Legislation seeks to enable ATF to electronically search gun sale records

U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) recently introduced the Crime Gun Tracing Modernization Act, which would enable the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) to electronically search gun sale records following a crime committed with a firearm.

The bill was co-sponsored in the Senate by U.S. Sens. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY).

Currently, the ATF is prohibited from electronically searching gun sale records when conducting criminal investigations, relying on searches conducted through physical paper files.

Additionally, the legislation stipulates allowing the ATF to electronically search records already in its possession for criminal or national security purposes while prohibiting searches for any other purpose.

“It’s ludicrous that current law prevents the ATF from using computers to conduct a swift and thorough investigation when a gun is used in a crime,” Feinstein said. “We need to give ATF agents all the tools necessary to track guns used by criminals, not tie their hands behind their back. Modernizing the ATF’s records will not only speed up investigations, it will ultimately save lives.”

Pascrell, co-chair of the Congressional Law Enforcement Caucus, said Americans would be appalled at the state of crime gun tracing.

“Because of a dreadful law imposed at the behest of the NRA, the ATF is literally banned from using computers to trace firearms used in crimes,” he said. “Every moment after a crime is committed matters dearly to police. Law enforcement in every state share one goal: solving crimes as expeditiously as possible to keep their communities safe. This small, simple change will help prevent crime, it will save lives, and will create needed efficiency.”