Firearm Transaction Center

On March 26, 2014, the United States Supreme Court decided in U.S. v. Castleman, Case No. 12-1371, that Title 18 U.S.C. Section 922(g)(9), a firearms disqualifier for the misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, is satisfied by the degree of force that supports a common-law battery conviction. This decision effectively overrules the 4th Circuit decision in U.S. v. White, (2010 4th Circuit Court), that ruled a Virginia domestic assault conviction was not a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence because it did not satisfy the “physical force” requirement. Individuals convicted of an offense that meets the federal definition of domestic violence are prohibited to possess firearms under federal law.

Based on this ruling a previous firearms purchase approval does not ensure continued approval.

The State Police background check for the purchase of a firearm includes the enforcement of both state and federal law.