Without a database, the 4473 is of little value. If you are the first owner of a new gun, there will be a paper trail from the manufacturer to the wholesaler and then to the dealer. If you sell that gun to an individual or to at a different gun store, there is no paper trail from the place you bought it to the place you sold it.
From what I have heard the ATF is keeping an illegal gun database, going into gun shops and scanning in all their 4473s.
What, officer?
That old Mosin? Yeah, I sold it to some guy named Frank. Or maybe Jerry. Years ago.
Huh? Oh, medium build, medium height. Stylish haircut, if I remember correctly. Which I don't much anymore. That Oldtimers is a b*tch, dontchaknow!
Well, gotta run. Have a nice day.
In which case the Federal Government could then accuse me of making a straw-man purchase and prosecuting me that way couldn't they?
A 4473 is worthless for tracking a firearm after the first sale.
I’ve bought on 4473 forms lots of firearms over the last 43 years, but have traded off or sold most of them except a few.
I have not bought or traded for years and haven’t been to a BIG gun show in about 10 years.