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Firearms License Applications: Processing Improvements Made But Applicant Qualification Checks Limited

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Report Type Reports and Testimonies
Report Date Nov. 2, 1992
Report No. GGD-93-20BR
Subject
Summary:

This briefing report reviews how efficiently the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) processes firearms license applications. GAO found that 10 percent of the applications submitted during its survey week in November 1991 were not approved by ATF within the statutorily mandated 45-day period, instead taking up to 71 days to be processed. In addition, ATF's method of tracking and reporting late applications was inaccurate. GAO believes that the licensing process could be made more efficient and that most license issuances could be accelerated. Finally, because of (1) weaknesses in the completeness and the currency of state and federal criminal history record systems and (2) difficulty in verifying other applicant qualifiers, ATF could not guarantee that firearms applicants met all qualifications.

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