4473's are exclusive property of the dealer, completely private, and even with the stupid new "NICS" check where I call and talk to some no-mind lowest-common-denominator minion of "the FBI" I give them no more info than "pistol or long gun."
We as dealers are supposed to keep the 4473's on file for 7 yrs and then destroy them. NO PERMANENT RECORD!! I and all dealers I've worked with do just that.
On the subject of destroying records......I've been in business for 30yrs, I've learned that if you don't BURN old records every year you are stupid and may well have to lie about it if asked. The first time I was subpoena'd over a ten-yr-old construction project I fudged the truth, I said "I'll have to check with the office and get back to you."
I went home and BURNED those papers
I called back and said "I'm sorry, those records have been destroyed."
No subpoena.
BTW, I wasn't being called into court because I'd done something wrong. I as the concrete contractor was FAR from the problem, in fact "the problem" was of a political nature concerning zoning changes.
Life's too short. I spend as little time as possible in other people's terlet bowls.
But back to 4473's, the records are supposed to be destroyed but in any case they're property of the FFL holder and can only be searched by law enforcement under a search warrant and with probable cause. In other words, when those kids were shot, enforcement went around and asked gunshops to see who sold her the weapons. I doubt the shops even allowed the LEO's access, just searched their own files and brought out the individual papers. At least I would have done it that way.
Bottom line??? IF there's 4473 record of a firearms transaction made over 8yrs ago it's because the owner of the shop isn't doing due diligence.
ANY NORMAL FIREARM purchased more than 7-8 yrs ago is completely free of paperwork, legally, in most states. And if you're in a communistic state like MI or NY and have any of those idiotic "registered handguns" you make sure that when the law changes (like MI did recently) you SELL THOSE GUNS to someone....... like to your wife, for a dollar. NO PAPERWORK BTW!!! Don't even be tempted to write up a bill of sale! Shucks, TRADE them. Then trade them back to each other...... Or sell 'em to your wife for "trade labor" heh, heh, heh. LEGALLY transfer ownership so you can honestly say "I traded that gun off" or "I sold it" because as you've seen recently, even on this shooting forum there are many folks who like nothing better than having A Big Brother to Keep Them Safe.
These people are our enemy.
fear them.
Don't fear your government, fear your fellow man. Your government, when it's working properly (which, for the most part IT IS BTW!) reflects the wishes of your fellow man.
Our job is to convince our fellow man that we're sane.
individually and collectively.
al