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NICS Alerts Gun Retailers Of Busy Season Hours

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Washington, DC --(AmmoLand.com)- The FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) has announced hours for its busy season, which began Oct. 1 and will continue through Jan. 16.

During this time, NICS Section operational hours will be from 6 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. Eastern Time, with state point of contacts (POCs) being placed in service at 7 a.m. and out of service at 1:30 a.m. EST.

NICS call centers will maintain their normal daily operations hours of 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. EST. One day that will deviate from this schedule will be the day after Thanksgiving (Nov. 27), when NICS will come in full service at 6 a.m. EST.

This will include the call centers, state POCs and NICS Section. The NICS Section is closed Christmas Eve at midnight and all day on Christmas.

NICS operations will resume on Dec. 26 at 6 a.m. EST. The state POCs will resume at 7 a.m. and the call center at 8 a.m. EST.

Filed under: Shooting Industry News by AmmoLand No Comments »

Firearm Sales Background Checks Up 12.4% In September

National Shooting Sports Foundation

Newtown, CT --(AmmoLand.com)- Background checks on the sale of firearms were up 12.4 percent in September, according to data released by the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).

A total of 1,093,230 checks were reported for the month, up from 973,003 in September 2008.

FBI background checks are required under federal law for all individuals purchasing either newly manufactured or used firearms from federally licensed retailers.

NICS Gun Buyer Background Checks September 2009

As such, the checks serve as a gauge of sales but do not reflect the actual number of firearms produced or sold.

The increase coincides with a rise in excise taxes reported by firearms and ammunition manufacturers, another key economic indicator for the firearms industry.

About:
Formed in 1961, the National Shooting Sports Foundation is the trade association for the firearms industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports.

Filed under: Firearm News, Shooting Industry News by AmmoLand 1 Comment »