FAQs FROM TICS

I thought I would pass along some questions and answers from an email that I received from TBI. It might answer some questions you might have or clear up something you've experienced while trying to purchase a firearm:

Q1. Why was I denied?

A1. You must complete an "Appeal of Denial of Attempted Firearm Transfer" form and send it to TICS before the reason for your denial can be discussed with you. TICS must protect the confidentiality of your transaction and will not discuss it with other parties, including your firearm dealer, your spouse or your attorney. Once the appeal form is received, TICS begins a review process and attempts to obtain information it may need to review in order to overturn the denial or uphold it. TICS contacts arresting agencies and clerks of court on your behalf, seeking the missing information and continues to seek the information for 15 days from the date your appeal is received unless it receives the requested information before 15 days have expired.

Q2. I previously attempted to purchase a firearm and was denied, but upon filing an appeal, it was overturned and I was allowed to get the firearm. I just tried to buy another firearm and was denied again. What is going on—this was supposed to be cleared up months ago?

A2. If your previous denial was overturned, it became an approved transaction and under existing state and federal law, TICS cannot retain information on approved firearm purchases. Documentation previously submitted by you or either the arresting agency or clerk of court, may have been sufficient for TICS to overturn the denial but not sufficient for the TBI’s Records & Identification Unit and/or the FBI’s Criminal History Records Information Data Correction Unit to make permanent changes to their records on you. Submission of the proper forms by the arresting agency or clerk of court will eventually result in your record being posted by TBI and the FBI. Such documentation may be the R-84 Final Disposition Report Form, or an official Order for Expunction.

Q3. Why am I asked to provide my Social Security Account Number? The federal form 4473 that I filled out lists the SSAN as optional?

A3. Tennessee law states that if the purchaser has been provided with a SSAN, the gun dealer (FFL) must furnish that number to TICS. Provision of the SSAN to TICS does not mean that the number will be retained in TBI’s files. As stated above, if the transfer is approved, all records of the transfer must be destroyed. That includes the SSAN. All records are destroyed nightly at 10:45 PM. By furnishing your SSAN to the FFL and TICS, you are helping speed up the data search and to eliminate false matches. It may help speed up the search by providing an additional identifier that can be used to help eliminate false name search "hits".

Q4. I have a Tennessee Handgun "Carry" Permit. Why do I have to have a TICS/NICS check done to be able to purchase a firearm?

A4. Tennessee’s Handgun "Carry" Permit does not meet the requirements of the federal Brady Bill because it lacks a requirement for an annual re-check of the permit holder’s criminal history, and it does not require a check through the National Instant Check System (NICS). Therefore, purchasers holding a valid TN Handgun "Carry" Permit still have to have a TICS/NICS check performed when purchasing a firearm. NOTE: the "Carry" Permit may be used as a Primary source of identification for a person attempting to purchase a firearm if, and only if, it contains the purchaser’s photograph, date of birth, and current address.

Q5. Why do I have to show proof of address if the address on my identification doesn’t match where I live, and why isn’t a Post Office Box good enough for an address?

A5. A Post Office Box is not a sufficient address because you don’t live at the Post Office. The federal form 4473, Section A, No. 2, requires your residence address. If you furnished primary identification that did not have your current address on it, you must show proof of your current residence through a secondary form of identification that is acceptable. All federal firearm dealers are supposed to make sure that the purchaser’s correct and current address is listed on the form.

Q6. I sent TICS an Appeal Form a while back and haven’t heard anything back. Why haven’t I heard anything?

A6. You may have sent the Appeal Form to the wrong address
or to the wrong FAX number. You may also have waited too long to appeal the denial. A firearm transaction is valid for only 30 days and if you waited longer than that to appeal, your appeal is invalid. TICS has 15 days from receipt of an appeal to make a decision. During that time, TICS contacts the arresting law enforcement agency and/or the clerk of the court in an attempt to obtain a final disposition of any outstanding charges against you. If TICS receives a response during the 15 day period, TICS will review the documentation and make a decision. If the denied transaction can be overturned, both you and the gun dealer will be notified by telephone. If TICS does not receive the necessary documentation, TICS will issue a CONDITIONAL PROCEED and advise the gun dealer that he/she may, at his/her discretion, transfer the firearm.

Q7. Where can I get an Appeal Form?

A7. All federal firearm licensees have the forms in stock. The dealer you attempted to purchase the firearm from should have given you a form and assisted you in filling it out. The dealer should also have furnished you with your Firearm Transaction Number to place on the form. Many dealers will fax the form to TICS for you.

Q8. What is a Conditional Proceed?

A8. If during the TICS/NICS search of your name and descriptor data through TBI and FBI files, TICS locates a record with outstanding felony charges or charges that are undeterminable as a felony, TICS will initially deny the transaction. Once you file an appeal, TICS begins a process of trying to obtain final disposition information on the charge(s) to help with making a final decision as to your eligibility or ineligibility to purchase or possess a firearm. If TICS cannot obtain the information within the mandatory 15 day time limit, TICS assigns the transaction a CONDITIONAL PROCEED status and advises the dealer that he/she may, at his/her discretion, transfer the firearm. This status does not mean the dealer must complete the transfer. That decision is, at this point, solely up to the dealer who may choose not to transfer the firearm to you. If the dealer chooses not to transfer the firearm to you, your only appeal of that decision is to the FBI’s NICS Appeals Services Unit—TICS did not deny the transfer.

Q9. How long does an appeal take?

A9. The time it takes to appeal a denied transfer must be completed in 30 days or less. The transaction is only valid for 30 days. For this reason, you should immediately appeal a denial if you feel the denial was in error or if you feel that there is information available that could clear up the reason you were denied.

Q10. Why isn’t my record already cleared up? I have been through this process of attempting to purchase, getting denied, appealing the denial, submitting documentation and having the denial overturned. Why does this keep coming up?

A10. Perhaps the documentation you submitted was sufficient for TICS to be able to overturn its’ denial of your transaction but was not in the proper format for posting to your criminal history record maintained by the TBI’s Records & Identification Unit and/or the FBI’s Interstate Identification Index criminal history files. Both units require a standardized reporting form for final disposition information (the R-84 Final Disposition Report) and the form must be properly completed, signed and submitted to those units for processing. Upon receipt of this form, both units will post any final disposition to your arrest history so that it clearly shows what happened on the case/charge(s) the next time your criminal history record is reviewed. Expunction orders must also be in the proper format and must clearly identify the individual and the arrest information (date of arrest, exact wording of the charge(s), arresting agency, etc.) before the TBI and FBI will accept the data for processing. Finally, time is also a factor. Perhaps your record is part of a large backlog of records awaiting processing – the FBI receives several thousand paper documents to process each day.

Q11. I have purchased firearms several times in the past and each time I get denied. I have previously furnished TICS with documentation and the denial has been overturned. Subsequent purchases were denied, but TICS had the documentation available for review and quickly overturned the denials and let me purchase a firearm. I just tried to purchase another firearm and got denied again and was told that I would have to submit all the paperwork again. Why?

A11. Until about 2003, TICS maintained information submitted with appeal forms and information gathered by TICS during its research of denials. It was helpful to have in situations such as yours. TICS could quickly review the documents and determine if the reason for the current denial was the same as the previous one. If it was for the same reason and TICS had documentation that cleared the matter up, it was a quick decision to overturn the current denial. However, it has been determined that once a denial is overturned, it becomes an approval. No information may be retained on approved transfers. Therefore, the previously retained information was destroyed and is no longer available. Until your record is completely cleared up in state and federal criminal history databases, any firearm purchases you attempt will likely be denied. However, the FBI’s NICS has developed a Voluntary Appeal File that you can submit information into so as to help in situations where you repeatedly get denied. Have your firearm dealer contact TICS on your behalf and ask for a VAF packet to be sent to you.

HOPE THIS HELPS - IF YOU NEED CLARIFICATION ON ANY OF THIS, DON'T HESITATE TO STOP IN THE SHOP, CALL US, OR EMAIL US!!!!

ARCHERY SEASON IN TENNESSEE

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION WAS OBTAINED FROM THE TWRA 2008 TENNESSEE HUNTING & TRAPPING GUIDE. Olde Towne Sports Depot is not responsible for any errors in the publication.

ARCHERY DEER SEASON (includes crossbows) opens:

September 27 - October 24, 2008

October 27 - October 31, 2008

November 10 - November 21, 2008

Bag Limits for all of the above: 2 deer, either sex.

MUZZLELOADER AND ARCHERY:

November 1 - November 9, 2008
Bag Limit: 1 deer, antlered only (this deer may be either sex Nov 1-5)

December 12 - December 14, 2008
Bag Limit: 1 deer, antlered only


GUN, MUZZLELOADER AND ARCHERY:

November 22 - November 30, 2008
Bag Limit: 2 deer, antlered only


YOUNG SPORTSMAN**:

October 25-October 26, 2008

January 17-January 18, 2009

Bag Limit: 1 deer, either sex


**Youths 6-16 years of age only. Multiple youths must be accompanied by a non-hunting adult, 21 years of age or older, who must remain in a position to take immediate control of the hunting device and who must also comply with fluorescent orange regulations, as specificed for legal hunters. Youths 10 years of age or older must meet hunter education requirements.

STAY TUNED

We've noticed that we are getting more hits on our website - that's a good thing. Don't be bashful - you CAN leave a comment on the blog if you want. You can tell us if you would like to see different subjects, suggest a subject or even tell us you like the site!!!

Keep coming back - we have some specials coming up for the fall season. Even some give aways - ahhhhh - free stuff, you say? That's right - there are plans for some pretty good gifts for the lucky winners of our upcoming raffles now in the planning stages. AND, there will also be some items included in this blog that just might save you some money in the store. This day and age, any way to save money will be a welcomed addition. So, tell your friends about our site and like I said, KEEP COMING BACK.

NEW SIGN

As there is a lot of traffic going down Main Street and stopping at the red light - we thought it might be a good idea to "advertise" - so we put a sign on the side of the building. It is based on the color and similar setup of our business cards. We think it turned out extremely nice - thanks to Grafitti Expressions. If you need any kind of advertising, check them out: http://www.graffitiexpressions.com/.

TAURUS: A No-Bull History

Forjas Taurus ("Taurus forge") began as a small tool manufacturer in Porot Alegre, Brazil back in the 1930s. The company produced its first revolver, the Model 38101S0, in 1941, combining elements from several manufacturers of that day, including Colt, Smith &Wesson and certain Spanish brands.

Taurus soon became a major factor in the South American market and entered the U.S. market in 1968, employing the services of a succession of U.S. distributors over the next several years. Their efforts met with only marginal success and marginal acceptance by American shooters.

In the meantime, Smith & Wesson had been purchased by an international conglomerate named Banfor Punta, which later purchased 54 percent of Taurus. Thus, the two companies became "sisters" (neither ever owned the other), and over the years a great deal of technology and methodology were passed between the two. In fact, due to efforts to upgrade Smith & Wesson's factory, more technology and manufacturing know-how passed from Brazil to Springfield, Massachusetts, than vice versa.

Many of Taurus' young engineers did extended tours of duty at Smith & Wesson as part of that process. One of those was Carlos Murgel, who in 1977 , put together a group of investors that bought back Bangor Punta's 54 percent of Taurus outright. Dr. Murgel has since passed away, but the ownership structure continues today.

The change sparked a quest to improve overall quality of Taurus guns as well as an expansion program. Taurus eventually bought a factory that Beretta had built as part of a Brazillian government contract. Along with the purchase came tooling, machinery and a very experienced work force.

In 1982, Taurus opened Taurus USA, in Miami, Florida, to increase the firm's visibility here. Over the next several years, the company introduced guns such as the Raging Bull .454 Casull double-action revolver, the polymer-frame Millennium autoloader series, the 24/7 duty and service pistol family, the world's first all-titanium revolver line and also became the first company to offer its customers an unqualified lifetime repair policy.

Copied from Guns & Ammo Handguns (August/September 2008).

SAF & S&W

SAF and S&W announce a commemorative revolver.

Second Amendment Foundation and Smith & Wesson Partner on Commemorative Revolver

Engraved Model 442 Will Recognize District of Columbia vs. Heller Decision

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (July, 21, 2008) – The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) and Smith & Wesson have partnered to create a commemorative revolver designed to recognize the historical significance of the District of Columbia vs. Heller decision and to acknowledge the six original plaintiffs that united to challenge the gun ban in Washington, D.C.

As part of the project, an engraved Smith & Wesson Model 442 revolver will be presented to each of the six plaintiffs – Shelly Parker, Tom Palmer, Gillian St. Lawrence, Tracey Ambeau, George Lyon and Dick Heller – for their key roles in working to protect the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. Smith & Wesson will make the commemorative revolver available for consumer purchase in Fall 2008 and will direct a portion of the proceeds to the Second Amendment Foundation to acknowledge the organization’s pivotal role in the Heller case and its ongoing efforts to preserve the Second Amendment rights of U.S. citizens.

“We are proud to work with Smith & Wesson on this project,” said Alan Gottlieb, founder of the Second Amendment Foundation. “June 26 saw a landmark victory for the Second Amendment, and for all Americans. This is a fitting way to commemorate a significant moment in history, and support future efforts that will continue to strengthen our constitutional rights.”

The Smith & Wesson Model 442 will be laser engraved with an insignia to commemorate the ruling by the Supreme Court. On the right side plate of the revolver, the scale of justice is depicted with the wording “D.C. vs. Heller” across the scale. The balance is in favor of the “Heller” name with the court date of “June 26, 2008” positioned across the top. Underneath the scale, the side plate reads “Second Amendment” and “The right to keep and bear arms” in white lettering.

“We at Smith & Wesson are pleased to honor the six original plaintiffs in the case while at the same time offer to consumers a firearm that will help in the preservation and protection of the Second Amendment,” said Tom Taylor, Vice President of Marketing for Smith & Wesson. “The Second Amendment Foundation has worked diligently on the Heller case along with several other cases in the last two decades by promoting legal scholarship. Their contributions have helped to dramatically change the legal landscape and we are honored to partner with them on this project.”

SHOP ONLINE WITH OTSD

Can't make it to the store? Shop online through our link with Davidson's GuaranteeD!!!!! You can't go wrong with their Lifetime Replacement. Click on the link below and as always, do not hesitate to contact our friendly staff at 423/272-4501. We are open Tuesday through Friday from 9:30 am - 5:30 pm and Saturday from 9:00 am - 2:00 pm.

http://www4.davidsonsinc.com/consumers/subsites/dealer_home.asp?dealer_id=58865&preview=True