Participation Map

The NICS Participation Map, as illustrated below, depicts each state’s level of participation with the NICS.

Thirteen states have agencies acting on behalf of the NICS in a full Point-of-Contact (POC) capacity. These POC states, which have agreed to implement and maintain their own Brady NICS Program, conduct firearm background checks for FFLs’ transactions in their respective states by electronically accessing the NICS. Upon completion of the required ATF Form 4473, the FFLs conducting business in the POC states contact a designated state agency to initiate a NICS background check in lieu of contacting the NICS Section.

• Full POC states (contact state/territory for all firearm background checks, including permits): California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia

Seven states are currently sharing responsibility with the NICS Section by acting as partial POCs. Partial-POC states have agencies designated to conduct checks for handguns and/or handgun permits, while the NICS Section handles the processing of the states transactions for long gun purchases.

• Partial POC states (contact state for handgun and FBI for long gun background checks): Maryland, New Hampshire, Washington, Wisconsin
• Partial POC states (contact state for handgun permit and FBI for long gun background checks): Iowa, Nebraska, North Carolina

Thirty-six states/territories do not have POC status and rely on NICS for all firearm background checks.

• Non-POC states/territories (contact FBI for all firearm background checks): Alabama, Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Guam, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Ohio, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Virgin Islands, West Virginia, Wyoming

Twenty-six states have at least one ATF-qualified alternate permit, which are issued by local or state agencies. Specific permit details can be found on the Permanent Brady Permit Chart.

• ATF-qualified alternate permit states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, Washington, Wyoming