Here's what really happens...The ATF Form 4473 that gets filled out when you obtain a gun from a licensed dealer, whether straight sale, trade or transfer, has all the pertinent info on both you and the gun(s)...In Texas and some other states, possession of a valid state-issued license to carry a handgun pre-empts the need for a background check, and you walk out with the gun(s)...The 4473 gets numbered and goes into the dealer's file cabinets after recording the necessary info into his Bound Book (whether handwritten or electronic)...After a period of 20 years, the dealer can then destroy the 4473 at his discretion...If the background check is called in to NICS, they are told the identifying information on you, and whether the firearm is a long gun or handgun, no other information...After 30 days, the info they collect is purged from their system, and by law cannot be retained nor distributed for any purpose...
When law enforcement requests a firearm trace, ATF starts at the beginning of the trail, with either the manufacturer or the importer...That entity must tell the ATF where the gun was transferred next, usually to either a dealer or distributor, sometimes directly to a law enforcement or military unit...Each source which is called has up to three business days to comply with the request while the ATF waits for an answer...Those with electronic Bound Books can usually call up the information in seconds...I got ATF trace requests almost daily and they were usually surprised with how fast I could give them an answer...I wrote my own software, and had it certified by the ATF before they let me use it...There were many instances when I would own the gun several times in trades, and they were always pleased when I could trace through several owners and give them the final disposition in under a minute...
When the gun went to an individual, they asked me to pull the 4473 from my records, and give them name, address and ID's used...I usually had phone numbers and email addresses too if they needed it...When they go to the individual for questioning, that person was required to give any information they had on where it went next, whether sold, traded, given away, stolen, lost or any other circumstances...Sometimes the individual could not even remember owning the gun, or where it went next, and that was the end of the trail...
This is why I know that no matter how many internet rumors you hear about "registration" or a government "central file" of gun ownership, it simply isn't true...If such a thing existed, why would they need to try to trace it beginning with its manufacture or importation?...
...Ben