Seven months into an $1.2 million overhaul of Instant Check — the first overhaul since the system began 16 years ago — dealers and sheriffs are reporting fewer delays and shutdowns with the system maintained by state police.

Many cite computer access to the system that runs background checks on prospective gun owners to determine whether applicants are wanted under outstanding warrants, prohibited from owning a weapon because of a felony conviction, a drug conviction, three DUI convictions within five years, or an adjudication of mental incompetence.

Previte, a gun dealer for more than 30 years, runs the checks the old-fashioned way, using an automated phone system. His shop is not computerized, and he said he sees no reason to change.

Although hard numbers on the system won't be released until spring, state police believed that more of 2,163 licensed firearms dealers would use computers to run checks.

Some dealers might be hesitant to log in using computers, but “I think eventually that will change,” said Joe Keffer, president of the Pennsylvania Firearms Retailers' Association. “The time savings would pay for itself in a year for any sizable dealer.”

Thomas Baldrige of North Huntingdon, the National Rifle Association's Western Pennsylvania field representative, declined to comment on the Instant Check system.

In 2013, the system handled 1.1 million transactions, a nearly 10 percent increase from 2012. The system, designed to handle 1.2 million checks, was prone to outages, particularly when demand was high, critics said.

Keffer, who owns the Sportsman's Shop in New Holland, Lancaster County, said the system has yet to be tested with high demand.

“But I will say that there will be a major test upcoming next month during Black Friday ... it will be a real test to see how it works,” Keffer said.

The upgrade replaced the interactive voice-response telephone system used since Instant Check began in July 1998. The system now allows applicants to submit forms and fees electronically, and allows dealers to check a firearm against a stolen gun database.

“Previously, we had to telephone an 800 number and wait. ... It seems now we log into the new system, type in the information and the result comes back right away,” Westmoreland County Sheriff John Held said.

Allegheny County Sheriff William P. Mullen said the upgrade was needed.

“We always welcome technological improvements that make the system better and more efficient. It has made the whole system better not only for our department, but the public, too, because it takes a lot less time,” Mullen said.

Instead of using the telephone to submit driver's license and other personal information required by state and federal law, Nathan Carey, general manager of Bullseye Firearms Inc. in New Alexandria, can log into the system and enter the information.

“Before, you would have to stay on the phone until you received a determination — approved, denied, put under further research or undetermined — and that could take a long time,” he said.

Dealers can field multiple applications simultaneously.

“It's really nice when you have a shop full of customers and do not have to wait on one approval, denial or whatever before you assist another customer. You can just fill out another request on the PSP website and it will take however many potential sales you enter. ... I have not reached a maximum yet,” Carey said.

State police spokesman Trooper Adam Reed said the upgraded system has been well-received, although larger dealers tend to use the web “while smaller dealers see less advantage in its use.”

A proposed bill to forgo Instant Check and to instead use the National Instant Criminal Background System at no charge, has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee.

Computerized PICS