![Discussion Forums](/images/2016/spacer.gif)
Quote HistoryQuoted:
If they go out of business before that?
View Quote
Then they absolutely are required to submit all records to ATF's OBRC in WV within 30 days of discontinuing operations.
It's uncommon for
any FFL business to last 20 years, and I've never heard of one destroying old records when they do (although it's not impossible).
ATF now encourages them to turn over the 20-year-old records in lieu of destruction, but it's up to the FFL at that point.
OBRC also allows FFLs to submit old records to them prior to 20 years elapsing (if they both agree to it) and I've heard of this happening fairly often.
Therefore I'd conclude that your odds of having an old paper 4473 record destroyed by your friendly neighborhood FFL are quite low.
More and more today are switching to computerized records. ATF likes that.
And for further reading, check out their
NTC Connect Program (also known as Access 2000 or A2K), which grants ATF (and in turn, local LE via trace requests) access to cloud-based records before the guns even transfer on 4473 at the point-of-sale (or afterwards, as in a normal trace).
Many large manufacturers, importers and wholesalers voluntarily participate in this program.