Virginia State Police "instant" background check delays

[mk4]

@cyrus21...
as explained to me by a local ffl, having a chp as 2nd id offers zero advantage in bg check processing. it just waives the state's current 'one handgun per 30 day' rule.

 

[Marco]

The reason is pretty simple. If you give the system to the Feds alone, they'll eventually push the original Brady waiting period in (which is why Va went to our system in the first place), then add additional restrictions as the mood hits them.

BUT...just like a lot the things the new breed of OC with a CHP gun owners like...it won't really cause me to lose a lot of sleep. I own enough guns to last me a lifetime so if this goes through, I'll just stop buying over the counter. It's rare I do anyway.
Then when F2F becomes regulated and it will probably be because the Feds throw a bone to the CHiPpers, I'll stop buying period.

We'll see if these bills go somewhere.

There is a very distinct line drawn between the classes of gun owners. Those of you that like this type of bill are set in your opinion and so are the rest of us. That's why I'm not arguing about it. Neither side is going to change their minds.

1+

Having lived in a NICS state I can say don't expect any change in wait times, it's hit or miss.
I 've had 3 min approvals and 3 day delays, now most of what I buy is second hand as I like a deal.

 

[stickslinger]

I've never had to wait longer than 20-30 minutes. Last purchase was a AR lower shipped to a local shop and when walked in the item was there on the counter waiting for me. Fill out the paperwork, went into the range with the sidearm out cut some paper to pass the time and came back out and all was ready.

 

[Mayhem]

The guy that does my transfer paperwork does it electronically. My approval is instant and I never have to wait.

My guess is that many of you are getting it done by hand. We all know that they have cut back due to the budget so I am guessing... less people now have to do more work.

 

[mk4]

mine have been electronic, also... after i fill out the fed and state forms. best turnaround = 5 minutes, worst = next day.

what's your definition of 'instant'?

 

[Sheriff]

The guy that does my transfer paperwork does it electronically. My approval is instant and I never have to wait.

I think we would be hard pressed to find any gun dealer that doesn't do it electronically now?????

Most of the answers here so far are pretty disturbing. How can the state police take something so simple and screw it up so badly? I don't see it as a manpower issue, because a gangsta looking thug walked in during my last transaction, picked out a handgun, and was approved almost instantly. I still had to wait 3 1/2 hours more for approval even though I had been a law enforcement officer for almost 30 years. None of it makes any sense to me.

 

[peter nap]

I think we would be hard pressed to find any gun dealer that doesn't do it electronically now?????

Most of the answers here so far are pretty disturbing. How can the state police take something so simple and screw it up so badly? I don't see it as a manpower issue, because a gangsta looking thug walked in during my last transaction, picked out a handgun, and was approved almost instantly. I still had to wait 3 1/2 hours more for approval even though I had been a law enforcement officer for almost 30 years. None of it makes any sense to me.

It's those Government mind scanners in the stop lights.
They know....THEY KNOW!:banana::banana::banana::lol:

 

[scouser]

The guy that does my transfer paperwork does it electronically. My approval is instant and I never have to wait.

My guess is that many of you are getting it done by hand. We all know that they have cut back due to the budget so I am guessing... less people now have to do more work.

If you truly believe that it's because of who does the paperwork for you then share the guy's business information with the rest of us

 

[JamesCanby]

The last handgun I bought OTC at a gun shop, the check was done in 15 minutes -- which was amazing to me because it was the first transaction in Virginia after moving here from Maryland, and when I asked my Virginia dealer how many days it would be before I could come back and pick up my purchase, he told me it would be ready in a few minutes. Amazing to me because in Maryland there is a mandatory multiple-day waiting period -- a "cooling off" period to prevent "acts of passion." The system worked as advertised -- instantly -- even though I had moved to Virginia just a few months before and I assume that they had to check with Maryland before clearing me.

 

[kaiheitai17]

Sheriff, go over to the Virginia hometown forum on AR15.com. There are two active threads there discussing this very problem. Last time I bought a stripped .308 receiver, my check went straight through. Only once several years ago was I delayed and had to pick up the item from the dealer a few days later. I don't think we need to go to the NICS instacheck, we need to fire up our legislators and have Virginia properly manned. Better yet would be to do away with these checks and go back to the pre-1968 days.

 

[papa bear]

i have talked to a few gun dealers who are getting aggravated at these delays. it is not uncommon for someone to come in wanting to buy a firearm then getting hit with the delay, and just walking out. kills the sale.
there must be a better way to get the system to work.

by the way my son tried to buy himself a pistol, for Christmas and had a 4 day delay.

 

[doug23838]

The last handgun I bought OTC at a gun shop, the check was done in 15 minutes -- which was amazing to me because it was the first transaction in Virginia after moving here from Maryland, and when I asked my Virginia dealer how many days it would be before I could come back and pick up my purchase, he told me it would be ready in a few minutes. Amazing to me because in Maryland there is a mandatory multiple-day waiting period -- a "cooling off" period to prevent "acts of passion." The system worked as advertised -- instantly -- even though I had moved to Virginia just a few months before and I assume that they had to check with Maryland before clearing me.

There ought to be a waiting period to get married, not buy a gun.....to prevent "acts of passion."

Sorry.. back on topic. Welcome to VA btw.

 

[hunter45]

It only takes me 1-2 minutes at the store. More like 30 min at the gun show though.

 

[Tess]

I don't know what it is, except perhaps a very unusual last name, but even since others have been having issues, neither my spouse nor I have had troubles. Most recent purchase was in December at the Dale City show; he bought my Christmas gift in less than 30 minutes. Jerry Cochran tells how much the delays are costing him in lost business, though, and I spoke with a small dealer at Fredericksburg who said 5 of the 7 guns she sold in one day were delayed at least until the next day.

 

[DrMark]

Jerry Cochran tells how much the delays are costing him in lost business, though, and I spoke with a small dealer at Fredericksburg who said 5 of the 7 guns she sold in one day were delayed at least until the next day.

I hope their aggravation is leading them to contact their reps.

Many of us are doing that, but a small business owner talking about how the current law is causing him to lose business... that's a different angle.

 

[tkd2006]

Sheriff sent you a private message.

 

[hermannr]

I think we would be hard pressed to find any gun dealer that doesn't do it electronically now?????

Most of the answers here so far are pretty disturbing. How can the state police take something so simple and screw it up so badly? I don't see it as a manpower issue, because a gangsta looking thug walked in during my last transaction, picked out a handgun, and was approved almost instantly. I still had to wait 3 1/2 hours more for approval even though I had been a law enforcement officer for almost 30 years. None of it makes any sense to me.

Maybe he was a Fast and Furious enabled thug?

 

[ThunderRanch]

Always go on delay

I always go on the dreaded "delay", but it's never been more than a couple hours at most. Since I already expect it, I always make sure I have plenty of time to handle the paperwork and the expected wait when I'm making a purchase. I must admit, though, I'd be pretty livid if it moved beyond a day!!

 

[Sheriff]

Maybe he was a Fast and Furious enabled thug?

I'm not kidding..... he had the 4 foot long t-shirt, baggy pants having off his thighs, driving a $400 car with $5,000 worth of chrome wheels and no sidewall tires, and $500 tennis shoes. He was in, selected a handgun, approved, and out in less than 30 minutes.

Me.... almost 30 years in law enforcement, a valid CHP permit, not so much as a parking ticket in my entire life.... and I was there 3 hours.

Here's what really makes no sense..... I have enough firearms and ammunition to start a small war in my city. I don't need one more firearm to get this war started. So how is a 3 hour delay preventing anything from ending up in my hands??? This is the year 2012, it shouldn't take but seconds to pull my criminal history up on a computer screen.

 

[nuc65]

An interesting comment was made when I inquired about the delays in my case. I was informed that there was a flag if you have ever held a govt. clearance that delayed it.