Explore The NRA Universe Of Websites

APPEARS IN News

James Jay Baker Letter On Background Checks

Tuesday, May 22, 2001

The March 29, 2001, USA TODAY article highlighting the shortcomings in our nation`s system for doing instant background checks on gun buyers labors in vain to identify the real causes of these problems. Let me clarify that these are not just problems of the National Instant Check System (NICS), but were true of the original Brady waiting period as well.

The root of the problem goes back to 1993 when Congress passed the Brady Act, calling on the FBI to create NICS. This system was to be designed to screen criminal history records instantly--without any waiting period--on all customers attempting to make firearms purchases from federally licensed dealers. Congress spent over $300 million and gave the Department of Justice five years to upgrade state criminal record histories so that the promise of "instant check" would live up to its name.

Over those five years, numerous members of Congress wrote to then-Attorney General Janet Reno and asked for a status report on NICS. Every single one of those inquiries went unanswered.

What happened?

In March 2000, the General Accounting Office (GAO)--the investigative arm of Congress--released details of their investigation into the FBI`s implementation and operation of the NICS. This audit indicated that several significant failures of the Justice Department and the Clinton Administration prevented the system from performing as Congress intended.

Some of the more glaring failures highlighted by the GAO audit are at the most rudimentary level of database development and management. For instance, the GAO found no back-up system in place. Additionally, instead of building a dedicated database containing the necessary information to do the job, the FBI strung together existing databases (with volumes of irrelevant data) creating a system that is balky and inaccurate. The end result is a system that had yet to meet its own standards for system security when it was audited 15 months into its existence.

Perhaps the most perplexing question was why the Department of Justice apparently failed to use the allocated resources to buy the necessary computer hardware and software to develop and advance an "instant check" database. Sources inside the Clinton-Reno Department of Justice have told us that money was largely wasted instead on items like fingerprinting equipment. In truth, no one can really say how the money was spent as the Clinton-Reno Department of justice never performed a systemic audit.

Again, what happened?

The answer is politics, Clinton style.

President Clinton was determined not to allow NICS to succeed. The Department of Justice, Attorney General Reno and the Clinton administration dragged their feet to fuel the political fire in support of a waiting period. Success of NICS would have granted a victory to one of the former President`s bitter enemies, the National Rifle Association.

Here we stand, 8 years later and with over $300 million in taxpayer money spent. Unfortunately, all we have to show for it is a woefully inadequate system. But, times have changed. We have a new administration, a new Justice Department and new members of Congress. It is my sincere hope that together we can finally develop an efficient "instant check" system that will deliver its promise to the people--a promise supported by the NRA in congressional testimony for nearly 15 years.

Sincerely,

James Jay Baker
Executive Director
Institute for Legislative Action, National Rifle Association

IN THIS ARTICLE
Background Checks/NICS
TRENDING NOW
Colorado: Mandatory Storage Bill Passes General Assembly and Semi-Auto Ban Temporarily Removed from Calendar

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Colorado: Mandatory Storage Bill Passes General Assembly and Semi-Auto Ban Temporarily Removed from Calendar

In a temporary reprieve for Colorado gun owners, the semi-auto ban HB24-1292 has been removed from the calendar. But we cannot let our guard down as gun control advocates can bring it up for a vote at ...

The U.S. Supreme Court Looks at Government “Blacklists”

News  

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

The U.S. Supreme Court Looks at Government “Blacklists”

Much of the attention this past week in the United States Supreme Court was the oral arguments in National Rifle Association of America v. Vullo, No. 22-842, a First Amendment case on whether government officials ...

25 years and one PLCAA Later, Chicago is Still Harassing Gunmakers

News  

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

25 years and one PLCAA Later, Chicago is Still Harassing Gunmakers

On March 19, the city of Chicago filed suit against handgun manufacturer Glock. Seeking to shift responsibility for the city’s woeful governance, Chicago’s lawsuit blames the popular firearm manufacturer for the third-party criminal misuse of ...

Washington: Governor Signs Anti-Gun Legislation

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Washington: Governor Signs Anti-Gun Legislation

Today, Governor Inslee signed five anti-gun bills into law that were recently passed by the Washington State Legislature. The bills include:

Colorado: Semi-Auto Ban Passes Committee and Sensitive Places Bill Hearing Rescheduled for Today!

Wednesday, March 20, 2024

Colorado: Semi-Auto Ban Passes Committee and Sensitive Places Bill Hearing Rescheduled for Today!

Yesterday the House Judiciary Committee held a hearing on House Bill 24-1292, the semi-auto ban, that lasted over 12 hours where hundreds of patriotic Coloradans overloaded the committee with opposition testimony. The hearing concluded with an ...

NRA Files Amicus Brief Asking Supreme Court to Hear Antonyuk v. James

News  

Second Amendment  

Monday, March 25, 2024

NRA Files Amicus Brief Asking Supreme Court to Hear Antonyuk v. James

In response to the NRA’s victory in Bruen, which secured every American’s right to carry arms, NY passed the “Concealed Carry Improvement Act,” severely restricting carry throughout the state. The 2nd Circuit upheld many of ...

Pennsylvania: Senate Committee Passes Full Inclusion Sunday Hunting

Wednesday, March 20, 2024

Pennsylvania: Senate Committee Passes Full Inclusion Sunday Hunting

On Wednesday, the Senate Game & Fisheries Committee voted 7-4 to pass Senate Bill 67 to the Senate floor for a vote. 

Grassroots Spotlight: Michigan Grassroots

Take Action  

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Grassroots Spotlight: Michigan Grassroots

It's been a busy start to the year in the Wolverine State, as the Michigan NRA-ILA Grassroots Team has been out alerting and educating members and supporters on the critical changes in gun laws and working to stop ...

Louisiana: Firearms Bills on the Move - Take Action Now!

Monday, March 25, 2024

Louisiana: Firearms Bills on the Move - Take Action Now!

A number of firearm-related bills, including enhanced preemption, are moving in the Louisiana Legislature. It's critical that NRA members and Second Amendment supporters get involved to keep the momentum going!

Kentucky: Credit Card Data Privacy Bill Passed Into Law

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Kentucky: Credit Card Data Privacy Bill Passed Into Law

Today, Governor Andy Beshear let HB 357, the Merchant Category Code ban legislation pass into law without his signature. Your NRA would like to thank Representatives Derek Lewis (R, H-90), Michael Meredith (R, H-19), and Senator ...

MORE TRENDING +
LESS TRENDING -

More Like This From Around The NRA

NRA ILA

Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the "lobbying" arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.