In California, from what I heard (haven't yet purchased a firearm from a dealer here in CA) they made the form “idiot proof” in formulating the questions such that “No” was the correct answer to all of the questions.
Or maybe it just made a better story that way! That is the trouble with recounting hearsay. ;)
Standard form, been in use for years, ATF 4473. Required for all dealer involved firearm sales. The form is Fed and required in every state.
FFL dealers are required to keep the form on file forever, and if the business is dissolved the dealer is required to forward the forms to the ATF for storage. A form filled out years and years ago is still in somebodies file or already at the ATF.
That is the form that in ‘Red Dawn’ the Cuban Major tells one of the troops to go and secure from the gun stores, so they know where and who has weapons.
One of the most egregious violations of our rights, but that never stopped the damn government.