Since the passing of the National Firearms Act in 1934, the federal government has been tasked with maintaining a database of records for NFA weapons, and additionally, while performing inspections of FFLs, they must also ensure NFA compliance, a job currently overseen by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Office of the Inspector General. This database, the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Records (NFRTR), contains roughly two million possession records of machine guns, short barreled rifles and shotguns, suppressors, AOWs, and explosive devices not under the control of the U.S. government.
The accuracy of the NFRTR is paramount to not just the Bureau’s ability to ensure FFL compliance with the NFA, but more importantly to the two million possessors of registered NFA weapons who rely on the accuracy of the NFRTR to keep them out of prison. Violations of the NFA (being in possession of an NFA weapon without proper paperwork) carry fines of up to $250,000 and/or a 10 year prison sentence; people can get sent to prison based on their records or lack thereof.
The Bureau has long maintained that the accuracy of the NFRTR was above reproach and unquestionable, that is until ATF agents themselves were actually questioned about them.
An internal online survey of ATF Industry Operations Investigators was performed years ago consisting of closed and open ended questions regarding the NFRTR and its impact on their duties, but the Bureau never publicly released the analysis and summary of the survey, as it was rumored that the results were damning… until now.
Newly released documents obtained by Mr. David Hardy through his attorneys Alan Beck and Stephen Stamboulieh through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit demonstrate the total lack of confidence the ATF’s own agents have in the NFRTR as it pertains to their ability to perform compliance inspections of FFLs and NFA weapons.
by FirearmsUnknown.com
