PICS Denials in Hopeland, PA
PICS Denials in Hopeland, PA
If you have had a PICS denial in Hopeland, PA, the chances are you’re confused and don’t know why you have been denied. If you were denied the purchase of a firearm from a dealer in Hopeland, PA at a gun store or a gun show, a PICS denial or Undetermined Status is the reason. If you were denied a License to Carry Firearms (concealed carry license) it is usually because of a PICS denial or Undetermined Status, but can be due to “character and reputation” as decided by the issuing authority. Under federal law, when you buy a gun from a dealer, you must fill out a Form 4473 and submit to a background check. In Pennsylvania the background check is called a PICS Check (Pennsylvania Instant Check System). With a PICS Check, the Pennsylvania State Police serve as a point of contact for the NICS (National Instant Check System), which is run by the FBI. Under Pennsylvania law, most handgun transfers between private parties must go through a dealer which require the appropriate paperwork (Form 4473 and SP 4-113) and a PICS Check. The law also allows the transfer to take place at the Sheriff’s Office, who will still run a PICS check. There are very limited exceptions for handgun transfers between parent/child, grandparent/grandchild, and between spouses, provided both parties are Pennsylvania residents.
What is the difference between a Hopeland, PA PICS Denial and an Undetermined Status?
Functionally, there is no difference between a PICS denial and an undetermined status. You are still subject to the same deadlines and will still need a successful PICS Challenge to proceed with your purchase or License to Carry Firearms (concealed carry license). Because of that, you should treat an undetermined status with the same approach and sense of urgency that you would a PICS denial. In the technical sense, with an undetermined status the PICS Challenge Unit will need additional information to make a determination. With a PICS denial, the PICS Challenge Unit believes it has information that serves as a basis for denial. It is important to note that neither of these designations suggest any particular outcome. A person who has been denied may not be prohibited, and a person with an undetermined status may in fact be prohibited. Again, you should treat them each with the same approach and sense of urgency.
A Pennsylvania Pardon can help restore your gun rights in Hopeland, PA
We believe in the right to protect yourself and your loved ones, so we help hard-working successful individual restore their gun rights. Most people would not be able to live with themselves if their spouse or child were harmed and a conviction stopped them from adequately protecting their family. A pardon is often the only way to restore your gun rights if you are prohibited from possessing firearms based on a Pennsylvania conviction. Do not be fooled into thinking that you will restore your rights with Clean Slate Limited Access or Limited Access petitions, because criminal justice agencies will still be able to see your convictions and use them against you. Some people even erroneously call these “expungements” even though the records will not be destroyed and the petitioner will still be prohibited from possessing firearms. The famous saying is “there are no shortcuts” and when it comes to restoring your rights from a Pennsylvania conviction, that saying rings true.
How can I find out if I can legally own a gun in Pennsylvania?
When you buy a gun in Hopeland, PA, the dealer must run a background check called a PICS Check (Pennsylvania Instant Check System). You can only run a PICS Check in connection with a transfer or if you are applying for a License to Carry Firearms (concealed carry license). When you are filling out the paperwork to buy a gun or apply for a License to Carry Firearms (concealed carry license) you should NEVER GUESS for any of your answers. If you fail the background check (PICS denial) when you are trying to buy a gun in Pennsylvania, you could face criminal prosecution for a felony! Even if you thought you answered the questions correctly, many people are still prosecuted for their mistake. At The Gun Law Firm, we have performed firearms eligibility investigations for our clients since 2016 to avoid this problem. We thoroughly review our clients’ criminal records, mental health records, and much more to determine whether you can legally own a gun in Pennsylvania.
If I have had a Hopeland PICS Denial in the past, will I be denied again?
If you have had a PICS denial in the past, the chances are you will be denied again. There are some reasons why a person can be temporarily prohibited from possessing firearms, but these situations are more rare. Even if your PICS denial is based upon inaccurate information, the Pennsylvania Instant Check System (PICS) will still contain that information without a successful challenge. That is why it is so important to handle a PICS denial or undetermined status with a sense of urgency and contact an experienced firearms attorney as soon as possible.
What if my Hopeland, PA PICS denial investigation shows that I can’t legally own a gun?
An investigation by an experienced firearms attorney is always valuable after a PICS denial, even if it turns out you are prohibited from possessing firearms and can’t legally own a gun. There are two primary areas of concern after a PICS denial when a person is in fact prohibited: 1) criminal prosecution, and 2) restoration of rights. If you fail the background check (PICS denial) when you are trying to buy a gun in Pennsylvania, you could unfortunately face criminal prosecution for a felony. Even if you thought you answered the questions correctly, many people are still prosecuted for their mistake. It is important to never make any statements to the police about your case without a lawyer present who is very familiar with firearms laws. There also may be an avenue to restore your rights if you are prohibited. At The Gun Law Firm, we have helped people restore their firearms rights since our inception.