FFL Running Background before signing 4473

[electronman1729]

If a firearm is shipped to a FFL from an online retailer,
1. Can the FFL Pre-fill out the 4473 for you?
and
2. Run the background before you even sign said 4473?

Thanks

[ray1970]

Pretty sure the answer is no.

Would be nice though. Just show up "pre approved" and sign and go.

[Great-Kazoo]

If a firearm is shipped to a FFL from an online retailer,
1. Can the FFL Pre-fill out the 4473 for you?
and
2. Run the background before you even sign said 4473?

Thanks

They need the info from your DL, passport or state issued ID.

[Martinjmpr]

Hmmm...the guy I've dealt with in the past does just this. He has you come by and fill out the top portion of the 4473 (minus the firearm info) and then runs the BGC (He has your ID when you do this.) If the BGC comes back clean, then as soon as he receieves the gun he notifies you, you come by, fill out the rest of the paperwork and pick up the gun.

He does this because apparently sometimes it can take a day or more for a BGC to come back. I guess they are "good" for a month afterwards.

[Hoser]

Hmmm...the guy I've dealt with in the past does just this. He has you come by and fill out the top portion of the 4473 (minus the firearm info) and then runs the BGC (He has your ID when you do this.) If the BGC comes back clean, then as soon as he receieves the gun he notifies you, you come by, fill out the rest of the paperwork and pick up the gun.

He does this because apparently sometimes it can take a day or more for a BGC to come back. I guess they are "good" for a month afterwards.

The wait time has not been over an hour or two for at least 18 months. Often times when I put peoples info in, it is less than 3 minutes.

[Circuits]

Hmmm...the guy I've dealt with in the past does just this. He has you come by and fill out the top portion of the 4473 (minus the firearm info) and then runs the BGC (He has your ID when you do this.) If the BGC comes back clean, then as soon as he receieves the gun he notifies you, you come by, fill out the rest of the paperwork and pick up the gun.

He does this because apparently sometimes it can take a day or more for a BGC to come back. I guess they are "good" for a month afterwards.

The instructions say on the form it must be filled out in person at the FFL's transaction location (licensed premises or at a gunshow in same state). The buyer can fill it out and sign it then come back and pick up the firearm later, though, provided it's within one month of filling it out and signing it, and if it's a different day than the day it was originally filled out and signed, there's an additional place in which the form has to be signed attesting that all the information is still true and correct.

FFL is not supposed to run the check if you haven't already provided your identification information and signed it, though.

At the time the BGC is phoned in or computer submitted, the total number of firearms, and general type or types of firearms must already be on the 4473 form, since this is information needed to complete the check. I guess the CBI has no way of knowing if the FFL didn't put the models and serials down on the form before submitting it, though.