Lawmakers urge implementation of Fix NICS Act

A group of lawmakers recently petitioned the Justice Department to implement information from requisite agencies via the Fix NICS Act, which requires steps to assess progress in database correction.

Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Tim Scott (R-SC), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) forwarded correspondence to Attorney General William Barr regarding the request.

“This law is an important step in updating our criminal background check system and ensuring that convicted criminals cannot purchase firearms,” the lawmakers wrote. “The Fix NICS Act required a series of steps to be taken and set benchmarks to assess progress in correcting problems with the NICS database. Unfortunately, it has come to our attention that several agencies, including the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security, have yet to comply in full with the Fix NICS reporting requirements.”

The legislators maintain the missing records undermine the effectiveness of the NICS system and put innocent lives at risk.

“As the Department of Defense Office of the Inspector General (DOD OIG) Report shows, agencies must implement better policies to ensure they are reporting the necessary and appropriate records to the databases,” the lawmakers wrote.