United States Code

18 U.S.C. § 925B

Reporting of background check denials to State authorities

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Bills that would change it 11

  • S 2191 AMMO Act Amends · introduced · 119th Congress
  • HR 3115 Assault Weapons Ban of 2025 Amends · introduced · 119th Congress
  • S 1531 Assault Weapons Ban of 2025 Amends · introduced · 119th Congress
  • HR 6596 Gun Violence Prevention and Community Safety Act of 2023 Amends · introduced · 118th Congress
  • S 3407 Gun Violence Prevention and Community Safety Act of 2023 Amends · introduced · 118th Congress
  • S 3223 AMMO Act Amends · introduced · 118th Congress
  • HR 698 Assault Weapons Ban of 2023 Amends · introduced · 118th Congress
  • S 25 Assault Weapons Ban of 2023 Amends · introduced · 118th Congress
  • HR 9624 Gun Violence Prevention and Community Safety Act of 2022 Amends · introduced · 117th Congress
  • S 5299 Gun Violence Prevention and Community Safety Act of 2022 Amends · introduced · 117th Congress
  • HR 1808 Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 Amends · introduced · 117th Congress

The law today

From the official United States Code, current through Public Law 119-121.

(a) In General.— If the national instant criminal background check system established under section 103 of the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act (34 U.S.C. 40901) (referred to in this section as “NICS”) provides a notice pursuant to section 922(t) that the receipt of a firearm by a person would violate subsection (g) or (n) of section 922 or State, local, or Tribal law, the Attorney General shall, in accordance with subsection (b) of this section— (1) report to the local law enforcement authority of the State or Tribe where the person sought to acquire the firearm and, if different, the local law enforcement authorities of the State or Tribe of residence of the person— (A) that the notice was provided; (B) the Federal, State, local or Tribal prohibition; (C) the date and time the notice was provided; (D) the location of the licensee where the firearm was sought to be transferred; and (E) the identity of the person; and (2) where practicable, report the incident to State and local prosecutors or Tribal prosecutors in the jurisdiction where the firearm transfer was sought. (b) Requirements for Report.— A report is made in accordance with this subsection if the report is made under subsection (a) within 24 hours after the NICS denies a firearm transfer in accordance with section 922(t) of title 18, United States Code, except that the making of the report may be delayed for so long as is necessary to avoid compromising an ongoing investigation. (c) Amendment of Report.— If a report is made in accordance with subsection (b) and, after such report is made, the Federal Bureau of Investigation determines that the receipt of a firearm by a person for whom the report was made would not violate subsection (g) or (n) of section 922 or State, local, or Tribal law, the Attorney General shall notify any law enforcement authority and any prosecutor to whom the report was made of that determination. (d) Rule of Construction.— Nothing in subsection (a) shall be construed to require a report with respect to a person to be made to the same State authorities that made the original denial determination with respect to the transfer of the firearm.
Official text at uscode.house.gov ↗