[Pelagius of Asturias]

In order for the ATF to make a data base of firearm owners, they would have to visit every retailer in the US and copy every transaction made since 1968. Unless you believe in conspiracies, ATF has not done this. Tennesse does not have a registration law. A carry permit holder is not required to own a firearm in Tennessee and the firearm is not registered. A Tennessee permit holder could borrow a handgun. If you have purhased a firearm from a retailer with an instant background check; it is possible for ATF to easily break the law and create a database from new purchases. BTW, a curio and relic purchase is made without an instant background check. If ATF wants to look for owners of obsoletebolt bolt action rifles, they are wasting manpower. Now that I have read my own comment, I think I'll finish the process.

[gundog]

In order for the ATF to make a data base of firearm owners, they would have to visit every retailer in the US and copy every transaction made since 1968.

I believe that all 4473's are given to ATF when a dealer gets out of the busuness. That would have been about 75% of them in Clinton's day...many more will follow if taxes on firearms, fees to maintain FFL's, make stayng in busuness more difficult.

[Spktyr]

Not only is it easy for ATF to break the law, they already have. The ATF is known to have ignored the part of the law that says that they have to delete the information after 24 hours. They have kept ALL of the NICS check data - in fact, IIRC, the Republican Congress cut their funds because of this. That didn’t make the ATF stop, of course.

My point is that they *know* you have at least one gun, or have reason to believe you do, as it sounds like you have a C&R FFL. No point in not continuing with the permit process.

[Clay Moore]

I understand that when a FFL dealer goes out of business, all records are sent to BATF. They already have a lot of info.