Reply #24: Not all states go directly through the Federal system

[Lurks Often]

While the AG of NY state is almost certainly a dip shit and while the FFL dealers who sold the guns (presuming they were in fact FFL dealers) should be prosecuted, some states have their own state equivalent of NICS or a state interface with NICS and a staff to answer phones. Connecticut is one of those states.

Of course an FFL still has to call one either the State NICS, if there is one, or the Federal NICS.

Any private sales are governed by the applicable state law, which varies state to state.