 -0400

It's because your clearance was higher then the person performing the check.

Response by SSG(P) Auston Terry made Sep 1 at 2014 10:08 AM

SSG(P) Auston Terry — Mon, 01 Sep 2014 10:08:12 -0400

I've bought several guns and my clearance has never been an issue. If you've ever heard the phone call and what gets asked for your clearance has no relevance. You got lied to.

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 1 at 2014 3:25 PM

Col Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 01 Sep 2014 15:25:57 -0400

So here is the update SSgt Tony Lamb and all. I got the call today to pick up my latest addition. When I went it to pick it up, I spoke with the manager and he blamed the wait on the FBI NICS check (http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/nics). He stated that usually the delay is due to common last names such as "Smith, or Johnson. Just a thought, but I don't think Whitehorn fits that category), or because I had a clearance the FBI "raised a red flag" to wonder why a merchant was doing a background check on someone with a clearance. So I then asked the manager "So all active duty members experience this painful process, because they also have security clearances?", to which he replied "no". So I informed him his theory didn't hold up. His last answer was "well they (FBI) don't tell us why it's delayed". So "if they don't tell you the reason for the delay, why did you just give me 2 BS answers, because what you basically just said is "we don't know""! To top it off, he suggested that I get a UPIN to speed up the process in the future. Man, what knuckle heads!

Gun Checks/NICS