FBI Statement on NICS (Background Check) Delays

TTAG rang-up the FBI yesterday to get some more information about the forthcoming delays to federal firearms-related background checks. Stephen G. Fischer Jr., the FBI’s “Chief of Multimedia Productions” (what no “AV”?), sent us this statement.

The FBI Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) Section has been advised by the Biometrics Services Section of upcoming delays in processing civil applicant fingerprint cards. The CJIS Division has been working with the U.S. Census Bureau in developing procedures to conduct name-based searches and process fingerprint submissions of potential U.S. Census Bureau employees. It is anticipated the U.S. Census Bureau will submit 484,000 fingerprint cards of candidates who have applied for a position working on the 2010 U.S. Census. These checks must be conducted during a very short time period to meet the operational needs of the U.S.Census Bureau.

Read more