2019 NARIP Virginia State Police

The NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007, P. L. 110-180 ("NIAA"), was initially signed into law by the President on January 8, 2008 (reauthorized by Title VI of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018, P.L. 115-141). The NIAA amends the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993 ("the Brady Act") (Pub. L. 103-159), under which the Attorney General established the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). The Brady Act requires Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) to contact the NICS before transferring a firearm to an unlicensed person for information on whether the proposed transferee is prohibited from receiving or possessing a firearm under state or federal law. The NIAA authorizes grants to be made in a manner consistent with the National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP).

Under the 2019 NARIP priority areas, the Virginia State Police (VSP) will administer and monitor two projects that will contribute to reporting more disqualifying records to the NICS:

1) Microfilm/Microfiche Conversion project: The VSP will use funds to hire two contractors to conduct duties associated with converting old arrest and disposition information from microfilm or microfiche to digital images for the electronic archive information system. The Central Criminal Records Exchange (CCRE) is currently in the process of converting several million microfilm and microfiche records into digital images in an effort to preserve and provide easy accessibility of the documents. The records on microfilm and microfiche include the suspects’ arrest documents and dispositions, and are categorized by SID. The documents currently on microfilm and microfiche are the only copies of the arrest, fingerprint and disposition information for the entire state that were submitted to the CCRE. Tasks to convert the information from microfilm/microfiche to digital images include: reviewing digital imaged source documents for image quality; locating and re-scanning documents as needed based on quality review; identifying document type and index documents to proper electronic archive SID folders; and routing documents that are no longer required to be retained.

2) POC Accessibility at Gun Show Events and Outreach Activities: The VSP will use NARIP funds to cover personnel expenses for 2 part-time Administrative Procedures Specialist positions to research and resolve initially non-approved transactions by the determination of lawful eligibility of individuals to purchase firearms pursuant to state and federal law while physically located at the remote location. The Specialists will assist existing state-funded employees to provide NICS checks at all gun shows, and will provide associated outreach activities relevant to the sale of firearms by licensed firearms dealers and by the POC in the private sale of firearms not involving federal firearm licensees. The project supports the commitment of VSP as the POC to the NICS by enhancing the outreach activities that improve the accessibility of the VCheck system for firearm dealers and the gun purchasing population at gun shows throughout Virginia, and providing additional training to assist, monitor, and enforce firearm dealer compliance with the NICS requirements.

(CA/NCF)