I believe there is a restriction on law enforcement that prevents them
from keeping the records of purchases for more than a brief period.
I don't know the reference. It's not important enough for me to look
it up.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Vito" wrote in message
...
Why? The FBI had 5 years to build/maintain a data base of people forbidden
to own guns for reasons defined by law, including criminality and mental
disease. That task was completed decades ago. It allows gun dealers (and
police) to run "instant" background checks via internet, and dealers are
required to do so on ever sale. This system has proven so effective that
guns taken from criminals inevatively prove to have been stolen, not
purchased.

What records are only kept for short periods? Gun dealers are also
required
to keep records of every sale essentially forever and BATF checks each
dealer for compliance several times a year. This allows law enforcement
to
quickly trace any/every gun from point of manufacture or import to the
purchaser by making a few phone calls. FBI and BATF both want $billions
to
keep redundent records that serve no purpose but so far Congress has
wisely
refused them the money. Maybe that's what you heard about??

Laws to disarm honest citizens serve only to protect criminals from their
victims - but then that's what they are intended to do.

"Jonathan Ganz" wrote in message
...
How about both? It would give the authorities enough time to actually
do the check. It would also be nice if the authorities were allowed to
keep the records for decent period of time to make sure the dealers
are actually following the law. Right now, they're unable to keep them
for more than a short period, which most think is not adequate.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Vito" wrote in message
...
"Jonathan Ganz" wrote
I think the gov't needs to try and keep guns out of the hands
of people who've been in mental institutions for example.....

Surprise! So does the NRA! That's why NRA backed current laws that
require
background checks instead of just a two week wait to purchase.