The Brady law requires Federal firearms licensees (FFLs), including pawnbrokers, to initiate a criminal background check through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) prior to transferring a firearm to an unlicensed individual. ATF implements the Brady law jointly with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which administers the NICS system and conducts the background checks. The ATF’s primary responsibilities with regard to Brady law implementation are to regulate and inspect FFLs to ensure that they comply with the Brady law and to enforce the Brady law by investigating criminal violations of the Brady law and other Federal firearms laws committed by FFLs or individuals. The Brady law has proven effective both in preventing FFLs from selling firearms to potentially dangerous individuals and in providing to law enforcement valuable information about persons who unlawfully attempt to acquire firearms. Notes