The National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) was implemented in
November 1998 to facilitate the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act's (Brady Act)
requirement that background inquiries be performed on prospective gun buyers before gun
dealers can transfer a firearm. NICS background checks are initiated by gun dealers who
contact either the FBI-contracted call centers or through a designated state Point-Of-Contact
(POC), who performs the checks on behalf of the FBI. The NICS Program has established an …