Comment on FR Doc # 2026-08929

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. RIN 1140-AA95; Docket No. ATF-2026-0003. For over twenty-five years, I have worked as a violence prevention advocate, working on the front lines to interrupt cycles of violence and provide support to those most at risk. My commitment to this work was forged in the aftermath of a devastating shooting on August 10, 1999, which left a community shattered and families living with lifelong trauma. I have seen firsthand the devastating, lasting impact that high-powered, illicitly obtained firearms have on our neighborhoods and families. It is with this deep, lived experience that I strongly oppose the proposal to reduce the retention periods for federal firearms licensees’ acquisition and disposition records. The current requirement that these records be maintained indefinitely is a vital tool for public safety. Firearms do not have an expiration date, and neither should the records that track their movement. Law enforcement and tracing centers rely on these records to connect crime guns to their origins, helping to identify the flow of weapons into the black market and hold those responsible for trafficking accountable. By proposing to slash these retention periods to just 20 or 30 years, the Bureau is effectively creating an "on-ramp" for weapons to disappear from the trace-able record, potentially shielding dangerous actors and repeat offenders who rely on the secondary market to acquire their arsenal. The argument that these records create an undue storage burden for licensees must be weighed against the actual, tangible cost of unsolved shootings and unchecked gun violence. As an advocate, I am constantly pushing for more oversight—not less. I have long argued that we should be treating firearm ownership with the seriousness it demands, which might include periodic checks on safety and storage. Instead, this proposal moves in the opposite direction, favoring administrative convenience for businesses over the necessity of a complete, accurate, and historical record of firearm transfers. When a firearm is used in a crime, its history is a critical piece of the investigative puzzle. Older firearms are frequently involved in crimes, and erasing the records of their disposition after a few decades will create significant blind spots for law enforcement. This policy reversal risks discarding essential information that could provide justice to victims and prevent future tragedies. I urge the Bureau to reject this proposed action and maintain the current requirement for permanent records retention. We must prioritize the safety of our communities and the ability of law enforcement to do their jobs effectively over the financial interests of licensees. Do not finalize this rule; keep the current protections in place to ensure that the history of these lethal instruments remains transparent and accessible to those who work to keep us safe.