Author Topic: Longest Background Check Ever?  (Read 9177 times)

0 Members and 6 Guests are viewing this topic.

Offline painter

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6231
Re: Longest Background Check Ever?
« Reply #45 on: May 05, 2019, 07:43:19 PM »
What an unpleasant experience!  Glad it is resolved and you are enjoying your new CZ P-10!

Thank you, gunbuster!  While I was unaware of the problem, my situation was like many people in the country- the records were not updated to show the resolution of my situation, therefore a proceed directive could not be issued.  I read recently that there was an attempt by court officers in Tennessee to update and clear some of the large number of people who had incomplete records like mine and are unaware that there is a problem.  I don't live in Tennessee, and as far as I know there is no initiative like that in my state.
 
As far as I knew, I should have been good to go, I didn't understand what the delay was for, but after a while it became obvious there was some kind of problem.  My FFL said I ought to apply for a carry permit as that involved a background check that's handled a little differently.  Two days later I got a letter from Clerk of Courts identifying the problem.
 
I didn't think it needed public air, but what the heck, someone may benefit from my experience, so here goes: back when I was an 18 year old freshman in college, some overzealous police officers grabbed my roommate and I during a drug bust on another floor of the dorm.  We had no drugs, didn't know the people being busted, didn't try to interfere, but got in the way before we knew what was happening and got thrown in with the other guys and charged the same.  There was no way the charge was going to stick, and it was downgraded to a misdemeanor obstruction charge (it should have been entirely dropped, but it's too late now). 

That felony arrest is all that was in my record, no mention of how it was resolved.  Over forty years later I try to buy my first firearm and when the FBI looks at my record there's no way they can give me a proceed, and there's nobody that's going to step up to do anything about it.  I was able to go the original courthouse in person (hundreds of miles away) and start the process that eventually was successful, but there was a time it looked like they may not be able to find the records since they were so old.  Without the help of a deputy Clerk of Courts that wanted to help make things right, I'd have been denied my right to own a gun.  This experience has given me some appreciation for how thin the line is between enjoying your rights and losing them, possibly unjustly.

On the bright side, I've got a couple hundred rounds through my new CZ pistol and I love it!!   :)
Probably unintentional, but you just contradicted yourself...

Was it a misdemeanor obstruction charge, or a felony charge?

Glad you got it resolved. 8)
I had the right to remain silent...

but not the ability.

Offline Duke Nukem

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 249
Re: Longest Background Check Ever?
« Reply #46 on: May 06, 2019, 09:30:15 AM »

Probably unintentional, but you just contradicted yourself...
Was it a misdemeanor obstruction charge, or a felony charge?
Glad you got it resolved. 8)

Thanks, me too!   :)

It was both, or one took the place of the other . . . thankfully I'm not very experienced in these things, but there was an arrest and charge (felony) which was reduced to the misdemeanor charge that stuck.  I never went to court over it, the d.a.'s office and our lawyer handled it.  I paid a fine and thought it was done.