BJS releases report on background checks for firearm transfers

The Bureau of Justice Statistics released a report describing background checks for firearm transfers conducted in 2014, including partial data for 2013, and presents estimates of firearm applications received and denied annually since the effective date of the Brady Act through 2014. The tables provide data on:

• The number of firearm transaction applications processed by the FBI and by state and local agencies
• The number of applications denied and reasons for denial
• Estimates of applications by jurisdiction and by each type of approval system
• State-level 2014 estimates for states with local checking agencies.

Data are from BJS's Firearm Inquiry Statistics (FIST) program, which annually surveys state and local checking agencies to collect information on firearm background check activity and combines this information with FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) transaction data. 

To view the report, go to www.BJS.gov.