Law Enforcement: Few Individuals Denied Firearms Purchases Are Prosecuted and ATF Should Assess Use of Warning Notices in Lieu of Prosecutions - Government Accountability Office (GAO) (.gov)

Summary

A Government Accountability Office (GAO) report from 2018 highlighted that very few individuals denied firearms purchases via background checks are subsequently prosecuted. The report suggested that the ATF should evaluate using warning notices as an alternative to prosecution. Gun owners should be aware of this federal assessment of background check enforcement, which indicates a low prosecution rate for denials.