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.

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Filed under: Gun violence
soundoff (32 Responses)
  1. Hamsta

    Today's kids are just sitting ducks in a shooting gallery with adbertisement that noome has a gun to shoot back with when they go to school thanks to gun control laws.

    January 14, 2013 at 4:13 pm | Report abuse |
  2. s kel

    Just say NO to guns. I say we ban them all.

    January 14, 2013 at 4:14 pm | Report abuse |
    • RW&B

      @ s kel..... Yeah keep wishing that will NEVER happen!

      January 14, 2013 at 7:23 pm | Report abuse |
  3. s kel

    Everyone agrees we need to reduce the number of guns in our society. The first step should be to restrict sales to law enforcement and military only. Then we need to start a buy back program where those who turn the it's in receives a tax credit.

    January 14, 2013 at 4:37 pm | Report abuse |
    • Ryan

      No. Everyone does not agree. That's why Congress is afraid to do anything, they know too many of their voters will ahte them.

      I serve in the military- I have never fired a M-4. Most cops have never fired M-4s. Having a job or title does not instantly qualify you to be safe with a firearm.

      When I was a civilian I attended far more gun safety and training events then I have in the military.

      Buy backs aren't doing anything. It's just a bunch of people turning in old hunting rifles and shotguns- which no one is complaining about.

      January 14, 2013 at 4:50 pm | Report abuse |
    • BigToe

      Shove you tax credit..... 3 times the book value, and you may 3 or 4..... but not all

      January 14, 2013 at 5:27 pm | Report abuse |
    • Mike

      No, everyone doesn't agree. If the criminal doesn't want to abide by the *ban on murder* in this country, they won't abide by the ban on guns. Prohibition didn't work for alcohol, it doesn't work for drugs, and it won't work for guns... you'll just create a nation of unarmed law-abiding citizens, prime picking for those who don't abide by the law.

      January 14, 2013 at 6:35 pm | Report abuse |
    • Hamsta

      The police are the first criminals that need their guns taken away.

      January 14, 2013 at 6:42 pm | Report abuse |
  4. chuck

    I do not aggree that we need to reduce the number of guns in our society.

    January 14, 2013 at 4:45 pm | Report abuse |
  5. Hamsta

    Germany tried gun registry before confiscating all guns from the citizens, then came Hitler. Tgose that don't learn from history are doomed to repeat history.

    January 14, 2013 at 4:51 pm | Report abuse |
  6. Hamsta

    Germany tried gun registry before confiscating all guns from the citizens, then came Hitler. Those that don't learn from history are doomed to repeat history.

    January 14, 2013 at 5:25 pm | Report abuse |
  7. GeorgeChargas

    The fate of the U.S. is at hand and people want to throw out the 2nd. If this does happen, prepare for your 1st, 4th and 5th to go out the window. The short sightedness of some people truly scares me.

    January 14, 2013 at 6:15 pm | Report abuse |
  8. s kel

    I hope they put all the gun people in prison.

    January 14, 2013 at 6:27 pm | Report abuse |
    • RW&B

      @ s kel again.... Can you please specify " gun people".....And pls keep posting your posts are very humorous since you have joined here..

      January 14, 2013 at 7:28 pm | Report abuse |
  9. 1608

    Anyone for a health bar with crushed cricket in the middle?

    January 14, 2013 at 6:36 pm | Report abuse |
  10. the prophet

    @ mike well said, I may add that it should be the law and police who should not be armed. Americans have a birth right to bare arms, period.

    January 14, 2013 at 8:49 pm | Report abuse |
  11. Gifford

    They really need to put all the gun nuts in prison. Or ship them off to some other country. I think they are dangerous.

    January 14, 2013 at 9:09 pm | Report abuse |
  12. Gifford

    I think everyone in the world agrees guns are dangerous and evil. We just don't need them. They hurt people and animals. We just don't need them in today's world.

    January 14, 2013 at 9:13 pm | Report abuse |
    • s kel

      I agree ten thousand percent my brother.

      January 14, 2013 at 9:20 pm | Report abuse |
  13. s kel

    Our ruler will put a stop to this. He won. Get over it.

    January 14, 2013 at 9:21 pm | Report abuse |
  14. Joey Isotta-Fraschini ©™

    @ s kel's name has been hijacked often recently. He is an intelligent and heroic firefighter.

    January 14, 2013 at 9:25 pm | Report abuse |
  15. Chrissy

    I hate guns and really dont wanta be near one but i would hate even more not to be able to have one if ever i may need it for protection just because the gov says so! The city i live in is population ll,000 and we have 3 cops per shift because the city is broke. If i cant count on law enforcement for protection then i need to be able to count on myself! And that is my RIGHT as a citizen of the US!

    January 14, 2013 at 9:33 pm | Report abuse |
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