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DEPARTMENTOFVETERANSAFFAIRS VeteransBenefitsAdministration Washington,D.C.20420

November22,2010 Director(00/21) AllVARegionalOfficesandCenters FastLetter10 51

SUBJ:ProcessingRequestsforRelieffromtheReportingRequirementsoftheNationalInstant CriminalBackgroundCheckSystem(NICS) ThisletterprovidesnewinformationontheNationalInstantCriminalBackgroundCheck System(NICS)reliefprogramandproceduresforprocessingreliefrequests. Within30daysofdateofthisletter,theCompensationandPension(C&P)Servicewillreturn allpendingrequestsforreliefinitspossession,withtheirassociatedclaimfoldersandprinciple guardianshipfolders(PGFs),toregionaloffices(ROs)andcentersforactioninaccordancewith thisletter.Pleaseconcludeallactionswithin90daysofreceiptoftheclaimsfolder.

Background
TheBradyHandgunViolencePreventionActof1993,PublicLaw103159(TheBradyAct), prohibitsthesaleoffirearmstocertainpeople.TheNICSImprovementAmendmentsAct (NIAA)of2007setsnewrequirementsforfederalandstateagencies,andcontainsan amendmenttotheBradyActthatobligatesVAtoallowbeneficiariestheopportunitytorequest relieffromthereportingrequirementsimposedbytheBradyAct.VAisalsoobligatedto providebeneficiariesbothwrittenandoralnotificationofthefirearmsprohibitions,penaltiesfor violatingthem,andinformationregardingtheavailabilityofthereliefprogram.

NICSReliefProgram
TheNIAAplacestheresponsibilityforadministeringthereliefprogramontheagencythat providedtheinformationtoNICS.Theprimaryfocusregardingreliefprovisionsoutlinedinthis letterispublicsafety.Further,relieffromthereportingrequirementsisnotabenefitunderTitle

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38andassuch,principlescommontotheVAadjudicationprocess,suchasbenefitofthedoubt anddutytoassist(asdemonstratedinorderingexaminationsorsecuringprivatemedical records)donotapplytothisprogram.The burdenofproofforthesereliefrequestsresideswiththeclaimant,andfailuretomeetthat burdenissufficienttodenytherequest.Decisionsthatdenyreliefarenotsubjectto reviewbytheBoardofVeteransAppeals,butVAdenialsofrequestsforreliefunderthe NIAAaresubjecttoreviewinFederaldistrictcourt.Accordingly,itisimportantthatalldenials containadetailedexplanationofthebasisfordenial.

HandlingRequestsforRelief
RequestsforrelieffromtheBradyActreportingrequirementsmustbeclearandexplicit.Do notinferorinterpretarequestforreliefasaclaimforreconsiderationofincompetenceora claimofcompetencyasarequestforrelief. Development Iftherequestforreliefisreceivedfollowingthefinalratingofincompetency,establishend product(EP)290usingtheNICSReliefRequestclaimlabel.Iftheevidenceofrecordis sufficienttograntreliefaccordingtothecriteriaoutlinedbelow,followtheproceduresunder AdministrativeDecision.Iftheevidenceisinsufficienttograntrelief,sendtheattached developmentletter(Enclosure1).Allowthebeneficiary30daystorespondtotheletter. Thebeneficiarymaysubmitarequestforreliefpriortothefinalincompetencyrating.Ifthe requestforreliefisreceivedpriortothefinalratingofincompetency,sendthedevelopment letter(Enclosure1),butdonotrenderadecisionontherequestforreliefuntiltheratingof incompetencyisfinalandthe30daydevelopmentresponsetimehasexpired.Thenfollowthe proceduresundertheAdministrativeDecisionsectionbelow. Ifthebeneficiarysubmitsaclaimforreconsiderationofcompetencyinconjunctionwiththe requestforrelief,establishEP020.Afteranyappropriatedevelopment,refertheclaimtothe ratingteam.Iftheratingveteransservicerepresentativeconfirmsandcontinuesincompetency, donotaddresstheissueofreliefintheratingdecision.Instead,followtheproceduresunder AdministrativeDecisionoutlinedbelow. Note:WewillprogramallNICSdevelopmentanddecisionlettersinPCGLassoonas possible.Intheinterim,copyandpastethetextoftheenclosuresintoafreetextdocument. DecidingRelief

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Indecidingrequestsforrelief,decisionmakersmustconsiderthebeneficiarysrecordand reputation,aswellasthebeneficiarysmentalandphysicalstatus.Tograntrelief,therecord mustshowaffirmatively,substantially,andspecificallythatthebeneficiaryisnotlikelytoactina mannerdangeroustopublicsafety,andthatgrantingreliefwillnotbecontrarytothepublic interest. Inmakingdeterminations,considernotjustthebeneficiarysdesiretoownfirearmsand/or ammunition,butthesafetyofhimself,hisfamily,andthecommunity.AsVAsdeterminations onrequestsforreliefhavethepotentialtoaffectpublicsafety,grantreliefonthebasisofclear andconvincingevidence. Indeterminingwhethertograntrelief,relevantrecordsmayinclude:

Astatementfromtheprimarymentalhealthphysicianassessingthebeneficiarysmental healthstatusoverthelastfiveyears. Medicalinformationaddressingtheextentofmentalhealthsymptomsandwhetheror notthebeneficiaryislikelytoactinamannerdangeroustohimself/herselfortothe public. Informationdocumentingthatacourt,board,orcommissionthatoriginallydetermined incompetencehasrestoredcompetencystatusorotherwisedeterminedthatthe beneficiaryhasbeenrehabilitatedthroughanyprocedureavailableunderthelaw. Statementsorrecordsfromlawenforcementofficials,suchastheFederalBureauof Investigation(FBI),theBureauofAlcohol,Tobacco,andFirearms(ATF),orthe AttorneyGeneral,showingthatthegrantingofreliefwouldnotbecontrarytothepublic interest.

Whendeterminingreliefrequests,considerifanyofthefollowingunfavorablefactorsare manifestoverthepastfiveyears:

Thepresenceofanymentaldisabilitythathasbeenevaluatedatmorethan 10percentdisabling.(Ifthereisnoratingofrecord,considerwhetherevidence indicatesthatanycurrentmentaldisabilitycausesnomorethanmildortransient symptomsobservableonlyduringperiodsofsignificantstress,orwhethersymptomsof mentaldisabilityarecompletelyalleviatedthroughtheuseofcontinuousmedication(38 CFR4.130).Also,considerthepresenceofanypersonalitydisorderwhendetermining reliefrequests. Evidenceofrecurringsubstanceabuseoranysubstanceabusewithinthelastyear. Local,state,orfederalconvictionsforfeloniesand/orviolentoffenses(including,butnot limitedto,menacing,stalking,assault,battery,burglary,robbery,rape,murder,and attemptsthereof). Demonstrationofovertlyaggressiveorhostilebehaviorand/ordemeanor. Presenceofsuicidalorhomicidalideations.

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AdministrativeDecision TheROorcenterwillhandleallrequestsforreliefbypreparinganadministrativedecision(see M211MR,PartIII,Subpartv,Chapter1,SectionA,Topic2).TheRODirectormust approvealladministrativedecisionsafterconcurrencebytheVeteransServiceorPension ManagementCenterManager,ordesignee. InformthebeneficiaryofthedeterminationbysendingtheNICSreliefgrantordenialletter (Enclosure2or3).Ifreliefisgranted,notifytheNICSManagerwithinthreedaysat VAVBAWAS/CO/NICSunderthesubjectNICSreliefgrant.Thenotificationmustinclude thebeneficiarysname,claimnumber,SocialSecuritynumber(ifdifferentthanclaimnumber), dateofbirth,contactinformation(includingaddressandtelephonenumber),andthedateofthe grantofrelief.Upongrantingrelief,theC&PServicewillnotifytheFBI,whichmanagesthe NICSdatabasefortheDepartmentofJustice,toremovethebeneficiaryfromtheNICS database.TheFBIwillremovethebeneficiarysnamefromthedatabasewithinapproximately twomonthsafternotificationbytheNICSManager. Ifabeneficiarywhowasformerlyfoundincompetentisfoundcompetent,therequestforrelief becomesmoot.Inthefinalcompetencyrating,includethefollowingstatementunderReasons forDecisionforthecompetencyissue: WereceivedyourrequestforrelieffromtheDepartmentofJustice(DoJ)reporting requirementscontainedintheBradyHandgunViolencePreventionAct. WehavedeterminedyouarecompetentforVApurposes,soitisnotnecessaryto renderadecisiononthatrequest.VAwillinformDoJofyourchangedstatus. Filealldocumentsexclusivetothisreliefdecisionontherightsideoftheclaimsfolder.

Questions
Questionsconcerninginformationcontainedinthislettershouldbeemailedto VAVBAWAS/CO/NICS. Recission:Attheearliestopportunity,wewillincorporateintotheM211MRtheprovisions oforalandwrittennoticefrompages4and5ofFastLetter(FL)0908,NationalInstant CriminalBackgroundCheckSystem(NICS)ImprovementAmendmentsActof2007, whichisotherwiserescinded.

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/S/ ThomasJ.Murphy Director CompensationandPensionService Enclosures

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Enclosure1NICSReliefDevelopmentLetter XXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX Inreply,referto: FileNumber:XXXXXXX

IMPORTANTreplyneeded
DearMr./Ms.: WereceivedyourrequestforrelieffromtheDepartmentofJusticereportingrequirements containedin18U.S.C.922(d)(4)and(g)(4).VAmustreporttotheNationalInstant CriminalBackgroundCheckSystem(NICS)individualswhomVAdeterminestobeunableto contractormanagetheirownaffairs. Pursuantto18U.S.C.925(c)and101(c)(2)(A)oftheNICSImprovementsAmendment Actof2007,PublicLaw110180,VAisobligatedtodecidewhetheryouareeligibleto receiverelieffromthereportingrequirementsoftheBradyHandgunViolencePreventionAct. Thislettercontainsinformationaboutwhatwewilldowithyourrequestandwhatyoucandoto helpusdecideit. Wemaygrantreliefifclearandconvincingevidenceshowsthecircumstancesregardingyour disability,andyourrecordandreputationaresuch,thatyouarenotlikelytoactinamanner dangeroustoyourselforothers,andthegrantingofreliefisnotcontrarytopublicsafetyand/or thepublicinterest.

WhatCanYouDo?
Tosupportyourclaimforrelief,youmaysubmitsuchevidenceas:

Astatementfromyourprimarymentalhealthphysicianassessingyourmentalhealth statusoverthelastfiveyears. Medicalinformationaddressingtheextentofyourmentalhealthsymptomsandwhether ornotyouarelikelytoactinamannerdangeroustoyourselfortopublic. Informationdocumentingthatacourt,boardorcommissionthatoriginallydetermined incompetencehasrestoredyourcompetencystatusorotherwisedeterminedthatyou havebeenrehabilitatedthroughanyprocedureavailableunderthelaw.

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Statementsorrecordsfromlawenforcementofficials,suchastheFederalBureauof Investigation(FBI),theBureauofAlcohol,Tobacco,andFirearms(ATF),orthe AttorneyGeneral,whichshowthatthegrantingofreliefwouldnotbecontrarytothe publicinterest.

PleaseputyourVAfilenumberonthefirstpageofeverydocumentyousendus.

WhereShouldYouSendYourEvidence?
Pleasesendalldocumentstothisaddress:(includeROaddress)

HowSoonShouldYouSendWhatWeNeed?
Westronglyencourageyoutosendanyinformationorevidenceassoonasyoucan.Ifwedo nothearfromyouwithin30days,wewillmakeadecisiononyourrequestbasedonthe evidenceofrecord.

HowCanYouContactUs?
PleasegiveusyourVAfilenumber,XXXXXXXXXX,whenyoudocontactus.

Sendwrittencorrespondencetotheaddressabove. SendusaninquiryusingtheInternetathttps://iris.va.gov. Callusat18008271000.IfyouuseaTelecommunicationsDevicefortheDeaf (TDD),thenumberis18008294833.

Welookforwardtoresolvingyourrequestinatimelyandfairmanner. Sincerelyyours,

VeteransServiceCenterManager

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Enclosure2NICSReliefGrantLetter

XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXXX,XXXXXXX DearMr./Ms.:

Inreply,referto: FileNumber:xxxxxxxxx

WereceivedyourrequestforreliefundertheNationalInstantCriminalBackgroundCheck System(NICS)ImprovementAmendmentsAct(NIAA)of2007(PublicLaw110180).

WhatWeDecided
WedecidedthatyouareeligibleforrelieffromtheDepartmentofJusticereportingrequirements imposedbytheBradyHandgunViolenceProtectionAct. Wereviewedthefollowingevidenceinconsideringyourclaim:

(enterevidence)

Ourreviewofthisevidencerevealsthatyourdisability,record,andreputationaresuchthatyou arenotlikelytoactinamannerdangeroustoyourselforothers.Further,thegrantingofreliefis notcontrarytopublicsafetyorthepublicinterest.PleaseallowtheDepartmentofJusticeupto eightweekstoupdateitsrecordsinaccordancewithourdecision.

IfYouHaveQuestionsorNeedAssistance
YoumayfindmoreinformationabouttheRelieffromDisabilitiesprogramin18U.S.C. 925(c).Ifyouhaveanyquestionsregardingthisdecision,youmaycontactusbyletter, Internet,ortelephone.Inallcases,besuretorefertoyourVAfilenumber,XXXXXXXX. ToContactVAby Mail Internet Telephone Hereiswhattodo. Sendinquiriestotheaddressatthetopofthisletter SendaninquiryviaVAswebsiteathttps://iris.va.gov. Call18008271000.IfyouuseaTelecommunicationsDevice fortheDeaf(TDD),thenumberis18008294833.

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Wesentacopyofthislettertoyourrepresentative,XXXXXX,whomyoucanalsocontactif youhavequestionsorneedassistance. Sincerelyyours,

VeteransServiceCenterManager cc:

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Enclosure3NICSReliefDenialLetter XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXXX,XXXXXXX DearMr./Ms.: WereceivedyourrequestforreliefundertheNationalInstantCriminalBackgroundCheck System(NICS)ImprovementAmendmentsAct(NIAA)of2007(PublicLaw110180). Inreply,referto: FileNumber:xxxxxxxxx

WhatWeDecided
WedeterminedyouarenoteligibleforrelieffromtheDepartmentofJusticereporting requirementsimposedbytheBradyHandgunViolenceProtectionAct. Weconsideredthefollowingevidence:

(enterevidence)

Basedonthisreview,weareunabletoconcludethroughclearandconvincingevidence regardingyourdisability,record,andreputationthat

youwillnotlikelyactinamannerdangeroustoyourselforothers,and thegrantingofreliefwouldnotbecontrarytothepublicinterest.

YourRightforReview
NIAAreliefrequestsarenotmatterswhichfallwithinthescopeoftitle38oftheUnitedStates CodeanddenialofsuchrequestsarenotsubjecttoreviewbytheBoardofVeteransAppeals. However,denialsofrequestsforreliefundertheNIAAaresubjecttoreviewinFederaldistrict court.See18U.S.C.925(c)formoreinformationconcerningappellaterights.

IfYouHaveQuestionsorNeedAssistance
YoumayfindmoreinformationabouttheRelieffromDisabilitiesprogramin18U.S.C. 925(c).Ifyouhaveanyquestionsregardingthisdecision,youmaycontactusbyletter, Internet,ortelephone.Inallcases,besuretorefertoyourVAfilenumber,XXXXXXXX.

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ToContactVAby Mail Internet Telephone

Hereiswhattodo. Sendinquiriestotheaddressatthetopofthisletter SendaninquiryviaVAswebsiteathttps://iris.va.gov. Call18008271000.IfyouuseaTelecommunicationsDevice fortheDeaf(TDD),thenumberis18008294833.

Wesentacopyofthislettertoyourrepresentative,XXXXXX,whomyoucanalsocontactif youhavequestionsorneedassistance. Sincerelyyours,

VeteransServiceCenterManager cc: