Washington, DC 20226

March 2, 1999

Open Letter to All Colorado Federal Firearms Licensees — Correction Notice

On November 12, 1998, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) sent an open letter to all Colorado Federal firearms licensees advising you of your responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law. This letter advised you that the Colorado Bureau of Investigation would act as the point of contact for background checks through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) for all firearms transactions. On February 1, 1999, the Colorado Department of Public Safety notified ATF and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) that the Colorado Bureau of Investigation will cease its operations as the NICS point of contact on March 31, 1999.

Therefore, beginning April 1, 1999, in order to initiate a NICS check for any firearm, Colorado licensees must contact the FBI’s NICS Operations Center by dialing 1-877-FBI-NICS (1-877-324-6427). Your call will be answered by an automated menu that will allow you to select from several customer services including initiating a NICS background check.

Licensees must be enrolled with the FBI before they can initiate NICS checks through the FBI’s NICS Operations Center. Licensees who are not currently enrolled are advised to do so upon receipt of this letter. To enroll, call the NICS Operations Center at 1-877-444-NICS. Licensees who have previously enrolled can expect to receive confirmation of their enrollment from the FBI by March 1, 1999. In addition, you are reminded that you should continue to contact the Colorado Bureau of Investigation for background checks until March 31, 1999.

Also as a reminder, you must comply with the following steps prior to transferring a firearm:

  1. Have the transferee complete and sign ATF Form 4473, Firearms Transaction Record.
  2. Verify the identity of the transferee through a Government-issued photo identification (for example, a driver’s license).
  3. Contact NICS. You will get either a “proceed,” “denied” or “delayed” response from the system. If you get a “delayed” response and there is no additional response from the system, you may transfer the firearm after three business days have elapsed. Of course, you must still comply with any waiting period requirements under State law.
  4. If you have initiated a NICS check for a proposed firearms transaction, but the transfer of the firearm is not completed, you must retain the Form 4473 in your records for a period of not less than 5 years. If the transfer is completed, the Form 4473 must be retained for at least 20 years.

All other information contained in the November 12, 1998, letter is correct. We apologize for any inconvenience this change may have caused.

Jimmy Wooten
Assistant Director
Firearms, Explosives and Arson