[Fletchette]

I read somewhere that Ashcroft was able to get all 4473 (Yellow gun-purchase forms) destroyed after 30 days as a part of his beliefs against gun registration. Is this true? Are they still being destroyed after 30 days, or are they being retained (and possibly being used to assemble a registry)?

[Preacherman]

No: Ashcroft merely insisted that the FBI destroy all records of "instant" background checks after 24 hours, as mandated by law, instead of retaining them for 90 days, as had been done under the Clinton administration. The 4473's have to be retained by your dealer for a minimum (IIRC) of 20 years, and all the dealers' records, including 4473's, bound books, etc. have to be handed in to the ATF if/when he closes his business.

[El Tejon]

Fletch, what Preacherman said. 4473s are not destroyed.

The 4473s that are collected from FFLs are recorded at BATFE's gun/gun owner registration center in West Virginia.