The National Instant Criminal Background Check System

The National Instant Criminal Background Check System or NICS is set to protect and save  people from harm by not letting explosives and arms to fall in the wrong hands. It also takes care of the timely transfer of firearms to people who are eligible buyers. NICS was launched by the FBI on November 30, 1998 and is mandated by the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993; it is used by Federal Firearms Licensees or FFLs to instantly determine whether a prospective buyer is eligible or not to buy explosives or guns. Before going for the sale, the seller checks with the FBI or any other designated agencies to make sure that the prospective buyer does not have a criminal record or is in any other way ineligible to make a purchase.

The National Instant Criminal Background Check System or NICS is located at the FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Service Division in Clarksburg, West Virginia. It provides full service to FFLs in 30 states, five U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia. Upon completion of the required form known as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Fire and Explosives (ATF) 4473, The FFLs contact the NICS section of the FBI via a toll-free number or the Internet through the NICS E-Check system to request a background check with descriptive information provided on the Form 4473 for the ATF.

NICS Enrollment     

To request NICS background checks one needs to enroll in the NICS. To enroll you can take a print out of the form from http://www.fbi.gov/hq/cjisd/nics/enroll.pdf  and the FFL Acknowledgement of Responsibilities Form from http://www.fbi.gov/hq/cjisd/nics/ssigna1.pdf. Upon completion of the forms you can mail it to the following address:

NICS Section
FBI
Attn: Enrollment
PO Box 4278
Clarksburg, WV 26302-4278 or you can fax it at (304) 625-0578

The form which needs to be enrolled has the following items that are included:

- Federal Firearms License Number – This is a fifteen-digit number which is assigned by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
- Code Word – This is a code word which is used as a verification or identity when you contact the NICS office. This code word must be anywhere between 6 to 10 characters which is an amalgamation of both numbers and letters. Obscene words or phrases are strictly prohibited.
- Name of Federal Firearm Licensee – This is the part where an individual or corporation licensed by the Bureau to sell firearms is filled in.
- License Type – Here there are two types: Type 1 which is the Gun Dealer and Type 2 is the pawnbroker.
- Name of License Business – This is the place where the store name needs to be filled in.
- Street Address – Here you need to fill in the entire mailing address.
- Business Phone Number – Here you need to fill in the business telephone number with the area code.
- Point of Contact Person – This will be the individual whom the FBI will first call while contacting your store. It will only be done if this is different from the name of the licensee. This can be a store manager or other individual chosen by the licensee who will stand on behalf of the licensee for all NICS matters. These matters include issues regarding change of passwords, billing questions etc.
- Point of Contact Phone Number – This implies the phone number that the FBI will call upon while contacting your store. This is done if the number provided is different from the business phone number. Providing the area code is a must.

NICS Usage

The NICS usage is authorized and limited; it is used for the purpose of obtaining information on whether the federal or state law will be violated on receipt of a firearm by a prospective transferee. NICS is used for background checks by authorized purpose by people of FFLs, their officers, employees, agents or other representatives.

If anybody accesses or uses NICS for any unlawful or unauthorized purpose it is considered to be a violation of federal law. If it is sanctioned for such unlawful or unauthorized activities, it will fall under the category of criminal prosecution. This will result in a civil fine up to a maximum of $10,000 and it can also lead to cancellation of NICS inquiry privileges. You can also visit http://www.fbi.gov/ for more information regarding a National Instant Criminal Background Check or you can visit the FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C at

Federal Bureau of Investigation
J. Edgar Hoover Building
935 Pennsylvania Avenue,
NW Washington, D.C 20535-0001
Phone: (202) 324-3000