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Federal Firearms License (FFL)

After the potential firearm purchaser completes the applicable portions of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms' form 4473 (available from an FFL) the FFL is required to verify the identity of the potential purchaser by comparing the information they provide on the form to a government-issued identification document with a photograph and the person's name, address, and date of birth. A Nevada driver's license or identification card meets the needs of an identification document.

In order to fund the Point of Sale Program, a $25.00 fee is assessed for each background check performed. It is highly recommended that prior to contacting the Point of Sale Program for a background check that the FFL collects from the potential purchaser the $25.00 fee. This fee will be assessed whether a ‘proceed’ or a ‘denial’ is granted for the transfer of a firearm. Additionally, once the licensee has made the background check request to the Point of Sale Program the fee is non-refundable even if the potential purchaser or FFL decides to cancel the firearm transaction.

Upon receipt of a completed form and verification of identity, the FFL must call the Nevada Point-of-Sale Firearms Program at 1-800-4PISTOL (474-7865). FFLs in the Reno, Sparks, Incline Village, Carson City, Minden, and Gardnerville calling area should use the local 684-6200 telephone number. Service is available for background checks seven days a week, from 8:00 am to 5:45 pm (excluding July 4th, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day).

In order to conduct the background check, Point of Sale Program staff will require the information listed below.

    1. The last 5 digits of the Federal Firearm License number and name of the business.
    2. The caller’s name.
    3. The full name of the potential purchaser (last name, first name, middle name, suffix, maiden name or other names, if provided).
    4. Potential purchaser’s state of residency.
    5. Potential purchaser’s date of birth.
    6. Potential purchaser’s gender (male or female).
    7. Type of gun transaction (handgun or long gun or other).
    8. Potential purchaser’s driver’s license number or identification card number.
    9. State of issuance for driver’s license or identification card.
    10. Potential purchaser’s country of citizenship.
    11. Potential purchaser’s place of birth.
    12. If the potential purchaser is not a U.S. citizen, the alien registration number or I94 number.

If the Point of Sale staff needs more information to further identify the potential purchaser, they may ask for the potential purchaser’s social security number, race, height, weight, as well as other identifying information provided on the form 4473.

Based upon the information provided, the Point of Sale staff member will execute the background check against federal (NICS) and state databases that will result in one of the following determinations:

Delayed: The firearms licensee will be advised that further research is necessary and the transfer of the firearm is delayed. This delay will take the three business days allowed by the Brady Act to determine eligibility of the transferee. (Weekends and legal holidays are not counted in the total three-day hold.) 

If you have a question as to when the delayed transaction is eligible for release see the link 

Proceed: The firearms transaction may proceed, as no disqualifying information was located in databases available to the Point of Sale Program that would prohibit the transfer of a firearm to the potential purchaser.

Unresolved/Open: The Point of Sale program is unable to reach a Deny or Proceed status, further research will be conducted for up to 90 days. An Unresolved/Open response does not prohibit an FFL from transferring a firearm after three business days have elapsed since the FFL initiated the background check with the Point of Sale Program.

If you have a question as to when the unresolved/open transaction is eligible for release see the link

Denied: The firearms licensee will be advised that the transfer of a firearm would violate federal or state law.

Persons who have been denied the transfer of a firearm as a result of a background check conducted by the Point of Sale Program may request the reason for the denial. The request must be made in writing and contain the State Transaction Number (STN) for the denied transaction and the purchaser’s name and mailing address. Within 5 business days of receiving the request, the Point of Sale Program will respond in writing with the reason for the denial.

The results of each background check (regardless of the result) may not be disclosed to anyone other than those who need to know for the purposes directly associated with the firearms transfer.

LINK TO ATF REGULATIONS 

Denials

If you have been denied a firearm due to failing a Brady background check you will receive a form from your FFL dealer. This form will explain how to request information from the Brady Unit regarding your denial. If you feel that the denial is due to an error in your criminal history record the packet includes information on how to challenge and remove erroneous information.

Below is the form required to request information on your background check deny or unresolved status along with information on how to appeal a denial to the FBI.