Delayed Background Checks for Gun Purchases in Colo Opens Loophole
It appears that many Coloradans are concerned for the safety of themselves and their families, such that there's been a surge self-protection purchases. However, the surge in sales has also exposed a loophole in federal gun laws.
According to the Denver Post, more than 12,000 people in Colorado purchased a gun last week (March 23 - March 29), which is twice the number of guns sold at this time in 2019. The surge is attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic and Colorado's 'Stay-at-Home' order.
Usually, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation's background checks for gun purchases can be handled in as little as ten minutes. But with the current surge in sales, the wait time has now gone up to six days.
Federal gun laws state that if a background check takes more than three days, gun shops (which are on the 'essential business' list for the stay-at-home order) can give the purchaser the gun before the check returns.
The Post says that the Colorado Bureau of Investigation strongly encourages gun dealers to wait until the background check clears before releasing the purchased gun.
Get more on the influx of gun sales and the federal gun laws from The Denver Post HERE.