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Which states alert local officials when a person fails a background check?

13 states have adopted this policy

AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY

Notification of Failed Background Checks

Alabama has not adopted this policy

Notification of Failed Background Checks

Alaska has not adopted this policy

Notification of Failed Background Checks

Arizona has not adopted this policy

Notification of Failed Background Checks

Arkansas has not adopted this policy

Notification of Failed Background Checks

California has adopted this policy

Notification of Failed Background Checks

Colorado has adopted this policy

Notification of Failed Background Checks

Connecticut has adopted this policy

Notification of Failed Background Checks

Delaware has not adopted this policy

Notification of Failed Background Checks

Florida has not adopted this policy

Notification of Failed Background Checks

Georgia has not adopted this policy

Notification of Failed Background Checks

Hawaii has adopted this policy

Notification of Failed Background Checks

Idaho has not adopted this policy

Notification of Failed Background Checks

Illinois has adopted this policy

Notification of Failed Background Checks

Indiana has not adopted this policy

Notification of Failed Background Checks

Iowa has not adopted this policy

Notification of Failed Background Checks

Kansas has not adopted this policy

Notification of Failed Background Checks

Kentucky has not adopted this policy

Notification of Failed Background Checks

Louisiana has adopted this policy

Notification of Failed Background Checks

Maine has not adopted this policy

Notification of Failed Background Checks

Maryland has not adopted this policy

Notification of Failed Background Checks

Massachusetts has adopted this policy

Notification of Failed Background Checks

Michigan has not adopted this policy

Notification of Failed Background Checks

Minnesota has not adopted this policy

Notification of Failed Background Checks

Mississippi has not adopted this policy

Notification of Failed Background Checks

Missouri has not adopted this policy

Notification of Failed Background Checks

Montana has not adopted this policy

Notification of Failed Background Checks

Nebraska has not adopted this policy

Notification of Failed Background Checks

Nevada has not adopted this policy

Notification of Failed Background Checks

New Hampshire has not adopted this policy

Notification of Failed Background Checks

New Jersey has not adopted this policy

Notification of Failed Background Checks

New Mexico has not adopted this policy

Notification of Failed Background Checks

New York has not adopted this policy

Notification of Failed Background Checks

North Carolina has not adopted this policy

Notification of Failed Background Checks

North Dakota has not adopted this policy

Notification of Failed Background Checks

Ohio has not adopted this policy

Notification of Failed Background Checks

Oklahoma has not adopted this policy

Notification of Failed Background Checks

Oregon has adopted this policy

Notification of Failed Background Checks

Pennsylvania has adopted this policy

Notification of Failed Background Checks

Rhode Island has not adopted this policy

Notification of Failed Background Checks

South Carolina has not adopted this policy

Notification of Failed Background Checks

South Dakota has not adopted this policy

Notification of Failed Background Checks

Tennessee has adopted this policy

Notification of Failed Background Checks

Texas has not adopted this policy

Notification of Failed Background Checks

Utah has adopted this policy

Notification of Failed Background Checks

Vermont has not adopted this policy

Notification of Failed Background Checks

Virginia has adopted this policy

Notification of Failed Background Checks

Washington has adopted this policy

Notification of Failed Background Checks

West Virginia has not adopted this policy

Notification of Failed Background Checks

Wisconsin has not adopted this policy

Notification of Failed Background Checks

Wyoming has not adopted this policy

What It Does

Background checks stop thousands of prohibited gun sales every year.  It is critical that law enforcement is informed of the denials so they can stop these prohibited individuals from getting their hands on a gun in another way. While Congress enacted legislation in 2022 that requires the FBI to send a notification to state and local law enforcement within 24 hours for each of these denied background checks, several states have also added requirements to alert local officials each time a person fails a check, enabling officials to investigate and prevent further harm. A full discussion on the Background Check System is here. 

The Impact

Pennsylvania’s denials program has resulted in over 5,000 convictions of people attempting to purchase guns illegally since 1999.

Notification of Failed Background Checks

Policy adopted?
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Show Citations and Footnotes 
Source: Cal. Penal Code § 28220; Colo. Rev. Stat. § 24-33.5-424(5)(a); Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 29-33(c), 29-37a(d); Haw. Rev. Stat. § 134-2(j); 430 Ill. Comp. Stat. § 65/3.3; La. Stat. Ann. § 95.1.3(E)(1)-(2); ALM GL ch. 140, § 123(g); Or. Rev. Stat. §§ 166.412(7)(c)-(i), 166.436(5)(c); Tenn Code Ann. § 38-6-109(e); Utah Code Ann. § 76-10-526(9);  Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-308.2:2(B)(4); Wash. Rev. Code § 43.43.823. 

Pennsylvania State Police. (2019). Firearms annual report 2019. Retrieved January 1, 2022, from https://bit.ly/30V3Dww.

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