Crime Gun Tracing Modernization

Summary#

This bill would change 18 U.S.C. 923(g) so the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) National Tracing Center must set up and keep electronic, searchable databases of all records it has about the importation, production, shipment, receipt, sale, or other disposition of firearms that licensed persons must submit. The National Tracing Center must do this within 3 years.

Licensees may give the National Tracing Center electronic access to records they are required to keep. Licensees may also voluntarily give the ATF paper records if 10 years have passed since the transaction, or in some cases when 10 years have passed with no open disposition entries.

The National Tracing Center may remotely query these electronic databases. With permission from a State or local government, it may also access state firearms registration or pawnbroker records systems.

The Center may query the databases only for these purposes: (1) information for a bona fide law enforcement investigation by federal, state, local, Tribal, or foreign law enforcement; (2) foreign intelligence information or information needed to understand or assess foreign intelligence; and (3) information needed during a compliance inspection of an active licensee who submitted paper records.

The databases must be searchable by date of acquisition or disposition, license number, and firearm details such as manufacturer, importer, model, serial number, type, and caliber or gauge. The databases must not be searchable by a person’s personally identifiable information. Search results must include the full contents of the relevant records. The provision applies even if other laws or funding restrictions exist. The Comptroller General must audit compliance within 1 year and every 2 years and report to the Senate and House Judiciary Committees.

What it means for you#

• If you are a licensed firearms dealer or other licensee: the National Tracing Center can request electronic access to records you are required to keep. You may also choose to give the ATF paper records after 10 years in specific cases.
• If you work in law enforcement: the National Tracing Center can query these databases for bona fide investigations. It can also query for foreign intelligence matters or to support compliance inspections.
• If you are a State or local official: the National Tracing Center may access state registration or pawnbroker systems only with your permission.
• If you are a member of the public: the bill says the databases may not be searchable by personally identifiable information.

Expenses#

No publicly available information on cost estimates or funding for creating, running, or auditing the databases is included in the bill text or metadata. The bill does require the National Tracing Center to establish the databases within 3 years and requires audits by the Comptroller General starting within 1 year and every 2 years thereafter.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information in the bill text or provided metadata about the sponsors’ or supporters’ statements or rationale.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information in the bill text or provided metadata about opponents’ statements or concerns.