Comment on FR Doc # 2026-08929
Eric ThoemingOpposeIndividual
Summary: The commenter opposes the retention of firearm records by the BATFE, arguing that such databases are unconstitutional and could be used for civilian disarmament. They advocate for the permanent elimination of existing registries and the use of only decentralized, non-digital records held by private dealers.
It has come to my attention that the BATFE currently has access to around one billion records which consist of names, addresses and firearm information of lawful gun owners. A database or registry accessible by the federal government or any agency under its control which could be used to personally identify firearms owners is unacceptable and unconstitutional. Any existing database or registry containing firearms owners' information must be permanently eliminated and oversight implemented to guard against formation of a future registry. A centralized database of this nature is of very limited use for successful firearms tracing, but would be frighteningly useful for a government moving to implement civilian disarmament. Only decentralized non-digital records retention by private FFL dealers would be acceptable, and would only be accessible to a federal agency for specific lawful investigative purposes.