**GAO-05-127**                      Published: Jan 19, 2005. Publicly Released: Mar 08, 2005.                  

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## Highlights

Membership in a terrorist organization does not prohibit a person from owning a gun under current law. Thus, during presale screening of prospective firearms purchasers, the National Instant Criminal Background Check System historically did not utilize terrorist watch list records. However, for homeland security and other purposes, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and applicable state agencies began receiving notices (effective February 3, 2004) when such screening involved watch lists records. GAO determined (1) how many checks have resulted in valid matches with terrorist watch list records, (2) procedures for providing federal counterterrorism officials relevant information from valid-match background checks, and (3) the extent to which the FBI monitors or audits the states' handling of such checks.

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## Topics

Homeland Security

Counterterrorismstate relationsFirearmsGun control lawHomeland securityTerroristsInvestigations by federal agenciesLaw enforcement agenciesNational instant criminal background check systemTerrorism