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Brady Background checks and false positives
John Lott runs the numbers and concludes that the background checks "deny" responses are false between 94% and 99% of the time. Which argues that criticism of the few prosecutions following failed background checks is misplaced, and that when supporters of the system claim they don't prosecute mere "paperwork cases," they claim that because the truth is too embarrassing to reveal.
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Interesting. Never had a NICS denial but when I applied to renew my Collector's License, ATF called me for clarification because they picked up a felony from someone with a similar name, different birthday.
I have a friend you has an extension collection of firearms, many are modern and used frequently. Actually we often say if he sees a gun he buys a gun. That said he has a Concealed carry permit in NJ, if a Firearms instructor and coach. But every time he applies for a permit to buy another he is flagged as there is someone with the same name that is prohibited. Then he has to go through a multi-day sometimes weeks process to clarify it up and this is through the police department in his town who knows him well.
I have pointed out this flaw on many occasions, but I have perceived that people are leery of accepting it. It just seems incredulous. How could 9 out of 10 actually be wrong? Clearly that must be an exaggeration. But it isn't. This means that 9 out of 10 times that a NICS check is denied, the government has wrongly deprived someone of their civil rights. I suspect that even if we suffered a tragedy because of this (some abused woman gets killed by her estranged husband while waiting for the ATF to correct her wrongful denial) it would still just be ignored by the media.
I bought a shotgun over Christmas, and ended up with a hold for about a week. No idea why, they don't actually tell you. It's the first time it ever happened to me. My response is that I'm going to go ahead and get my Texas CHL to avoid having to go through that going forward.
9 out of 10 is in line with my experience as well.
Incorrect names, mispellings, disorderly conduct from 1971 treated as a "domestic battery", felony modified to misdemeanor and court order not forwared to FBI in West Virginia, inter alia.