What you should know about firearms records

[KNAPPer]

http://www.forensicmag.com/news/crime-beginning-weapons-history?et_cid=3067780&et_rid=506720523&link...

Snips - CSI, it ain't...

"Federal law bars the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives from keeping track of guns. The only time the government can track the history of a gun, including its first buyer and seller, is after it's used in a crime."

"ATF officials first call the manufacturer, who reveals which wholesaler the company used. That may lead to a call to a second distributor before investigators can pinpoint the retail gun dealer who first sold the weapon. Gun dealers are required to keep a copy of federal forms that detail who buys what gun and a log for guns sold. They are required to share that information with the ATF if a gun turns up at a crime scene and authorities want it traced. Often, gun shops fax the paperwork to the ATF."

"Despite having access to millions of records about gun purchases from dealers that have gone out of business, the ATF isn't allowed to create a database of what guns were sold to whom and when."

[r3020]

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@KNAPPer wrote:

http://www.forensicmag.com/news/crime-beginning-weapons-history?et_cid=3067780&et_rid=506720523&link...

Snips - CSI, it ain't...

"Federal law bars the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives from keeping track of guns. The only time the government can track the history of a gun, including its first buyer and seller, is after it's used in a crime."

"ATF officials first call the manufacturer, who reveals which wholesaler the company used. That may lead to a call to a second distributor before investigators can pinpoint the retail gun dealer who first sold the weapon. Gun dealers are required to keep a copy of federal forms that detail who buys what gun and a log for guns sold. They are required to share that information with the ATF if a gun turns up at a crime scene and authorities want it traced. Often, gun shops fax the paperwork to the ATF."

"Despite having access to millions of records about gun purchases from dealers that have gone out of business, the ATF isn't allowed to create a database of what guns were sold to whom and when."

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Oh, really, then how did the NY newspaper publish the addresses of all of the gun owners?

[Nebrfarmr]

Nope.

My understanding is that if they find a gun at a crime scene, they can contact the manufacturer, who is required to keep (basically forever) record of where it went.   For example Colt still has in its records, the six-shooters ordered by Wyatt Earp (or was that Wild Bill).

Anyway, from that point, they can contact the gun store, who is required (also, forever) record of who that gun was sold to.

I think the 'weakness' in the record keeping system, might be that there was a period of time, where the gun distributers and sellers had no real record keeping requirements (you could buy a gun mail-order, and even if they recorded who bought it, one could easily use a false name, and even have it sent to a PO box).

[Samnospam]

I think it was from conceal carry permits.

[Samnospam]

And they should not be allowed to keep a data base.

[KNAPPer]

Sam is correct and I am against that type publication BTW.

I just thought this is information people would be interested in - if they didn't already know.

[Canuck_2]

So basicly the records are useless since there is no way to trace a gun after it is sold to a member of the public.

They can sell or give it away with no record and there ends the trail.

Same thing in Canada since latest government destroyed the records of gun ownership.

I can give away or sell my guns to anyone and there is no way to trace it.

Good for the bad guys as any restrictions to original sale just makes a few bucks for someone to sell on the black market for a bonus.

[Snooky1953]

Any time in the last 30 years or so, any gun sold thru the internet or otherwise where it had to be shipped, it had to go to a licensed dealer with a copy of the FFL in with the gun.  Handguns can only go UPS overnight again to a licensed dealer.

[Snooky1953]

The state of New York.