Hello all,
I'm sure many people here are aware of the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, which is in regards to the federal background check run when purchasing a firearm. The results may come back approve, deny or delay (further review), and if you get delayed once, you'll likely get it every time - I'm one of the lucky ones who gets delayed every time
.
That being said, I've been delayed for my first two firearms, BassPro said if I don't hear anything from them within 5 business days (it's actually 3), I can just come and pick up the gun. This is in regards to
18 U.S.C. § 922(t)(1) specifically, which is below; (Link:
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/922)
(t) (1) Beginning on the date that is 30 days after the Attorney General notifies licensees under section 103(d) of the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act that the national instant criminal background check system is established, a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, or licensed dealer shall not transfer a firearm to any other person who is not licensed under this chapter, unless—
(A) before the completion of the transfer, the licensee contacts the national instant criminal background check system established under section 103 of that Act;
(B) (i) the system provides the licensee with a unique identification number; or
(ii)
3 business days (meaning a day on which State offices are open) have elapsed since the licensee contacted the system, and the system has not notified the licensee that the receipt of a firearm by such other person would violate subsection (g) or (n) of this section
So by this legislation, if there's been no word from the Fed, I can come and pick up the firearm. This is how it worked for my HK VP9 in August, and just a couple months ago when I bought my Benelli SuperNova Tactical from the SAME BassPro Shop. I went to buy a new pistol last Friday, and to no surprise I got another delay. Expecting, and completely fine with this, I leave with the expectation I can come back after 5 business days (verified by the salesman) to come pick up my new gun.
I called yesterday on the fourth business day to pass, asking if they had received word from the Fed, of course they said no and I replied - so tomorrow I can just come by and pick it up then. The employee says - no, we can't transfer a firearm until we receive word from the Fed. I asked how this could be, and when they changed their policy, apparently it's
always been this way - never mind the fact I just bought a gun from them 2 months prior and picked up after 5 days.
I went to the store and asked to speak with the manager on duty, and after 10 minutes or so, he came over. I calmly and respectfully asked him about the situation and explained how this was not in accordance with this specific code in the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act which allows me to receive the firearm after 3 business days. He told me that this doesn't apply to the electronic background checks that they perform, and that he got a letter from the NICS on this matter specifically.
When I pulled out the printout of this entire law and showed him in black and white how this was not operating within it, he told me this was a recent change. This is obviously not true since there have been no amendments, I told him I wanted to bring my repeat business back to his store, but they obviously don't want it. He came back with "Heh- I sell a LOT of guns here" to the effect of I don't care, get lost.
So I did, I told him I'd tell everyone I knew what happened, and that no one I knew would buy from his store anymore. I went down the road to a local gun shop about 10 minutes away (were I should've gone in the first place), told them what happened, and that I wanted to buy the gun from them instead. Same exact gun - same exact price. Got delayed, paid for the gun in full and was told by next Wednesday I can come pick it up.
It would have been nice to have this under the Christmas tree for myself in time for Christmas morning. But out of principle - I'm glad I took my business to a small shop whose employees actually ACT like they want my business - I urge everyone to find a LGS they trust and stick with them!
TL;DR Don't buy guns from BassPro Shops, they treat law-abiding citizens like dirt and have no respect or regard for the 2nd amendment - nothing new in the commonwealth