This bill changes what happens to gun store records when a firearms dealer goes out of business. Right now, when a gun shop closes down, federal law requires them to hand over all their records of gun sales to the ATF (the federal agency that regulates firearms). This bill would eliminate that requirement—gun shops closing down would no longer have to turn over their sales records to the government. On top of that, the bill would require the ATF to destroy any gun sale records from closed businesses that it currently has in its possession. In practical terms, this means that once a gun dealer shuts down, the detailed transaction records of who bought what guns would either stay with the business owner or be destroyed rather than being kept in a federal database. People who support this argue it protects privacy and prevents the government from building a registry of gun owners, while critics worry it could make it harder for law enforcement to trace guns used in crimes back to their original buyers.

No Retaining Every Gun In a System That Restricts Your Rights Act

Risch, James E.

No Retaining Every Gun In a System That Restricts Your Rights ActThis bill modifies the retention requirements for firearm transaction records of federal firearms licensees (FFLs) that go out of business.Current law generally requires FFLs that go out of business to deliver their firearm transaction records to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).This bill removes the requirement for FFLs that go out of business to deliver their firearm transaction records to the ATF. Further, the bill requires the ATF to destroy all out-of-business records it has collected from FFLs.