Due to constant errors submitted by members of the public registering firearms, each request needs to be reviewed and manually input into the firearms database. There is no and has never been an automated system; for accuracy sake (with the thousands of different make, model, caliber combinations), all online registrations are reviewed and input manually.

For example, common mistakes include putting “Multi” for caliber, putting “AR15” for model (when it’s something like a S&W M&P-15), putting the online store instead of the dealer for the “acquired from” line, missing dashes or numbers in the serial number section, etc.

Whereas all these errors can be easily corrected in-person with whiteout or crossing-out information, the online registration needs to be sent back to the submitter to be corrected (sometimes multiple times).

EDIT: Corrected “had” to “has”

I don't see how an online registration needs to be "sent back."  If whoever is doing the manual entry at HPD has the correct information -- else why would they even know there's an error -- there's no reason they can't make the correction themselves and send the owner a corrected copy. 

Rejecting the application and requiring corrections they already know of is just an unnecessary delay. 

If it's an FFL transfer, HPD already received the official description of the firearm from the seller.  If it's a private transfer for a handgun, they have the information from the permit they approved.  If there's a mismatch between the previous paperwork and the registration submittal, they have the means to correct it themselves.

That applies to knowing the local FFL vs. online dealer name, serial numbers, models, calibers, etc.. 

How many times does the buyer and the FFL need to tell HPD all that info? 

The only circumstances I can think fits the bill where there's no prior information submitted is for an out-of-state transfer or private long gun transfer.  All the rest should be a piece of cake.

JMHO

The real question is, did any of the members sharing their stories  and delays here experience any "returned" applications for correction?  IF not, then the delays are not all error-caused.

I don't see how an online registration needs to be "sent back."  If whoever is doing the manual entry at HPD has the correct information -- else why would they even know there's an error -- there's no reason they can't make the correction themselves and send the owner a corrected copy. 

Rejecting the application and requiring corrections they already know of is just an unnecessary delay. 

If it's an FFL transfer, HPD already received the official description of the firearm from the seller.  If it's a private transfer for a handgun, they have the information from the permit they approved.  If there's a mismatch between the previous paperwork and the registration submittal, they have the means to correct it themselves.

That applies to knowing the local FFL vs. online dealer name, serial numbers, models, calibers, etc.. 

How many times does the buyer and the FFL need to tell HPD all that info? 

The only circumstances I can think fits the bill where there's no prior information submitted is for an out-of-state transfer or private long gun transfer.  All the rest should be a piece of cake.

JMHO

The real question is, did any of the members sharing their stories  and delays here experience any "returned" applications for correction?  IF not, then the delays are not all error-caused.

You're giving a lot of credit to the seller. In the same way that HPD is sometimes wrong, the seller (private or dealer) is sometimes wrong. A lot of times (and I mean a lot of times), the firearms section does not have the right information.

FFLs/Dealers, the ones who handle the import of the firearm to the state, get the information (to include the serial number) wrong on the information they provide to HPD. The only person with the correct info is the person who has physical possession of the firearm. For the registration process, HPD puts the responsibility of providing the correct information on the registrant.

The online queue is similar to a physical queue. The physical registration is one-and-done because they are easy to fix at the registration window. The online queue can’t be addressed the same because it can’t be fixed quickly. Returning the request to the registrant for corrections assures that HPD will not be held liable later for registering a firearm incorrectly.

Of course the delays are error-caused. A good majority of the registration requests are the same requests that have been sent 1, 2, 3 times before. Imagine for a second if, when registering a firearm in-person, the registrant had to leave and return later with the correct info. Instead of being at the registration window once, they’d be there multiple times, waiting in line multiple times, filling out paper multiple times, increasing the wait time for registration; it’s the same concept.

You're giving a lot of credit to the seller. In the same way that HPD is sometimes wrong, the seller (private or dealer) is sometimes wrong. A lot of times (and I mean a lot of times), the firearms section does not have the right information.

FFLs/Dealers, the ones who handle the import of the firearm to the state, get the information (to include the serial number) wrong on the information they provide to HPD. The only person with the correct info is the person who has physical possession of the firearm. For the registration process, HPD puts the responsibility of providing the correct information on the registrant.

The online queue is similar to a physical queue. The physical registration is one-and-done because they are easy to fix at the registration window. The online queue can’t be addressed the same because it can’t be fixed quickly. Returning the request to the registrant for corrections assures that HPD will not be held liable later for registering a firearm incorrectly.

Of course the delays are error-caused. A good majority of the registration requests are the same requests that have been sent 1, 2, 3 times before. Imagine for a second if, when registering a firearm in-person, the registrant had to leave and return later with the correct info. Instead of being at the registration window once, they’d be there multiple times, waiting in line multiple times, filling out paper multiple times, increasing the wait time for registration; it’s the same concept.

So, you're telling me HPD doesn't know how to pick up the phone and immediately contact the registering party so they can process the submission?

I guess that's not surprising, since they can't properly communicate with healthcare providers in order to receive the critical mental health evaluations they need -- without the provider asking the patient to hand deliver it to the station.   

It's not that I give HPD more or less credit than the seller.  It's that almost all private sales are already registered with them -- they had all that info on the weapon and who owns it in their files.  Handguns required permits -- which includes all the same info whether it's a private sale or FFL transfer.  The FFL is directed by statute to keep and maintain proper records.  If they are sending erroneous info to the police station when they make a sale, that's easy enough to fix.  People straighten up when their license to operate a business is on the line -- something the ATF seems to be using now to shut down FFLs all over.

Again, I don't think those posting here made mistakes.  If they did, they probably would have included the rejection/correction aspect in their comments.  They aren't bringing in out-of-state firearms they already own, because those require in-person inspections.  If everyone here is seeing a 2-4 month delay in getting their registration, there's only one answer: it's intentional. 

HPD is telling people they can't USE their firearms until they get the registration in hand.  I've registered dozens of times, and I've never been told that at the window.  This is obviously being done because they know the registrations are taking too long.  It's deductive reasoning, of course.  No actual evidence or whistleblowers to prove it.

i think if it's not intentional, then they are just incompetent.  I can get a driver's license mailed to me in 2 weeks or less.  I can renew my vehicle registration online and receive it in the mail in a week or so.  Every company and government agency that deals with money has procedures in place to expedite these kinds of transactions.  The only reason it;s so complicated and error-prone is HPD doesn't care to make it better.  The solutions exist.  All they have to do is work smarter. 

But, these are the same folks who waited until months passed to try and create new procedures schedule to take effect Jan 1.  i refuse to accept the status quo as an excuse for denying a right.

So, you're telling me HPD doesn't know how to pick up the phone and immediately contact the registering party so they can process the submission?

I guess that's not surprising, since they can't properly communicate with healthcare providers in order to receive the critical mental health evaluations they need -- without the provider asking the patient to had deliver it to the station.   

It's not that I give HPD more or less credit than the seller.  It's that almost all private sales are already registered with them -- they had all that info on the weapon and who owns it in their files.  Handguns required permits -- which includes all the same info whether it's a private sale or FFL transfer.  The FFL is directed by statute to keep and maintain proper records.  If they are sending erroneous info to the police station when they make a sale, that's easy enough to fix.  People straighten up when their license to operate a business is on the line -- something the FFL seems to be using now to shut down FFLs all over.

Again, I don't think those posting here made mistakes.  If they did, they probably would have included the rejection/correction aspect in their comments.  They aren't bringing in out-of-state firearms they already own, because those require in-person inspections.  If everyone here is seeing a 2-4 month delay in getting their registration, there's only one answer: it's intentional. 

HPD is telling people they can't USE their firearms until they get the registration in hand.  I've registered dozens of times, and I've never been told that at the window.  This is obviously being done because they know the registrations are taking too long.  It's deductive reasoning, of course.  No actual evidence or whistleblowers to prove it.

i think if it's not intentional, then they are just incompetent.  I can get a driver's license mailed to me in 2 weeks or less.  I can renew my vehicle registration online and receive it in the mail in a week or so.  Every company and government agency that deals with money has procedures in place to expedite these kinds of transactions.  The only reason it;s so complicated and error-prone is HPD doesn't care to make it better.  The solutions exist.  All they have to do is work smarter. 

But, these are the same folks who waited until months passed to try and create new procedures schedule to take effect Jan 1.  i refuse to accept the status quo as an excuse for denying a right.

You’re right; the solutions exist.

There aren’t enough people to work the solutions at the firearms section though. HPD is too busy with the backlog from online registrations and CCW to study and implement the solutions. Its a shame the level of funding and staffing the firearms section is working with; it’s the same guys working the window and I hardly see any new faces over the last few years.

You’re right; the solutions exist.

There aren’t enough people to work the solutions at the firearms section though. HPD is too busy with the backlog from online registrations and CCW to study and implement the solutions. Its a shame the level of funding and staffing the firearms section is working with; it’s the same guys working the window and I hardly see any new faces over the last few years.

Add in sometimes the people working are there because they messed up and on "desk duty".

You're giving a lot of credit to the seller. In the same way that HPD is sometimes wrong, the seller (private or dealer) is sometimes wrong. A lot of times (and I mean a lot of times), the firearms section does not have the right information.

FFLs/Dealers, the ones who handle the import of the firearm to the state, get the information (to include the serial number) wrong on the information they provide to HPD. The only person with the correct info is the person who has physical possession of the firearm. For the registration process, HPD puts the responsibility of providing the correct information on the registrant.

The online queue is similar to a physical queue. The physical registration is one-and-done because they are easy to fix at the registration window. The online queue can’t be addressed the same because it can’t be fixed quickly. Returning the request to the registrant for corrections assures that HPD will not be held liable later for registering a firearm incorrectly.

Of course the delays are error-caused. A good majority of the registration requests are the same requests that have been sent 1, 2, 3 times before. Imagine for a second if, when registering a firearm in-person, the registrant had to leave and return later with the correct info. Instead of being at the registration window once, they’d be there multiple times, waiting in line multiple times, filling out paper multiple times, increasing the wait time for registration; it’s the same concept.

these 2 posts are informative, thank you.   

So, you're telling me HPD doesn't know how to pick up the phone and immediately contact the registering party so they can process the submission?

I guess that's not surprising, since they can't properly communicate with healthcare providers in order to receive the critical mental health evaluations they need -- without the provider asking the patient to had deliver it to the station.   
...

for me, there's been at least one instance, if not two, can't remember shit, when my phone rang and it actually was an HPD person processing my paperwork (imagine my surprise), calling for clarification, or further information, etc.  In all instances, they were courteous, friendly, and very helpful, and the situation always ended up with a positive resolution.  I have no complaints there.

Due to constant errors submitted by members of the public registering firearms, each request needs to be reviewed and manually input into the firearms database. There is no and has never been an automated system; for accuracy sake (with the thousands of different make, model, caliber combinations), all online registrations are reviewed and input manually.

For example, common mistakes include putting “Multi” for caliber, putting “AR15” for model (when it’s something like a S&W M&P-15), putting the online store instead of the dealer for the “acquired from” line, missing dashes or numbers in the serial number section, etc.

Whereas all these errors can be easily corrected in-person with whiteout or crossing-out information, the online registration needs to be sent back to the submitter to be corrected (sometimes multiple times).

EDIT: Corrected “had” to “has”

I can think of one way to completely fix the issue.

Do away with registration. 

for me, there's been at least one instance, if not two, can't remember shit, when my phone rang and it actually was an HPD person processing my paperwork (imagine my surprise), calling for clarification, or further information, etc.  In all instances, they were courteous, friendly, and very helpful, and the situation always ended up with a positive resolution.  I have no complaints there.

That was my point exactly.  If they are delaying the registrations because they have to reject the application and then wait for it to be corrected and show up in their queue again before continuing the process, that's ridiculous.  The fact that you were called tells me that very few of the registrations are experiencing the "HPD found a mistake, sent it back, waited on corrections from the gun owner before proceeding" scenario.  It makes more sense that they are contacting the owners to clear up any problems, which logically means the delays are being caused by issues other than bad input.

JMO.  I know how these things SHOULD work, but I have no insight into how things are actually being done there.

i submitted online registration yesterday at 5pm, received the registration pdf via email at 1135pm. backlog is gone.