Most law-abiding Americans over the age of 18 enjoy the right to purchase a firearm from a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL or gun dealer) following an instant background check through the FBI’s National Instant Background Check System (NICS). A minority of law-abiding adults, who may share personal characteristics with a prohibited person (name, physical description, etc.) or have a non-prohibiting record within the system, are delayed from purchasing a firearm while further research is conducted.

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