FY 2023 Firearm Inquiry Statistics (FIST) Program, 2023–2026

The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) will administer the 2023 2026 Firearm Inquiry Statistics (FIST) program. The goal of fist is to provide national estimates on the total number of firearm purchase applications received and denied pursuant to the Brady Act and relevant state laws. FIST collects counts of firearm transfer applications and permit checks conducted by state and local checking agencies and combines them with the FBI National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) transaction data. The main activities in this project include survey design, universe and sample frame maintenance, administering the survey, and delivery of datasets and tables for publication.