Annual
The Firearm Inquiry Statistics (FIST) program collects information on firearm applications and denials and combines this information with the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) transaction data to produce an estimated number of background checks for firearm transfers or permits since the effective date of the Brady Act in 1994. Reports describe trends in background check activities and the number of firearm transaction applications processed by the FBI and by state and local agencies, the number of applications denied, reasons for denial, and estimates of applications by jurisdiction and by each type of approval system.
The Firearm Inquiry Statistics (FIST) program collects data from state agencies that conduct background checks or compile data from local checking agencies, local agencies that conduct background checks or track applications but do not report to a state agency, and the FBI.
State laws determine which governmental agencies conduct background checks for a firearm transfer or permit. For FIST, it is important to distinguish between local agencies that are authorized by statute to conduct background checks and local agencies that actually conduct them. For example, local agencies in certain states may be legally authorized, but not required, to conduct background checks for firearm transfers or permits.
BJS determined that eligible reporting agencies should be those that were authorized and known to conduct background checks or maintained information on critical FIST data elements, which included applications, denials, and reasons for denial when reported. Agencies that delegated background check functions to other checking agencies were considered out of scope if they neither conducted nor maintained records of checks. Other out-of-scope agencies were those that had closed since the prior year collection and those that had only part-time employees who each worked less than 35 hours per week.
The sampling frame includes local reporting agencies that responded to the FIST survey at least once in the previous 3 years and had a verified status of conducting background checks or of processing or tracking applications for firearm transfers or permits. New state firearm legislation and the ATF Permanent Brady Permit Chart were reviewed to determine if any states should be added to the frame.