What information is maintained in the NICS Indices?

The NICS Indices are designed to maintain a record of individuals who are prohibited from receiving or possessing firearms. This includes various categories of individuals, such as those with felony convictions, certain mental health adjudications, and other legal disqualifications. The purpose of the NICS Indices is to facilitate background checks on individuals attempting to purchase firearms, ensuring that those who pose a risk or are legally barred from owning guns do not gain access to them.

This accurate record-keeping plays a critical role in enhancing public safety and maintaining the integrity of firearms transactions. By systematically cataloging individuals who are referred to as "prohibited persons," the NICS supports law enforcement and retailers in their legal obligations to check the status of potential firearm purchasers.

Options regarding individuals eligible to possess firearms, firearm transaction records, and state and local firearm laws do not pertain to the NICS Indices. While those aspects are important in the broader context of firearm regulation and ownership, they are not the focus of the NICS Indices, which specifically address prohibitions on possession.