If they ever cared enough to run all those miles of film through a scanner, they would have a fully indexed and searchable database of every FFL dealer sale since 1968, complete with names, social security numbers, and serial numbers.
Also, the ATF is now pushing a free software package to FFL holders which allows the 4473 to be filed via computer, meaning its fully indexed and searchable by default.
The privacy law you're thinking of is the privacy act of 1974 which has incredibly broad conditions for disclosure within the federal government itself. Funny thing, this law doesn't actually apply to the ATF under any conditions. The law pertains only to agencies, and the ATF is a bureau.
The ATF certainly does keep a registry of 4473 forms, though their main system for storage is on microfilm, and is beyond inefficient. See: https://www.thetrace.org/2016/08/atf-non-searchable-databases/
If they ever cared enough to run all those miles of film through a scanner, they would have a fully indexed and searchable database of every FFL dealer sale since 1968, complete with names, social security numbers, and serial numbers.
Also, the ATF is now pushing a free software package to FFL holders which allows the 4473 to be filed via computer, meaning its fully indexed and searchable by default.
The privacy law you're thinking of is the [privacy act of 1974](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privacy_Act_of_1974#Conditions_of_disclosure) which has incredibly broad conditions for disclosure within the federal government itself. Funny thing, this law doesn't actually apply to the ATF under *any* conditions. The law pertains only to agencies, and the ATF is a bureau.
The ATF certainly does keep a registry of 4473 forms, though their main system for storage is on microfilm, and is beyond inefficient. See: https://www.thetrace.org/2016/08/atf-non-searchable-databases/
If they ever cared enough to run all those miles of film through a scanner, they would have a fully indexed and searchable database of every FFL dealer sale since 1968, complete with names, social security numbers, and serial numbers.
Also, the ATF is now pushing a free software package to FFL holders which allows the 4473 to be filed via computer, meaning its fully indexed and searchable by default.
The privacy law you're thinking of is the privacy act of 1974 which has incredibly broad conditions for disclosure within the federal government itself. Funny thing, this law doesn't actually apply to the ATF under any conditions. The law pertains only to agencies, and the ATF is a bureau.