FIST-1 Annual Survey of Background Checks for Firearm Transfers

U.S DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
BUREAU OF JUSTICE STATISTICS (BJS)

OMB NO. 1121-0314: Approval Expires (__/__/20__)

(REJIS ACTING AS DATA COLLECTION AGENT)

FORM FIST-1

2019 FIREARMS INQUIRY STATISTICS (FIST)

Annual Survey of Background Checks for Firearm Transfers and Permits
Please correct any errors in the name and address information that is printed below.

OFFICIAL AGENCY NAME (If different from above)
9-DIGIT NCIC-ORI NUMBER
PERSON COMPLETING THE FORM
NAME

TITLE

TELEPHONE

FAX

E-MAIL ADDRESS
IMPORTANT – Please answer the following questions before proceeding with the questionnaire. Mark [X]
in the appropriate box below.
Did your agency record, process, or conduct background checks for firearm transfers or permits at any time
between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2019?
Yes  If applicable, please list any other agencies for whom you conduct these activities:
(Agency Name(s))

No  The authorized permit recording, processing, or checking agency for your jurisdiction is:
(Agency Name(s))

If your response to the above question is “No” or if the following condition applies, you do not need to
complete the questionnaire. Mark an [X] in the appropriate box below and return the survey using the
instructions below.
Agency no longer in existence
Agency employed only part-time officers AND the total combined hours of work for these officers averaged
less than 35 hours per week
RETURN INSTRUCTIONS
Please submit your completed form by using the web reporting option at rejis.org/FIST, mailing it to the
Regional Justice Information Service (REJIS) in the enclosed postage paid envelope, or faxing each page to 1314-535-1729.
• If you have any questions, comments, or feedback about the survey, please call the FIST project manager toll
free at 1-800-531-2150, or send an e-mail to [email protected].
• Please retain a copy of your completed survey for 1 year.
•

Burden Statement

Federal agencies may not conduct or sponsor an information collection, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information,
unless it displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 25
minutes per response, including time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed,
and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate, or any other aspects of this
collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the Director, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 810 Seventh Street, NW,
Washington, DC 20531. The Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, as amended (42 USC 3732), authorizes this information
collection.

OMB NO. 1121-0314: Approval Expires (__/__/20__)

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INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING THE FORM
Please mark ‘X’ in the appropriate boxes.
If possible, please answer all questions for the entire calendar year (January through December) 2019. If data
are available for only part of the year, please supply any available information in the spaces provided.
If the answer to a question is “not available” or “unknown,” write “DK” in the space provided.
If the answer to a question is “not applicable,” write “NA” in the space provided.
If the answer to a question is “none” or “zero,” write “0” in the space provided. Please respond with zero only
when the actual total reported count is zero, as opposed to when the data are not known or unavailable.
When an exact numeric response is not available, provide an estimate and mark the estimate box next to the
number field. Please provide a brief explanation in Section II to describe how the estimates were calculated.
Please do not leave any items blank unless otherwise directed.

Section I –APPLICATIONS AND DENIALS
1. Between January 1, 2019 and December 31,
2019, how many applications for Purchase
Permits (Transfer Permits) were recorded or
retained by your agency? (Please make an
estimate if the exact counts of applications are not
known.)

Mark ‘x’ if
estimate

Applications

3. Does your agency record the reason(s) why an
application was denied? (Please indicate “Yes” if
your agency had zero denials in 2019, but you would
record the reason(s) for a denial if one were
processed. Please also indicate “Yes” if you can
provide estimates for reasons for denial.)
Yes
No (skip to question number 6)
4. What is recorded for the reason(s) why an
application was denied?

___________________

All reasons for denial are recorded
2. Between January 1, 2019 and December 31,
2019, how many applications for Purchase
Permits (Transfer Permits) were denied? A denial
occurs when an applicant is prohibited from
receiving a firearm or permit that can be used to
obtain a firearm because a disqualifying factor was
found during a background check. (Please make an
estimate if the exact counts of denials are not known.)
Mark ‘x’ if
estimate

Denials

___________________

Only the first reason found during the
background check is recorded

Only the most serious charge listed on the
criminal history is recorded
Other method of recording (Please explain
below or in Comments section.)

Don’t know

5. For denials recorded in 2019, why was the
application denied? List total counts (including
zeros, where applicable) for each reason for a denial.
Please include all federal, state, and local law reasons
for denial within the most appropriate category.
Mark ‘x’ in the checkbox provided for any estimated
counts.
Transfers

Mark ‘x’ if
estimate

a. Felony indictment or
charge………………….………..
b. Felony conviction…..............
c. Felony arrest with no
disposition...............................
d. Fugitive or outstanding
warrant………………………..…..
e. Domestic violence
misdemeanor…....…….….......
f. Domestic violence,
protective or restraining
order………………………..………
g. Addicted to or unlawful
user of a controlled
substance….…………….…….…
h. Mental health
commitment or
adjudication….….…..…………
i. Illegal or unlawful alien…...
j. State law prohibitor
(if not included in above
categories)………………..….…..
k. Local law prohibitor
(if not included in above
categories)………….…..………..
l. Other reasons not
included above (including
juveniles and dishonorable
discharge)………………………
(After answering this question, skip to question
number 7)

6. If possible, please estimate what proportion
(percentage) of your agency’s denials are made
up of the following reasons:
Felony arrests, charges, and convictions

______

Domestic violence convictions and
protective (restraining) orders

______

State law prohibitor (if not included in
above categories)
Other reasons not included above
(including juveniles and dishonorable
discharge)

______

______

7. Do any of the counts you provided for any of the
items throughout the survey cover only part of
the year?
Yes (please specify below or in Comments
section):
-Which counts cover only part of the year
-The months that are covered

No

Section II - COMMENTS
Please include any comments that would better explain how your agency collects information for firearm
transfers or permits, including the names of any permit or transfer types not listed on this form that you record,
process, or conduct background checks for. If the reported totals are estimates please provide a brief explanation
to describe how the estimates were calculated.
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