HARRISBURG – Gov. Edward G. Rendell said that after carefully considering all of the factors and weighing input from interested groups, the state police’s decades-old computerized background check system that is used by several state and federal agencies will be temporarily offline for upgrades starting Sunday night.
The duration of the shutdown has been cut to two full working days and is to be completed by 6 p.m. Wednesday rather than by noon on Thursday, as had been announced.
“I completely respect the right of people to purchase firearms for the upcoming hunting season,” Rendell said. “This system provides vital information for numerous agencies. After carefully weighing input from legislators, the ad hoc committee and others across the state, it is clear that there will never be an ideal time to temporarily shut down the system so we can make changes necessary to ensure the system continues to be safe and useful.”
Rendell, on Friday, appointed an ad hoc committee to evaluate alternatives to the planned Sept. 2 – 6 shutdown to determine if there were a less onerous and more feasible way to upgrade the system, within the confines of efficacy and fiscal responsibility. The committee asked state police to consider three alternatives: a “seamless” transition with no shutdown at all, a shutdown in October or a shutdown in early January.
All of the options represented either a conflict with other scheduled computer system upgrades or excessive additional costs to state taxpayers.
The Pennsylvania Instant Check System, commonly called PICS and operated by state police, is run by a computer database based on 1981 technology. It allows gun sellers to conduct immediate background checks of potential gun purchasers.
State police will shutdown PICS from 6 p.m. on Sunday until 6 p.m. Wednesday for maintenance and upgrades.
The PICS system contains criminal, mental health, protection from abuse and juvenile delinquency records.
In addition to gun dealers, the system is used by state courts, the Department of Corrections, the National Crime Information Center, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Pennsylvania Megan’s Law Registry and other local and state law enforcement agencies.