Even more on gun sales
ATF issues a press release noting that the inventory of Form 4473 (the NICS check form you fill out every time you buy a firearm from an FFL dealer) is running low due to “unprecedented demand.” They’ve even said it’s OK to make photocopies since demand is so high.
Past info on gun sales here.
Update: Tam has more.
January 8th, 2009 at 1:52 pm
And how many dealers will be hit later when they have their records audited and the BATFE changes its mind?
January 8th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
Yes thirdpower, the BATFE needs to be disbanded…which is one of the reasons I voted for Ron Paul and then Chuck Baldwin, the guy he endorsed. But we ain’t gonna get NO CHANGE!
January 8th, 2009 at 3:53 pm
I agree with Thirdpower on that; they have a habit of changing their minds later and shafting people.
January 8th, 2009 at 4:47 pm
Perhaps the very fact of the paper shortage will impress upon them the observation that it represents a plethora of tools for repairing what is broken, and they may a little less quick to break things as they have in the past.
If not, the tools to fix it are being distributed.
January 8th, 2009 at 7:46 pm
In retrospect, they couldn’t have picked a worse time to introduce a whole new form…
January 8th, 2009 at 9:33 pm
Yeah, and you know what they will do? After BAFTE gets supply of the forms back up and the next time BAFTE does auditing they will pull the license of EVERY dealer that did this, for doing something that they, BAFTE said it would be OK to do. BAFTE hates us and we all know it. Your kidding yourself if you think otherwise.
January 9th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
Have they never heard of a downloadable PDF file? Maybe they should consult with the IRS….
January 9th, 2009 at 2:48 pm
Frank, the atf has a history of disregarding technology. One would think that in the age of computers, a background check for an NFA item would take a day. Mine took four months.
January 9th, 2009 at 7:30 pm
NFA check times were down to 30 days or so, most of which was paperwork time.
Prior to just a few years ago (’04?) six months to a year was the norm.
I imagine they’re snowed under with transfers right now; the pace of can sales has quadrupled in the last five years or so. The may even be back-ordered on the actual stamps…
January 9th, 2009 at 10:11 pm
Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store.
Having said that, ATF is forbidden to generate a database, so PDF files, stored on a computer would not be permitted.
January 10th, 2009 at 3:10 am
Why not just ask the mint to print them, they’re printing money like crazy.
January 10th, 2009 at 10:15 am
I can assure you that there is a database. When I was a Marine stationed in Okinawa, the FBI called my CO and asked me if they could test fire a pistol that my father bought for me when I joined the Marines at 18. Before I gave them permission, I spoke to the Special Agent in charge of the case and I asked:
“Isn’t there a law that says the forms are supposed to be destroyed after 90 days?”
to which the Special Agent responded:
“Yeah, but we record all of that data first. We only need to destroy the forms. We keep all that stuff in database.”
Keep in mind they knew I personally had a firearm which was never in my name because I had bought several firearms since, and my father had only purchased one other gun in his lifetime. If you’ve ever filled out a 4473, they know what guns you have. Believe it.