New Bill Requires Annual Report Detailing Demographics of NICS Firearm Purchase Denials

A straightforward new piece of legislation, the NICS Data Reporting Act, directs the Attorney General to compile and submit an annual report to Congress. This report will focus specifically on the demographic details of individuals who are denied a firearm purchase because they failed a background check through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). The core purpose is to provide lawmakers with a clearer picture of who is being flagged by the system.

Digging into the Data

The bill mandates the collection of several specific demographic points for those denied firearm purchases. According to Section 2, the report must include data on race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, gender, age, and disability. It also asks for average annual income and English language proficiency, but crucially adds the qualifier "if available" for these points, acknowledging potential data gaps. This isn't about individual identities; the focus is on aggregated demographic trends within the NICS denial pool.

Reporting Requirements and Timeline

This isn't a one-off request. The legislation requires this demographic breakdown to be delivered annually to both the Senate and House Judiciary Committees. The first report has a deadline: it must be submitted no later than one year after the bill becomes law. Essentially, this sets up a regular flow of information from the executive branch (specifically the Department of Justice, which oversees NICS) to the legislative branch, aimed at shedding light on the outcomes of the federal background check process.