NICS wasn't in force in 1993 and in any case the records, by law, must be destroyed afterwards. No one seems to be investigating and publicizing this!
When you purchase a firearm, you will fill out a 4473 form. At the same time, the Dealer is required to make a entry into his Firearms Log.
The Firearms Log is required for any dealer. The dealer must log in firearms that he takes possesion of and log them out when they leave his business. The log book stays with the dealer untill the business closes for good. The book is then required to be sent to the ATF. The book is considered a Federal Document and is treated as such.
The laws covering the Firearms Log is different than for the Form 4473.
The illegal formulation and updating of this "database" is going to be the mechanism that will allow the defense attorney for Muhammed and Malvo to have all of the evidence that ties them to the Bushmaster rifle declared inadmissable.
Without the tie in to the rifle, the govt has no case and the bastards will walk.
I talked to an ATF agent about this, and while he would not admit that the govt broke the law, he said that the idea is to get the guy off the streets, and worry about the legal technicalities later.
When I asked him if the govt should obey the law like everyone else, his response was "No". I asked him again just to be sure I heard him correctly, and again his response was to the effect that the ATF and the FBI do not have to follow the law in cases like this.
My response was "you're joking right?". He looked at me with some irritation on his face, and replied, "How many times do I have to say it?".
I no longer care if the govt has a warrant, they cannot be trusted at all.
The sad part of this is that even the local LEO's have the same attitude.