Criminal record top reason for U.S. gun-check rejection
January 14th, 2013
04:04 PM ET

Criminal record top reason for U.S. gun-check rejection

More than a million people failed background checks to buy guns during the past 14 years because of criminal records, drug use or mental health issues, according to FBI figures.

But only about 1 percent of federal background checks are rejected.

Nearly 60 percent of those failing background checks, or nearly 578,000 people, were rejected because of a felony or serious misdemeanor conviction, according to information on the FBI website that was updated this month.

Federally-licensed gun sellers are not allowed to sell a firearm without a completed review by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.

Statistics show about 1 percent of applicants who failed a background check, or 10,180 people, were turned down for reasons related to mental health.

FULL STORY
Post by:
Filed under: Gun violence
soundoff (32 Responses)
  1. Chrissy

    Lol @ Joey, its this new phone. In fact i didnt even realise it til you mentioned it. But yep its really me dearheart.

    January 15, 2013 at 12:23 am | Report abuse |
  2. Chrissy

    Ask me a question one that only i would know the answer too. Or ask s kel he just texted me so he can tell you its really me.

    January 15, 2013 at 12:26 am | Report abuse |
  3. Chrissy

    Its hard to get used to a new phone when ive had my other one over 3 years but im working on it.

    January 15, 2013 at 12:33 am | Report abuse |
  4. Chrissy

    Now see ive changed it 4 times since you mentioned it and it keeps going to cap when i hit submit.

    January 15, 2013 at 12:36 am | Report abuse |
  5. Chrissy

    Lol its ok @ Joey, im getting used to the ways of CNN much quicker than i am this damn phone. Lmao. Anyway ive made up my mind today im going to purchase a gun. Better do it now before the government takes that right away too! As if they dont have other things they should be doing.

    January 15, 2013 at 11:35 am | Report abuse |
  6. Portland tony

    There are Lot of folks out there that have mental issues that they may or may not have discussed with mental health professionals. Some may be serious...others may be insignificant phobias. How does one weed out the potentential "crazys" from the majority of patients who pose no danger to anyone? Except for obvious deviant antisocial behavior which may have resulted in a "brush" with the law, none of this aberrant behavior will appear on a background check. It sits as a dormant file somewhere in a psychiatrist's office never to see the light of day because of privacy laws!

    January 15, 2013 at 12:29 pm | Report abuse |
  7. Informed Dude

    Band crime and if works then band guns.

    January 16, 2013 at 1:15 pm | Report abuse |
1 2
« Back to main