Form 4473
Hello Everyone
I have been a dealer, either wholesale or retail for twenty five years. The 4473 stays with the dealer for either twenty or twenty five years, The only time 4473's are sent to ATF is if the licence is not renewed, canceled or revoked. As mentioned above, the only thing a dealer, provides to NICS, is whether it is a longgun or handgun. The records are to be destroyed by NICS after a very short time.
It is illegal for ATF to electronically record information from the 4473's turned in. I think, it is also illegal for them to organize them by name or whatever. To my understanding, they stay boxed somewhat like they were when sent to ATF. This is to prevent Big Brother from organizing a database of firearms owned by individuals. Just putting them in alphabetical order or by social security number would be a bad thing.
Janet Reno's gang was caught electronically recording all the turned in records. The NRA quickly put a stop to it and the electronic records were, through a court order, ordered to be destroyed. Can yall imagine that.
When I was a wholesaler, I was contacted many times for a trace. ATF starts with the manufacturer or importer, and goes down the line to, eventually, the end seller thus finding our who the gun was sold to.
It is also illegal for ATF to photocopy 4473's from a dealers records; however, there are instances where it happened.
At the beginning of the anti-semi auto craze, two ATF agents sat in my warehouse and went through our bound book (ledger of where all my guns came from and went) and manually copied the disposition of certain weapons. Three guns I remember were ARs, AKs and Ravens. It took place in the winter and for some reason the heat was not working. Word had it old Teddy, the girl drowneder, was behind that. (just when you think you are through with them another one shows up)
Please correct me if I am wrong or if the laws have changed.
Grits
Anyway false analogy and I think it would be better to just keep those serial numbers covered. And the NBA is looking more at ya jump shot and defensive skills anyway. 
