I’m just guessing but when ATF goes into a gun store and copies all of the 4473 forms they are permanently saved in a database somewhere along with any pre-sales checks. Surely the ATF wouldn’t be stupid enough to throw all that power away just to comply with the law.
There are probably a lot of holes in the database but everyone would eventually turn up buy buying Ammo, or various parts and accessories with a credit card.
They would just go directly to the credit card company and get their freak on. They don’t need to know you bought an AR-15. They know you bought 5 Magpul magazines and 500rds of .223.
Let’s slow down here....
As far as I am aware, TODAY, the ATF does NOT “copy all of the 4473’s”.
They are simply “available for inspection”.
As far as potential FUTURE intrusions, into credit card purchases, the Visa records simply indicate a purchase total at a given vendor. It DOES NOT itemize the products.
I happen to have a particular store receipt that reads “General Merchandise”.
The point I’m making is that I want to make sure we know what they ARE doing now, so we will all see the RED FLAG when they start snooping further.