All FFL sales result in a "registered" firearm that can be tracked to you, the buyer. The FFL keeps the records for at least 5 years (most longer), Form 4473.
At present that information is not data mined by the fed... that we know of.
And they've tried to "register" ammunition as well, including a background check to purchase.
Crazy!
It’s illegal for the feds to maintain FFL date for any extended period of time, they’re retained by the dealer, so in theory there are no central records. This and several of the other articles on this incident have been sloppy. I assume you’re close to right, the reporter meant to say they were legally owned