Federal government "shutdown" does not affect NICS background checks on guns

By Bob Owens | 7:03 AM | October 02, 2013

There are rumors swirling that the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Instant Background Check System (FBI NICS) is being affected by the political drama of the federal government shutdown (which is far from an actual shutdown, but that’s another story for another publication).

Nothing could be further from the truth.

The NICS system is classified as an “essential government service” and will continue operating regardless of how long the so-called “shutdown” endures.

In fact, anecdotal evidence suggests that gun sales are actually up during the shutdown, since federal employees have time on their hands.

Perhaps some range time is in order?

Bob Owens is the Editor of BearingArms.com. Bob is a graduate of roughly 400 hours of professional firearms training classes, including square range and force-on force work with handguns and carbines. He is a past volunteer instructor with Project Appleseed. He most recently received his Vehicle Close Quarters Combat Instructor certification from Centrifuge Training, and is the author of the short e-book, So You Want to Own a Gun. He can be found on Twitter at bob_owens.