NICS has blocked more than 600,000 people convicted of a crime from acquiring a weapon since 1998. When the background check system flags a purchaser for a felony or another qualifying conviction, the transaction is stopped. A surprising number of people with open arrest warrants attempt to buy a gun.
Patrick Swayze died Monday after battle with pancreatic cancer, publicist says; Swayze's doctor revealed in March 2008 that Swayze had the disease; Swayze broke through with his performance in 1987's Dirty Dancing Co-star Jennifer Grey: He was a real cowboy with a tender heart
'The worst thing about Patrick was the drinking': Swayze's widow talks about lowest point of their 34-year marriage. Patrick Swayze's widow Lisa Niemi has lifted the lid on their marriage and revealed how she walked out on him because of his alcoholism. She says the star of Dirty Dancing and Point Break, who died last September of pancreatic cancer aged 57, totally changed changed character when he hit the bottle.