The Trump administration is considering a new rule to deal with the ATF’s illegal registry, which Congress suspects may contain “over a billion records.” Former President Biden’s rule, the “Engaged in the Business” Rule required gun stores to keep gun records forever. Then, ATF digitizes records when gun stores go out of business.

You can read our 30+ page report from 2022 detailing the searchability of this illegal registry here.

Indeed, if the Trump Administration is going to deal with ATF’s illegal registry, then it is important to do the job right. The proper gun record retention period for ATF should be zero years. That is what GOA is telling ATF in our new proposal, attached below.

Any proposed changes by ATF to FFL recordkeeping requirements must safeguard gun owners’ privacy.