NICS Opens to Firearm Retailers for Voluntary Serial Number Checks

[Spas-12 Owner]

This is a shock because I was always told that the 4473s I filled out were not stored in an indexable filing system and the information could never be used to establish a chain of ownership!

I'm gonna call my representative and ask some questions!

This isn't based off 4473's. It's based off reported stolen firearms entered into NICS, it's the system LEO use when they run a check on your firearm if they become in possession of it.

The only chain of custody would be from the manufacturer to the distributor to the first FFL and then to the first owner/4473. After that trace, it gets much harder.

 

[Spas-12 Owner]

There use to be a link like HotGunz or such for regular John or Jane to check before buying selling or trading to ease the mind they weren’t getting a stolen firearm but I don’t know if there’s anything like that now with updated info that’s useful for that application.

If you have a FFL run a buy sell trade here shop and you scan this item someone’s selling in the system it comes up in 10 min or so as stolen .. do you say no thanks then call the alphabet bois with the info you have now or do you take possession of item and they come knocking on your door .. seems kinda vague the process that happens. You definitely don’t want to be part of the crime. That’s a nightmare of lawyers and courtrooms and $

Fill out paper form 4473s not computer stored 4473s big difference ..

That link is only as good as the information put into it and though is nice, doesn't really help that it isn't used all that often.

The NICS system is what is used by LEO when you report your gun stolen.

And what difference is a paper form to a electronic 4473?

 

[Red Dawn]

And what difference is a paper form to an electronic 4473?

View attachment 9232004

The paper form 4473 is stored at the facility you filed for the item .. the computer based form is filed on a drive making it easy to make a registry for the alphabet bois. When there’s an audit you can drop a box full of paper forms in front of them or send them a zip drive that’s way to easy but worse. Don’t make it easy for the registry make em work for it.

 

[rumrunner55]

Why TF was this not something that was already in place. Stolen firearm database to be searched by FFL

 

[heartnurse]

Simple. The feds just enter bogus numbers into the data base hoping to get a hit. You lose your firearm.

 

[T30]

This is a link to NCIC. NCIC has been keeping information for years on stolen guns, cars etc. It’s nothing new. The important thing about this is to check before you acquire. That way you’re not stuck with a gun that’s stolen property and has to be surrendered to law enforcement. I think they should allow anyone, not just FFLs, to run queries. It’s our system, we paid for it.

 

[ReelWizard]

I don’t know how I feel about it?
I guess it would be good to know a gun. You’re buying at a gun store is not on a stolen list.
Believe it or not, it has happened, gun dealer sells a gun on stolen list.
Matter of fact, I have a friend who runs a pawn shop locally, turns in a list of pawned items every week to local LEO
I guess they were not checking the items on the list like they are supposed to.
But the third or fourth time he had taken in a handgun on pawn over several years period.
Turns in list.
They come in and seize it as stolen several years earlier.
WTHeck? They were not checking it the first 3–4 times?