Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed collection; Comments Requested; Renewal with change of a previously approved collection: Firearm Inquiry Statistics Program, 6231 [2014-02091]

Agencies

• Department of Justice
• Office of Justice Programs

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 22 (Monday, February 3, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 6231]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-02091]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Office of Justice Programs

[OMB Number 1121-0314]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed collection; 
Comments Requested; Renewal with change of a previously approved 
collection: Firearm Inquiry Statistics Program

ACTION: 30-day notice.

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    The Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs, Bureau 
of Justice Statistics will be submitting the following information 
collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for 
review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995. The proposed information collection is published to obtain 
comments from the public and affected agencies. This proposed 
information collection was previously published in the Federal Register 
Volume 78, Number 225, page 69875 on Thursday, November 21, 2013, 
allowing for a 60 day comment period. One inquiry related to the uses 
of FIST data was received to which BJS responded.
    The purpose of this notice is to allow for an additional 30 days 
for public comment until March 5, 2014. This process is conducted in 
accordance with 5 CFR 1320.10.
    Written comments and/or suggestions regarding the items contained 
in this notice, especially the estimated public burden or associated 
response time, should be directed to The Officer of Management and 
Budget, Officer of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention 
Department of Justice Desk Officer, Washington DC 20503. Additionally, 
comments may be submitted to OMB via facsimile to (202) 395-7285.
    Request written comments and suggestions from the public and 
affected agencies concerning the proposed collection of information are 
encouraged. Your comments should address one or more of the following 
four points:
    (1) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
    (2) Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of 
the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used;
    (3) Enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to 
be collected; and
    (4) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those 
who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology, e.g. permitting electronic 
submission of responses.

Overview of this information collection

    (1) Type of information collection: Reinstatement with change of a 
previously approved collection.
    (2) The title of the Form/Collection: Firearm Inquiry Statistics 
Program
    (3) Agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of the 
Department of Justice sponsoring the collection: Not applicable.
    (4) Affected public who will be asked to respond, as well as a 
brief abstract: Primary: State and local agencies. State and local 
agencies responsible for maintaining records on the number of 
background checks for firearm transfers or permits that were issued, 
processed, tracked, or conducted during the calendar year are asked to 
provide information about: The number of applications and denials for 
firearm transfers received or tracked by the agency; reasons why an 
application was denied; information on arrests that occurred when a 
denied person who submitted a false application or had an outstanding 
warrant was arrested by the checking agency or another agency that was 
notified (state agency responders only); appeals to an agency and court 
for reconsideration of a denial (state agency responders only); and 
reversals of a denial decision (state agency responders only). Through 
its Firearm Inquiry Statistics Program, the Bureau of Justice 
Statistics collects information on firearm background checks conducted 
by state and local agencies and combines this information with the 
Federal Bureau of Investigation's National Instant Criminal Background 
Check System transaction data to produce a national estimate of the 
number of applications received and denied and of the reasons for 
denial. The information is also combined with data obtained from the 
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives on appeals of 
denied applications and arrests for falsified documents. The Bureau of 
Justice Statistics uses this information in published reports and in 
responding to queries from the U.S. Congress, Executive Office of the 
President, state officials, researchers, students, the media, the 
general public, and others interested in criminal justices statistics.
    (5) An estimate of the total number of respondents and the amount 
of time estimated for an average respondent to respond: 761 responses 
at 25 minutes each. Respondents have the option to provide responses 
using either paper or web-based questionnaires. The burden estimate is 
based on the results of the field test of the 2012 Firearm Inquiry 
Statistics Program survey instrument and feedback received from the 
2012 data collection, as well as the Bureau of Justice Statistic's 
extensive history conducting the FIST data collection.
    (6) An estimate of the total public burden (in hours) associated 
with the collection: There are an estimated 317 annual total burden 
hours associated with the collection.
    If additional information is required contact: Jerri Murray, 
Department Clearance Officer, United States Department of Justice, 
Justice Management Division, Policy and Planning Staff, Two 
Constitution Avenue, 145 N Street NE., Room 3W-1407B, Washington, DC 
20530.

    Dated: January 28, 2014.
Jerri Murray,
Department Clearance Officer for PRA, U.S. Department of Justice.
[FR Doc. 2014-02091 Filed 1-31-14; 8:45 am]
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