National Firearm Registry? Might Be Closer Than You Think.

Recently, an internal ATF document was released showing some very interesting statistics. The most significant statistic is that in 2021, the ATF processed 54.7 million out-of-business records. The records they are referring to, of course, is Form 4473.

The 4473 is the physical form that records the firearm information; make, model, serial number, type, caliber, and information for those unfamiliar with firearm paperwork. It essentially ties a name to the firearm as it was transferred to an individual from a licensed dealer, sometimes referred to as an FFL.

The 4473 also has personal information on it. It has name, birthdate, current address, birthplace, height, weight, and driver’s license number. Some even opt to give their social security number so that their NICS check goes faster. Speaking of NICS checks, let us clear up another misconception. The firearm information does not get entered during the NICS check. No system associates specific firearms with individuals… yet.

For those familiar with ATF paperwork, a pattern might be forming. We had our first taste of it back in November of 2020. Of course, the hyperbolic media was more focused at the time on the fact that the ATF added a gender box for “non-binary” but completely ignored the fact that all the pertinent information had been consolidated to the first page of the form.

For those unfamiliar, prior to November of 2020, page one of the 4473 form asked for personal information but no information on the firearm associated. Prior to 2020, the firearm information was located on page 3. Why would the ATF move the firearm information and the personal information onto the same page?

To a thinking person, the answer is obvious—data collection. There is absolutely no way the ATF is not preparing for the eventual digitization of their systems and then a fight for a searchable database that they are prohibited by law from having. Furthermore, if one is familiar with how the Federal Government operates, the moves they make now are setting up the push five or even ten years down the road.

This step towards tyranny is why gun owners must stay vigilant. When your personal friends that own firearms tell you that they “do not see an issue with universal background checks,” let them know that legitimate gun violence is not stopped by overregulation and government control.

What makes the problem even more egregious is that in 2021, Joe Biden directed the ATF to make a few more regulations to current firearms law. One of those regulations is that FFLs (firearms dealers) cannot ever destroy the 4473 Forms that they keep on-site. Current law says that after 20 years, the records can be destroyed.

If this regulation goes through, the Biden administration will have just set the first chess piece in a very, very long game of death by attrition. If gun shops close or go out of business, they will be required to turn over every 4473 ever filled out at their shop.

Of course, this massive amount of collected paperwork will lead to the push for a digital database. It is a well-known fact that the ATF’s West Virginia office is filled to the brim with paperwork. It has been reported that the floor collapsed due to the large amounts of paperwork stored. What would make life easier for digitizing all those forms? If the information that was pertinent to the database was all on the first page. Sounding familiar?

Right now, the ATF is prohibited by law from having a searchable registry of gun ownership. However, if you do not believe that the steps are being taken right now to push for that in 20 years, you are simply not paying attention. For example, the stated top priority of the anti-gun lobby is universal background checks. It is supposedly an idea supported by gun owners (fudds maybe, other than that, I doubt it), but the question that people should be asking is, “How would that work?” Unfortunately, in reality, universal background checks would not work without a gun registry.

The historical fact is that gun registries lead right to government confiscation. If you’ve ever seen the Alex Jones interview with Piers Morgan, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

So, gun owners need to stay vigilant and realize that right now, the ATF is prohibited from collecting this information for a good reason. Furthermore, if we want to keep our right to defend our liberty and freedom, we need to make sure that we continue to fight for it.