I posted this as a comment deep in another thread, but I thought it might be nice to post for more to see. As an FFL dealer and gun shop owner this is what happens when you buy a gun from a dealer and WHO KNOWS WHAT.
When you purchase a gun from an FFL dealer you will fill out an ATF form 4473. This form has all of your information as well as the information of the gun (manufacturer, type, caliber, SN). This form is NOT transmitted to the ATF in any way, but is held in the FFL’s records indefinitely. Only if the FFL closes, loses their license, or dies do these forms go to the ATF. So at this point ONLY you and the FFL know what you are buying.
Next, we submit a NICS background check to the FBI. This can be done either by computer or by phone. During this step we give them your information including name, birthdate, state of residence, state of birth, height, weight, gender, ethnicity, citizenship, SS# (which is optional), and DL#. We also tell them what the check is for…sale of LONG GUN, sale of HANDGUN, sale of OTHER…but NO information about the gun is provided. We receive an answer of PROCEED, DELAY, or DENY. If we receive a proceed we finish the transaction and you leave with the gun. If we receive a delay we wait, sometimes 15 minutes, sometimes days. If we receive a response from the FBI to proceed then we do, but if no response is recieved within 3 business days we can transfer the gun as if there was a proceed. If there is a deny, you don’t get the gun, period. So at this point the FBI knows you are buying a gun, but they have NO knowledge of manufacturer, caliber, or SN, only if it’s a handgun, long gun, or other.
Now, if you purchase two or more HANDGUNS in a 5 day period we have to send a form to the ATF with your info AND the firearms info, so NOW the ATF knows ALL of the information on what guns you have purchased. A copy of the form is also sent to the local Sherriff or head LEO in your county, so he also knows you’ve purchased two or more handguns and all of their info.
So in conclusion, after you buy a handgun, rifle, shotgun, other, or multiple rifles, shotguns or others, the ATF knows NOTHING and FBI only knows you bought a gun. Now if you buy multiple handguns the ATF knows everything.
Since there is no record or database on private sales, the FEDS will have no idea what guns you might have bought or sold to private parties.
At ANY time the ATF can look at our records and see what and to whom every gun we’ve sold. This is how they trace SN’s to solve crimes. Even on regular inspections the ATF doesn’t leave with your info.
When you purchase a gun from an FFL dealer you will fill out an ATF form 4473. This form has all of your information as well as the information of the gun (manufacturer, type, caliber, SN). This form is NOT transmitted to the ATF in any way, but is held in the FFL’s records indefinitely. Only if the FFL closes, loses their license, or dies do these forms go to the ATF. So at this point ONLY you and the FFL know what you are buying.
Next, we submit a NICS background check to the FBI. This can be done either by computer or by phone. During this step we give them your information including name, birthdate, state of residence, state of birth, height, weight, gender, ethnicity, citizenship, SS# (which is optional), and DL#. We also tell them what the check is for…sale of LONG GUN, sale of HANDGUN, sale of OTHER…but NO information about the gun is provided. We receive an answer of PROCEED, DELAY, or DENY. If we receive a proceed we finish the transaction and you leave with the gun. If we receive a delay we wait, sometimes 15 minutes, sometimes days. If we receive a response from the FBI to proceed then we do, but if no response is recieved within 3 business days we can transfer the gun as if there was a proceed. If there is a deny, you don’t get the gun, period. So at this point the FBI knows you are buying a gun, but they have NO knowledge of manufacturer, caliber, or SN, only if it’s a handgun, long gun, or other.
Now, if you purchase two or more HANDGUNS in a 5 day period we have to send a form to the ATF with your info AND the firearms info, so NOW the ATF knows ALL of the information on what guns you have purchased. A copy of the form is also sent to the local Sherriff or head LEO in your county, so he also knows you’ve purchased two or more handguns and all of their info.
So in conclusion, after you buy a handgun, rifle, shotgun, other, or multiple rifles, shotguns or others, the ATF knows NOTHING and FBI only knows you bought a gun. Now if you buy multiple handguns the ATF knows everything.
Since there is no record or database on private sales, the FEDS will have no idea what guns you might have bought or sold to private parties.
At ANY time the ATF can look at our records and see what and to whom every gun we’ve sold. This is how they trace SN’s to solve crimes. Even on regular inspections the ATF doesn’t leave with your info.
