Pa. gun sales can resume

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Gun sales in Pennsylvania were able to resume Tuesday morning after state police finished an upgrade of a state computer system used to perform background checks.

State police spokesman Jack Lewis said the shutdown of the system began at 6 p.m. Sunday as planned but finished at 8 a.m. Tuesday, more than a day ahead of schedule. Authorities had expected the Pennsylvania Instant Check System to be down until Wednesday or Thursday.

“That means PICS is available to all users, including the gun dealers who access PICS to check on the backgrounds of prospective gun purchasers,” police Commissioner Jeffrey B. Miller said in a statement.

Police said the $32 million upgrade, which involves the transfer of 47 million records dating back to the 1930s, was urgently needed.

Some gun dealers unsuccessfully sued to block the shutdown, saying it would hurt their business. The shutdown coincided with the first few days of dove and Canada geese hunting season.