OFFICIAL RELEASE · ORIGINAL ISSUER HEADLINE
State Police Announce Quarterly Firearms Purchase Denial Investigations
Issuer publication date: October 9, 2026
Added to The State & Nation: October 12, 2026
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A factual summary is pending editorial review. The complete official release is reproduced below with issuer attribution and a direct link to the original publication.
Official release
Source material from Pennsylvania State Police. The wording below is the issuer’s statement.
State Police Announce Quarterly Firearms Purchase Denial Investigations
October 09, 2026
<b>Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP)</b> announced today the number of firearms purchase denials and subsequent investigations for the 3rd quarter of 2026.</p>\r\n<p>The Pennsylvania Instant Check System (PICS) is used by county sheriffs, chiefs of police of cities of the first class, and licensed firearms dealers to determine an individual’s legal ability to acquire a license to carry firearms or obtain a firearm through a purchase or transfer. When an individual attempts to provide false information on a state and/or federal form, an investigation is initiated, and an investigation referral is sent to the corresponding law enforcement agency.</p>\r\n<p>According to Pennsylvania law, a person commits a felony of the third degree if they make a false oral or written statement on any federal or state agency form or willfully present false identification that is likely to deceive the seller, licensed dealer, or licensed manufacturer. During the PICS process, some individuals are identified as having an active warrant for their arrest as well.</p>\r\n<p>For the 3rd quarter, the following investigations were initiated by the PSP Firearms Division and referred to PSP Troops, municipal police departments, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) for further investigation and possible prosecution.</p>\r\n"}}">
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) announced today the number of firearms purchase denials and subsequent investigations for the 3rd quarter of 2026.
The Pennsylvania Instant Check System (PICS) is used by county sheriffs, chiefs of police of cities of the first class, and licensed firearms dealers to determine an individual’s legal ability to acquire a license to carry firearms or obtain a firearm through a purchase or transfer. When an individual attempts to provide false information on a state and/or federal form, an investigation is initiated, and an investigation referral is sent to the corresponding law enforcement agency.
According to Pennsylvania law, a person commits a felony of the third degree if they make a false oral or written statement on any federal or state agency form or willfully present false identification that is likely to deceive the seller, licensed dealer, or licensed manufacturer. During the PICS process, some individuals are identified as having an active warrant for their arrest as well.
For the 3rd quarter, the following investigations were initiated by the PSP Firearms Division and referred to PSP Troops, municipal police departments, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) for further investigation and possible prosecution.
\r\n<caption style=\"text-align: center;\">Q3 2026 PICS statistics, compared to Q3 2025</caption>\r\n<tbody><tr><th valign=\"top\" scope=\"col\"><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><b>Action</b></p>\r\n</th>\r\n<th width=\"14%\" valign=\"top\" scope=\"col\"><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><b>2025</b></p>\r\n</th>\r\n<th width=\"10%\" valign=\"top\" scope=\"col\"><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><b>2026</b></p>\r\n</th>\r\n</tr><tr><th width=\"74%\" valign=\"top\" scope=\"row\"><p style=\"text-align: left;\"> <b> PICS Checks Conducted</b></p>\r\n</th>\r\n<td width=\"14%\"><p style=\"text-align: center;\">261,405</p>\r\n</td>\r\n<td width=\"10%\"><p style=\"text-align: center;\">247,990</p>\r\n</td>\r\n</tr><tr><th width=\"74%\" valign=\"top\" scope=\"row\"><p style=\"text-align: left;\"> <b>Persons Denied</b></p>\r\n</th>\r\n<td width=\"14%\"><p style=\"text-align: center;\">4,213</p>\r\n</td>\r\n<td width=\"10%\"><p style=\"text-align: center;\">3,778</p>\r\n</td>\r\n</tr><tr><th width=\"74%\" valign=\"top\" scope=\"row\"><p style=\"text-align: left;\"> <b>Denials referred to law enforcement agencies</b></p>\r\n</th>\r\n<td width=\"14%\"><p style=\"text-align: center;\">910</p>\r\n</td>\r\n<td width=\"10%\" valign=\"top\"><p style=\"text-align: center;\">810</p>\r\n</td>\r\n</tr><tr><th width=\"74%\" valign=\"top\" scope=\"row\"><p style=\"text-align: left;\"> <b> Referred to PSP</b></p>\r\n</th>\r\n<td width=\"14%\" valign=\"bottom\"><p style=\"text-align: center;\">424</p>\r\n</td>\r\n<td width=\"10%\" valign=\"top\"><p style=\"text-align: center;\">165</p>\r\n</td>\r\n</tr><tr><th width=\"74%\" valign=\"top\" scope=\"row\"><p style=\"text-align: left;\"> <b>Referred to municipal law enforcement</b></p>\r\n</th>\r\n<td width=\"14%\" valign=\"top\"><p style=\"text-align: center;\">426</p>\r\n</td>\r\n<td width=\"10%\" valign=\"top\"><p style=\"text-align: center;\">560</p>\r\n</td>\r\n</tr><tr><th width=\"74%\" valign=\"top\" scope=\"row\"><p style=\"text-align: left;\"> <b>Referred to ATF</b></p>\r\n</th>\r\n<td width=\"14%\"><p style=\"text-align: center;\">60</p>\r\n</td>\r\n<td width=\"10%\" valign=\"top\"><p style=\"text-align: center;\">85</p>\r\n</td>\r\n</tr><tr><th width=\"74%\" valign=\"top\" scope=\"row\"><p style=\"text-align: left;\"> <b>Individuals arrested for a warrant at point of purchase</b></p>\r\n</th>\r\n<td width=\"14%\" valign=\"top\"><p style=\"text-align: center;\">22</p>\r\n</td>\r\n<td width=\"10%\" valign=\"top\"><p style=\"text-align: center;\">18</p>\r\n</td>\r\n</tr></tbody></table>\r\n"}}">
Q3 2026 PICS statistics, compared to Q3 2025
Action
2025
2026
PICS Checks Conducted
261,405
247,990
Persons Denied
4,213
3,778
Denials referred to law enforcement agencies
910
810
Referred to PSP
424
165
Referred to municipal law enforcement
426
560
Referred to ATF
60
85
Individuals arrested for a warrant at point of purchase
22
18
For more information on PICS and carrying firearms in Pennsylvania, visit <a href=\"https://www.psp.pa.gov/firearms-information/Pages/Firearms-Information.aspx\">psp.pa.gov</a>.</p>\r\n"}}">
For more information on PICS and carrying firearms in Pennsylvania, visit psp.pa.gov.
Media Contacts
SGT Logan Brouse
ra-pspcomm@pa.gov
717-783-5556
State Police
Media
Chris Caracino
ra-pspcomm@pa.gov
717-783-5556
State Police
Media
Release text attributed to Pennsylvania State Police. Consult the official publication for any subsequent corrections or updates.
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