In response to a new gun law passed in the late 1990's, the federal government needed to find a way to conduct background checks on all individuals that attempt to purchase a firearm from a licensed gun dealer. Several different background check systems were created, including the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) Interstate Identification Index which allows government employees to search state and federal criminal records. When the employees background check NCIC information before allowing the person to purchase a firearm, they are reducing the risk that a criminal is purchasing the weapon.

There are many things that can be disclosed when searching background check NCIC information about an individual. Any crime that the person has been convicted of in any state will be listed on the completed report along with any trouble they have gotten into at the federal level. Many people that have been convicted of these types of crimes are not allowed to purchase or possess firearms in the United States.

Access to background check NCIC information is not available to everyone. Access to the database is restricted to those federal employees that need access to the record to perform their job. Gun dealers that are interested in selling the firearm will need to request that the background check be run and then wait for the information to be returned to them before they will let an individual pay for and take possession of the firearm.