What Are Background Checks?
Background checks are an essential tool to help keep guns from getting into the hands of individuals who may harm themselves or others. Running a background check before a firearm purchase helps identify people who are prohibited by federal law from owning them, such as people convicted of a felony or domestic abuse. Background checks save lives. Since the federal background check requirement was enacted in 1994, more than 3 million illegal gun sales have been stopped by a background check.1
What's Not Working With the Background Check System?
In June 2022, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act was signed into law—the biggest step forward for federal gun violence prevention legislation in 30 years. Part of this bill requires people who sell firearms regularly to conduct background checks because they are "engaged in the business" of selling firearms. Before this law was passed, some private sellers were frequently selling firearms without conducting background checks. Thanks to this part of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, many private sellers will now be required to obtain a federal firearm license and conduct background checks ahead of sales.
While the new rule is a significant step forward, there is much more we can do to keep youth and communities safe.
Sandy Hook Promise is calling on Congress to provide funding and support for the bipartisan National Instant Criminal Background Check System, as well as close the Charleston loophole.
Yes. More than 97% of Americans, including gun owners, support expanded background checks4, as well as roughly 80% of Republicans.5
Supported by a vast majority of Americans regardless of political affiliation, background checks are one of the most effective means of protecting our communities by helping to keep guns from getting into the hands of individuals who may harm themselves or others.
The FBI’s quality control evaluations suggest that background checks are accurate approximately 99.3% to 99.8% of the time.8 Background checks rarely provide false-positive results.
As of June 2023, 20 states (California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington) and Washington, DC, have passed legislation to extend the federal background check requirement to cover at least some forms of private sale.
Demand that the Senate take action.
Tell Congress to continue to strengthen the background check system. Now, It’s Time For Policymakers To Act To Move This Lifesaving Solution Forward.
Related Issues
Temporary Transfer
Temporary Transfer Orders, (i.e., Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs) or “red flag laws”) empower family members, law enforcement, and other key individuals to respond to warning signs of potential violence or suicide.
Karberg JC, et al., “Background Checks for Firearm Transfers, 2015—Statistical Tables,” US Department of Justice: Bureau of Justice Statistics (2017).
Miller M, Hepburn L, Azrael D. Firearm acquisition without background checks: results of a national survey. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2017; 166(4):233-239
Webster D, Crifasi CK, Vernick JS. Effects of Missouri’s Repeal of Its Handgun Purchaser Licensing Law on Homicides. J Urban Health. 2014 Jun; 91(3):598-601.
Quinnipiac University Poll. U.S. Support For Gun Control Tops 2-1, Highest Ever, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Let Dreamers Stay, 80 Percent Of Voters Say. Feb. 20, 2018.
Quinnipiac University. U.S. Voters Oppose Trump Emergency Powers On Wall 2-1 Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; 86% Back Democrats’ Bill On Gun Background Checks. March 6, 2019.
Federal Bureau of Investigation, Criminal Justice Information Services. National Instant Criminal Background Check System Celebrates 20 Years of Service. November 30, 2018.
Federal Bureau of Investigation. About NICS. (n.d.).
Office of the Inspector General, “Audit of the Handling of Firearms Purchase Denials Through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System,” US Department of Justice, September 2016.